First I'll say I have never made a lapbook before, and I plan to keep them very simple for starters. I used to make collages as a kid and throughout until my adulthood *all* the time, and I've also done a lot of scrapbooking. So I have a lot of confidence in paper crafts. What I'm wondering is whether or not it's realistic to do two lapbooks simultaneously? I was planning on allotting one week per lapbook, and I want to do the alphabet, which will take 26 weeks. By my calculations, that only leaves six weeks to fill with other themes and/or down time/vacation time. I thought it would be fun to couple each letter with a theme that begins with that letter (as in one week we would do a T lapbook, and along side it we'd do another lapbook with a Train theme... C + Construction... etc. etc.). Is this realistic?
Oh! I forgot to add that I also was wondering, when you make your lapbooks, how much do you involve your child in the assembly process? I mean I expect him do do the learning and the coloring and so forth, and hopefully some of the assembling, but some of the lapbooks I've seen look way complicated for a five year old to put together. Do you guys do most of the assembling? Do you help them do it? Does their age play a role in how simple/complicated you make it? (I'm talking strictly the construction of it here, not so much the content/material learned.)
With my 6 year old I plan to do most of our cutting and folding of the mini books but he can do the gluing, coloring and filling out. What else are you doing besides lapbooking? If you're not doing too much else 2 a week would be fine I think.
Pretty much lapbooking and reading out loud--like lots. Mostly stories/fiction, but some facts and Bible based stuff. He loves reading stories together. We'd probably do an art day once a week, which would encompass visual arts and musical/performing arts. Just a creativity day basically. I think I might have him do some tracing once a week, but we won't be working on any kind of penmanship otherwise. I want to focus this year on letter sounds/functions and early reading concepts.
I think 2 a week would be fun especially if they are somewhat related like "T" and trains. I know my kids love lapbooks and we have done more than 1 a week. Also it depends on a childs age as to how much I help assemble. With my 5yo I cut and she pastes and colors. With all my other kids they fully assemble them by themselves.
I think a letter lapbook and a lapbook for a theme that ties in with that letter sounds very doable, and very fun. Have you seen these sites? http://www.homeschoolshare.com/ http://www.walkingbytheway.com/blog/?page_id=714323
I hate to get this forum off course, but it really looks like you will be following the Letter of teh Week Curriculum ( http://www.letteroftheweek.com/preschool_age_3.html ) And I think lapbooking will go great for something like that! I would have everything pre cut out and in a sort of Ziploc bag, and ask the child to glue them to teh book. Here is a hint...if you have a really young child and no stick glue, then take your regular elmers glue and mix it with a bit of water in a small bowl. Then your child can apply it with a Q-Tip and not get too much glue so it takes forever for it to dry!
Thanks guys! I am encouraged! Meg, you are right--my method is actually going to be letter of the week inspired! I thought it would help my son remember letter sounds a little more successfully, since it's his weak area. I think the repetition will be helpful. =) I am getting so much help here, you guys are amazing! Thank you! =D
I would incorporate it all into one lapbook, but that's just me. Doing lapbooks every week for 26 weeks might = burnout. I've seen it happen over and over again (moms getting tired of lapbooking so much). I L.O.V.E. lapbooks, and so do my kids, but there is no way we could do it every single week or 2 in one week. Just my .02! Every mom/child team is different!
