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Book of Mottoes
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How do you have your student do a Book of Mottoes? Do you have certain days a week and ask them to watch for something they’d like to copy down in their book? Do you give a specified length so that they aren’t just always choosing to write something that’s one sentence or two? 🙂 My daughter is beginning high school level and I thought that we might do a Book of Mottoes instead of scheduled copywork. I’d love feedback on how to incorporate it, especially for a student who doesn’t particularly like writing. 🙂
Once my daughters hit high school, I got them a pretty journal each, one with a lot of pages and I told them it was for their favorite Bible verses, quotations and passages from books, or anything else they would like to write that had special meaning to them. I told them they needed to add to it regularly but did not specify days. They have over the years made lovely books, and illustrated some of the pages, they did a really good job. I found that by suggesting various types of writing to copy, they never did always do the shortest – some quotes were obviously short – but Bible verses and passages from books were always longer. If your student is not so keen on writing I think this would still work, because they have a choice – I would perhaps say that they could keep the majority shorter pieces if that was better for them, but that there should be some longer passages copied over the years. I am not a great one to force something like this – writing essays and things is one thing and I am strict about that, but the Book of Mottoes or Common Book I think should end up being something special that they have created without harrassment from me – it should be something they will always treasure – so if the book is full of short items, and they are special to your child then I would be happy with it. Hope that helps. Linda
That does help Linda. Thank you so much for sharing. In my mind, I kept thinking…if it’s meant to be something where she is recording things that speak to her, if she had to write in it everyday she may not have something speak to her everyday. Thus, some days she may just be picking whatever just to do the writing. And then that would take away from the BofM being something for her to have where it can be treasured as things that spoke to her, stood out to her, etc. So thank you so much for affirming what I was thinking in that respect. I like how you approached it by saying they needed to be adding to it regularly but not telling them when and how much.
I started a post on this exact topic a few weeks ago but got few replies:) Thanks ladies for ‘chatting this up” I needed the encouragement and what you are discussing is exactly what I hope to achieve with my dd. Though right now her favorite quotes tend to be from Disney movies, she also loves Anne of Green Gables, Little Women and the Swallows and Amazons series so I am hoping she will diversify as she grows:)
Heidi
I agree that it should be as desired, and quotes that she chooses… If it isn’t being added to regularily I could see requiring one added on Friday if they haven’t put any in during the week… otherwise, it should be their own entirely. At least, that is how I see it.
I think this is where setting a good example comes in too… I keep meaning to start one. I keep seeing good quotes to put in… even some just for humour…
“Was the spider armed?” (in tv show when MP comes running into the women’s shower after hearing a gunshot, to find out that the female major had shot a (huge) spider)
I should have mentioned I have kept a common book for a long time, I don’t add to it weekly but over the years I now have about 8 books! I keep all sorts in it, writings, copywork, poetry my own and others,and things like that. I also wrote up memories of travel in mine.
Heidi, I am sorry I did not see your post of a while ago, I would have answered if I had. Linda
I actually have been writing down quotes that speak to me for quite a few years, just in a different way. I keep a journal and that’s where I of course…journal…but I also include quotes from others that have stood out to me from things I’ve read. I’ve now decided to keep a special Book of Mottoes just for this, instead of including them in the midst of my journaling. I think it’s neat to look back through my journal and read the different quotes I’ve added in there over the years. I think it will be a nice treasure to have a separate book of quotes, poems, etc. that stand out to me. So I look forward to starting my new Book of Mottoes! And I plan to go ahead and have my daughter start one when we start school in a few weeks. Hopefully it will be a nice treasure for her as well! Thanks everyone for your input! I really appreciate it!
If you’re a fan of the Mitford series by Jan Karon, you might enjoy looking at the two Book of Mottoes that go along with the Father Tim character. They’re called Patches of Godlight and A Continual Feast.
Sonya,
I have read several of the Mitford series and really enjoyed them! But I haven’t read Patches of Godlight and A Continual Feast. Thanks for mentioning them. 🙂
I am so looking forward to this year 🙂 I wished many times that I had a special place to put those amazing things that the kids say as they are growing..I would write them down on bits of paper as time allowed but I know I missed many many of them…I am going to start a quote book, with mottoes, quotes, lyrics, poems, and the great things my kids come up with..should be fun!
HeidiS,
Sonya started a section on this forum called Our Book of Mottoes where you can add your favorite quotes, etc. I think that’s a pretty cool idea. 🙂 Here’s the link:
http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/forum/our-book-of-mottoes
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