For those who use the elementry apologia courses, do you recommend using the notebooking journals? Why or why not?
Apologia Courses - Notebooking Journals?
(6 posts) (6 voices)-
KCMommy
MemberPosted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Yes, I recommend the notebooking journal! It is a great way for your children to begin practicing written narrations in a small space that won't overwhelm. My ds has loved the minibooks and crossword puzzles that are included at the end of each lesson. Although we haven't used the copywork selections, both cursive and manuscript are included, which is nice. I would have used the copywork pages if we hadn't already purchased a cursive curriculum. I like the review questions at the end of each lesson. Sometimes I will have my son dictate his answers to me because his hand does get tired of writing, but I still know that he's getting and understanding the information. Although I have chosen a different curriculum than Apologia for next year, it's not because these products aren't worth it. I wanted to study something that Apologia doesn't offer (Real Food and Nutrition for Kids). We will definitely be returning to Apologia in the future!
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Rebekahy
MemberI agree. We love the notebook journals - if you can afford them, they are well worth the cost. We have both a junior one and a regular one and they are a great supplement to the material - especially because we're not taking "tests" and forcing them to memorize names and definitions, the notebooking journals help them to learn these things in a fun way without being tedious. And there are enough activities in each journal that you really don't even need to buy one for each child - though they are a nice keepsake... You could use one just like you would a family Book of Centuries and let each child sign their name to the pages they complete on their own.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
MelissaB
MemberI must be in the minority, but I really don't like them that well. I was super excited when we got them (just started them around Christmas), but now I find it too much busy work. Often we only do a few pages in each chapter in the books and that bring in the guilt factor for me because I feel like I've wasted our homeschool budget on something we're not completely using.
Anyway, for my older boys (6th & 4th grade), it's okay, but my 1st grader I find it a waste. He even has the junior notebook, but it's often too hard for him to do by himself. In the book extras part of the Apologia site, they have printable notebooking pages and I think I might opt for that next year. My oldest will go on to the General Science, but my younger two will start Flying Creatures. I need to look at the notebook at the homeschool store to see, but I think the printable things on the website will be just fine for us. Then again, I might change my mind, but I'm not really feeling the love for the notebooking journals right now. I really love the notebooking concept and we use that in many areas of our homeschool, but this particular item isn't cutting it for me right now. Sorry I sound like Debbie Downer, we are all really love the textbook tho and I plan to continue using them.
P.S. We're doing the anatomy book this year.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
momto2blessings
MemberI'm in between the above posters:) We're on our 4th Apologia Elem. book and this is the first year we've bought the journals (Anatomy). I agree about the busywork....so we don't do everything. However, they do help keep us doing more notebooking than we were before, so I'm thankful for that. And since it's so professional looking both my kids take the time to do their best handwriting, drawings, etc. (more so than what they've done in the past when I just had them write in plain notebooks). I haven't printed pages, but think that would be a good option, too. All-in-all I'm pleased that I can just grab it on days I want to do some journaling w/hardly any prep. But if I had to let something go out of my budget, these would probably be it. How's that for both sides of the fence? :)Gina
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
jeaninpa
MemberI agree with Gina -- the journals can be nice especially for kids who really enjoy writing, drawing, crossword puzzles etc. I am using them for my 6th and 7th grade sons this year and it hasn't been a big hit. For kids who would rather just read it and then do an oral or written narration, they're really too much, and then you end up with lots of empty pages. Some other options are the free notebook pages from the website or you could do a lapbook. A Journey Through Learning has lapbooks for the Apologia science books. We haven't tried those, but have used others from them and they're good.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
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