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Mackfam
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| Posted: Feb 19 2014 at 5:46pm | IP Logged
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AmandaV wrote:
Jen, sorry that I haven't added to the discussion. I finished Ch. 1 a few days after your post on that section. I wanted to comment, or make my blog public, but there just hasn't been time! But I am enjoying the discussion! :)
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Oh, I so understand that time to read is often when we can grab a bit here and there!! Let's make this completely open-ended, Amanda!! The posts and comments won't close! They're open and I welcome comments and sharing at any time! Please - if you ever do get time to make your blog notes public, Amanda, I'd love to read it! And if you get time to comment on a particular section - there's no time limit or expiration!! I'm hoping you'll all feel welcome to jump in to the book discussion at any time - it's an *open notebook*! Couldn't resist! 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Feb 19 2014 at 5:53pm | IP Logged
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And now...I'm officially serial posting. 
But, I did want to add that one of my favorite notebooks is digital and free: Evernote.
I use Evernote as a place to organize notes and ideas, and inspired by Celeste, I organize our Morning Basket Memory Work there. I keep our Audio Files for hymns and folk songs there, as well as biographies for artists, and paintings for picture study, too. Evernote is a fabulous teacher notebook!
I also keep articles for a period of history organized there (usually for background reading or for older kids reading), and I organize science resources there in notebooks, too. It's great for craft ideas...almost anything!
It's helpful to keep many of my resources organized in these digital notebooks since there is so much available online for our help. The ease of use is what is very appealing to me, too. I can clip online and sync with my offline notebook to use.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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MarilynW
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O Jen, I do so love you and your serial postings and your excitement about notebooks! 
I am intrigued about Evernote - have made a note in my planner to investigate. Do you use your laptop or your phone or your ipad during the school day - eg for audio selections etc? I only have a laptop and am hoping that I can try Evernote on this.
I will be looking at all those notebook recommendations. I do need to try and sign off this lovely thread though - otherwise I never will file taxes or do college financial forms. I do find doing them very vexing, but they need to be done and the promise of beauty and notebooking and the Laurie Bestvater book will keep me going.
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Marilyn
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Mackfam
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Good luck getting your taxes done, Marilyn!  ...but so exciting that you have a fantastic reward lined up for when you're done!! 
MarilynW wrote:
| I am intrigued about Evernote - have made a note in my planner to investigate. Do you use your laptop or your phone or your ipad during the school day - eg for audio selections etc? I only have a laptop and am hoping that I can try Evernote on this. |
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I primarily use my laptop. But you can use any of those devices - there's an app for all of them. When we have errands or it's a car-schooling day, I can bring our ipad along. Since Evernote syncs across all devices, I just have to open Evernote on the ipad and there are all my notebooks: the Morning Basket, my history notebooks, science, our audio files, poetry, art - everything. It's enough that we can easily complete a solid day of school using my Evernote notebooks on a day out so that I may ask for some reading time once we're home, but the majority of the school day is complete!
I think Evernote works across a variety of platforms (I use it on a mac, an ipad, and my phone and love how it syncs seamlessly):
Android
iPhone
Windows
iPad
Mac
Hopefully Celeste will chime in with her thoughts, too, since she's the one that inspired me in the first place!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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JennGM
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| Posted: Feb 19 2014 at 8:34pm | IP Logged
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Jen, I'm so excited that you are on board with Bernau. 
I appreciate the practical advice on the notebooks.
And the Evernote answers my unasked question -- what about the digital notebook? I started an account, but didn't follow through to get to know it.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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DominaCaeli
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Mackfam wrote:
Hopefully Celeste will chime in with her thoughts, too, since she's the one that inspired me in the first place! |
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To think that *I* inspired the great JEN! ;) I echo Marilyn's sentiments in that I'm happy to help whenever I can.
Like Jen mentioned, I have been using Evernote for our memory work for a couple years now. I can't imagine using anything else--it's so perfectly suited for this purpose. I can add mp3s, pdfs, cut-and-paste, move from one note to another as we move a selection from daily work, then weekly, then monthly. I set things up on my laptop (it's easier to move things around when I have a regular keyboard/mouse rather than trying to do those things on an app), then use my phone or tablet to play through that day's memory work at the breakfast table. So like Jen said, it's completely portable. But you could also just use the laptop version if you prefer that.
(I also use Evernote for all my school planning. So I consider it indispensable for more uses that just memory work. But I do think it's a particularly great match.)
For nature journals: we use the Canson field sketchbooks Jen linked and love them. My daughter and I have the 9x12 and my son likes the 7x10. No complaints! I also buy watercolor paper in various sizes (ATC-size and the Ready-Cut sheets that Strathmore makes), and we do our watercolor washes on those and tape them in.
You can see our Calendar of Firsts here. My version is less strict--I include both "firsts" as well as just general notes as we notice them ("sycamores are half-bare" or "seems like we have more robins in the backyard lately," etc.). I printed the pages on white cardstock and keep them in a regular black binder that also houses are life lists, our yard maps, our annual gardening notes, etc. We started it last January, so now we're getting to the point where we can compare one year to the other--and wow, it's so fun! Seriously, I've been geeking out this past month over how the first blossom on our plum tree was exactly two weeks "early" this year and other nature trivia!
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Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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Mackfam
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DominaCaeli wrote:
| (I also use Evernote for all my school planning. So I consider it indispensable for more uses that just memory work. But I do think it's a particularly great match.) |
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I started using Evernote in my planning and gathering of resources this year, and love it! So, I really wanted to highlight Celeste's mention of it! As I plan, I grab resources, and articles, even book links (clipping a picture of a book I want to consider and follow up on). Then, I break the notes out of planning notebooks into Term notebooks for particular children. The past two terms, I grouped several articles together for my high school dd studying current events...and Physics videos, biographies of authors, etc.
Since there are basic word processing features as part of Evernote, I can add notes, thoughts, and specific assignments right to the top of a note. I can add a table, text, link, divider lines. For Latin, I can even record myself carefully enunciating the Latin vocabulary and attach it right to the note. It's a very versatile notebook tool for the home educator!
Also, if we're focusing on specific themes in nature study, for example, I might research those themes a bit, and drop articles and illustrations into Evernote so that I have it all at hand when we start studying that particular thing during the term.
I think Evernote is a fantastic way to organize "digital notebooks", and is especially well suited to teacher notebooks and planning. There are just so many great resources online that are such a help! Evernote lets you organize in notebooks, adding notes and thoughts, and you can even email your notes.
So....just adding on to Celeste's inspiring thoughts on Evernote as a digital notebook.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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pumpkinmom
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I'm making it a goal to figure out Evernote in the near future!! I can really see using this for planning. Right now I'm using Pinterest, bookmark folders, and printing stuff out (but my filing is poor) and it barely works. I would like to have it all in one place!! Someone should start an Evernote planning thread to helps others get started!  Please!
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Cassie
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greengables
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Me too! I really hope to figure out Evernote at least by the beginning of the summer.
It has been a long time since I have posted or even gotten on to 4 real and I am always thankful to you ladies for all the helps on 4real!
Thank you all!
Greengables
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ElizLeone
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This string has been so helpful, and I too would love to see an Evernote planning post!  Thanks to all you ladies for your wonderful ideas.
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Elizabeth in Wisconsin
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greengables
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Mackfam wrote:
DominaCaeli wrote:
| (I also use Evernote for all my school planning. So I consider it indispensable for more uses that just memory work. But I do think it's a particularly great match.) |
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I started using Evernote in my planning and gathering of resources this year, and love it! ...
I think Evernote is a fantastic way to organize "digital notebooks", and is especially well suited to teacher notebooks and planning. There are just so many great resources online that are such a help! Evernote lets you organize in notebooks, adding notes and thoughts, and you can even email... |
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Wow! I started using Evernote during a long drive yesterday and today.
I was able to transfer some 40+ random notes into 11 useful notebooks. The notes are now organized - easy to find and easy to add to, albeit boring - no mp3, pics, etc..., but I have begun.
ElizLeone wrote:
| This string has been so helpful, and I too would love to see an Evernote planning post! Thanks to all you ladies for your wonderful ideas. |
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I second that, Elizabeth.
If someone starts a thread on Evernote, it won't hurt my feelings - even if it isn't a tutorial, but more a place to ask a question about it. After all, there is a lot to it!
I will start with the first question! So... We'll just "pretend" I have created a fabulous "Jen-like" OR "Celeste-like" notebook on ...say... Memory work or a particular nature study like birds. Is it possible for the child to access that Evernote on an iPad or iPhone WITHOUT accidentally deleting or changing the notebook? OR do I need to be very careful to teach him by walking him through it and explaining how to use it and what you want to be careful NOT to do?
Sorry that was such a wordy question! I know there is a much simpler way to ask, "how do you keep a child from making accidental changes on an Evernote notebook?" There! I said it!
I am still having trouble using 4real -quoting and all that. It is amazing I was able to use Evernote at all!
Greengables
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DominaCaeli
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greengables wrote:
| Is it possible for the child to access that Evernote on an iPad or iPhone WITHOUT accidentally deleting or changing the notebook? |
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Yes, it is possible! There are two options, I think:
:: Create an Evernote account for your child and then "share" the notebooks you want him to view. If you don't want him to be able to make changes, you can check that under the share invite--there's an option to make it view-only.
:: Have the child access the notebooks through your account. If he's looking at your notes on a phone or tablet, he'll have to click the edit button to make changes anyway. It's not immediately editable in mobile format. So it's riskier but protected slightly in that regard--unless he chooses to load it in an edit screen, it will just be viewable. (On a computer, this is not the case.)
Hope that helps! (Jen can chime in and correct me if I'm wrong here. I have only sparingly used shared notebooks, so I don't have much experience. ;))
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Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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Mackfam
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pumpkinmom wrote:
| Someone should start an Evernote planning thread to helps others get started! Please! |
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ElizLeone wrote:
| This string has been so helpful, and I too would love to see an Evernote planning post! Thanks to all you ladies for your wonderful ideas. |
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greengables wrote:
ElizLeone wrote:
| This string has been so helpful, and I too would love to see an Evernote planning post! Thanks to all you ladies for your wonderful ideas. |
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I second that, Elizabeth.
If someone starts a thread on Evernote, it won't hurt my feelings - even if it isn't a tutorial, but more a place to ask a question about it. After all, there is a lot to it! |
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Here you are, ladies! A thread just for Evernote!!
Using Evernote In Planning
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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JennGM
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Mackfam wrote:
MarilynW wrote:
| I can't wait until I get my book! It will be my treat for filing taxes and college financial aid applications. |
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How exciting! Like a little mini-conference in a book! And do jump in with your comments if you get a chance, Marilyn! I'd love your take on things!
MarilynW wrote:
| Please would you share what notebooks you use - especially for Commonplace Books. |
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Well...thanks to you, I can excitedly answer!
History - Book of Centuries
Fusion Sketch Book - 9 x 12. This is a change for us (the Bestvater research and explanation of the BOC from her book - within the context of the other history tools used in CM schools was the catalyst for me to make this change. I really considered carefully making this change. I'm content with it and eager to get started). My oldest finished her BOC this year. We enjoyed going through her work. It was delightful. My current 8th grader is halfway through a similar book. After reading the Bestvater book, considering the format, and talking with my son (who prefers something a bit more streamlined anyway), we're going to move some of his work over to the Fusion book that will be formatted as the CM Book of Centuries were. My 3rd son is in 4th grade this year, and he'll start his BOC this upcoming term. He'll start fresh in the Fusion.
Nature Sketch Books
Field Sketch Book in 8" x 8" - I am thrilled to have found the 8 x 8 square size. My lefty will be able to choose to have the binding up top! We used a different brand that was discontinued and everyone is about 2 pages away from finishing...so I had to quickly research to find a new brand of Nature Sketch book, too. It's been notebooking-themed-research here for a few months! Which could explain why I'm nearly gushing! I've looked, considered, compared and your help was the last piece of the puzzle so I've got my decisions made and order in...all set to arrive before we begin our final spring term of work in a couple of weeks! 
Copybooks
I use a combination of Notebooking Pages and various journals. My boys prefer these engineering and science notebooks which they also use as their...science notebooks. Also enjoyed at times are the Bienfang Notesketch books in various sizes.
Commonplace Books
For my older teen daughter and my teen son, hands down, their preference are the lined Moleskine notebooks. They prefer the notebooks with the small pocket in the back cover...for storing treasures like concert tickets, etc. You might see if your boys like them, Marilyn. You can usually find them almost EVERYWHERE in a variety of sizes. My kids like the flexible covers. *I* prefer covers that are a bit "floofier" and prettier...so I often have floral covered notebooks. Right now, I'm on a Martha Stewart kick - I just LOVE, LOVE the lined journals in Robin's Egg Blue, of course!
We do keep various other notebooks at different times, and so I keep a small supply of Moleskines and simple journals on hand for those. I always keep the engineering notebooks in supply here. Boys work through those quickly! Everyone here prefers a lined journal so that's what we keep on hand.
Eager to hear what y'all use...and gather any new ideas!! |
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All these examples are great. I'm looking for a good Commonplace book that can lay flat and thick and receptive for calligraphy and gouache. It's not watercolor, so it doesn't need to be that absorbent, but it does need to be thicker than an average notebook paper.
Lines and blank pages would be best, but probably blank would be preference. How thick is the paper for the Fusion notebook, Jen?
I'm thinking I need to go with the nature study route.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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MarilynW
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I just received my book. So excited. Paperwork more or less done, so I can focus on Lent and reading and planning.
When Lent is over I am going to investigate evernote. I have no smartphone or tablet, but it may be useful to me on my laptop.
Will be back soon to share about our notebooks for school. My 6 year old told me today that his notebooks are his best part about school! He is such a sweet boy - he struggles a little with his handwriting, but loves to write and draw and color in his notebooks.
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Mackfam
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JennGM wrote:
All these examples are great. I'm looking for a good Commonplace book that can lay flat and thick and receptive for calligraphy and gouache. It's not watercolor, so it doesn't need to be that absorbent, but it does need to be thicker than an average notebook paper.
Lines and blank pages would be best, but probably blank would be preference. How thick is the paper for the Fusion notebook, Jen? |
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From this thread, I shared this about the paper in the Fusion Notebook:
Mackfam wrote:
The weight is 120 gsm. (conversion --> gsm / 1.5 = lbs.) So, the Fusion sketchbook paper is 80 lb paper, which is pretty substantial weight paper, really. That's usually enough for a light dry brush watercolor for us, but not a full wet watercolor painting if that's what you're looking to do.
For more than you EVER wanted to know about paper and weight...
It isn't quite as heavy as standard watercolor paper, which can vary from 90 lb - 300 lb paper, but the watercolor weight paper we regularly use (Canson) is 120 lb and has no bend in it at all. Standard copy paper is about 24 lb. So, that might give you a little bit of a frame of reference. Maybe you knew that, though...if so...I'm afraid that would make you as much a paper geek as me! |
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Having the notebooks now, I like the weight of the paper (80 lb). It's not super stiff, like a heavy cardstock would be, but is definitely heavier than a standard page of copy paper (which is usually around 20 lb). I like the lightly lined pages that are opposite blank pages. It works well as a Book of Centuries. My 8th grader was making entries in his today and commented on the layout and design as being helpful as well as unobtrusive. I also like that the paper takes nice pens well with no feathering.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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AmandaV
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Since everyone's been sharing favorite notebooks to use for CM notebook forms, I added one more option by our own Michele Quigley, over on this Two Books of Centuries thread.
AmandaV wrote:
I wanted to remind everyone about Michele's "Mapping History" as her store is now partially back up for the spring. I can't link directly to it, but we have it and it is lovely. I was excited to start with my fourth grader this year, but he is a youngish fourth grader( will be 10 this summer) and it hasn't seemed he is quite ready yet, though we may start later this spring and summer as we year round at least this year. The paper is lovely and the layout is as Laurie described in her article and in The Living Page. Left side is blank, right side is lined. The pages are not dated, that is left to the student. The pages are an ivory color and a nice weight, landscape with binding on left side, and a beautiful cover protected by a clear cover, as well as a plastic back cover. Spiral bound so it lays flat. I am looking forward to watching my son use it and I think it will make a nice keepsake. I'd love to get my own as well at some point as I learn with the children!
You can see some images on the Mater Amabilis Facebook page if you are a member, and search "mapping history." |
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Amanda
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MarilynW
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Just a quick note to say that I am LOVING the book. It is inspiring ME to notebook along with my kids - unlike them I am a perfectionist and I find it hard to get started. I just need to start....
I am reading very slowly, but hope to go and check Jen's blog once I have read a bit more.
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Marilyn
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Charlotte Mason's Notebooks
