The Learner's Journal
Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>
If you have just joined this e-mail list,
this is not the regular newsletter! If you haven't
received the July issue on Tackling the Trouble
Spots, e-mail me and I will send it to you.
I will actually be printing an August issue, even
though the Hope Chest is still technically a
bi-monthly. The topic is Character Building,
and I would love to hear your thoughts on this!
Many of you have asked if I will be selling
The Learner's Journal again this year. (For
those who don't know, it is a weekly lesson
planning and resource log book that I
designed last year based on ten years of
record keeping.) Yes, I do plan to print another
batch of them in a couple of weeks, but I
want to consider some improvements to
the design. I'd love to hear your opinion!
As of now, each weekly page spread is like this:
On the left hand side are nine blocks titled:
Bible & Character
Language Arts
Math
Social Studies
Science & Health
Arts
Other
Gather & Prepare Supplies
Comments
This is where you can write your lesson plans
or jot down what you have accomplished for that
subject. The blocks measure about 2.5"x.2.25"
(5.5 cm x 6 cm). Each of the blocks is sectioned
off into five lines so that you can divide the work
daily, if you wish.
At the bottom of this left hand page is a small
"Schedule of Events" section with blocks for Monday
- Friday. This part is so you can fill in any special
events, lessons, project deadlines, etc.
On the right hand page is the Resource Log, with
columns for Date, Title, Author, Format/Topic.
Here is where you can list all of the books, tapes,
videos, magazines, kits, et al, that you have used
this week. The format/topic column allows you to
specify that "Lyrical Life Science" is a musical tape
about the human body or that "Beyond the Next
Mountain" is a video about India, or that "The Ocean
of Truth" is a biography of Sir Isaac Newton. For a
younger child, you can also specify whether they
read it independently or your read it to them. I feel
that including this detail helps our records to be
more meaningful than a title alone!
Also, at the very beginning of the book there is a
page for "Major Resources Used This Year."
Here is where you can list the text book or work
books which you plan to use on a regular basis.
The columns in this page include: Subject,
Title, Abbreviation Used in Planner, Author or
Publisher, Format (text, workbook, kit, etc.).
The front cover is uncluttered and attractive,
suitable for students of every age. The back
cover has nine witty and/or profound quotes
about books. Last year I offered the journals
in eyepopping shades of red, yellow, blue and
pink, as well as a nice mellow ivory. The
cardstock is protected by clear plastic covers.
You will need one Learner's Journal per child.
So, here are my questions:
For those who used the Learner's Journal last
year, what did you like and what did you NOT like
about it? Was it easy enough for your older children
to use independently? (Please be honest. I have
"thick skin" and I truly want to know how to improve it.)
If I decide to add some features, please tell me which
would helpful to you:
* a summary page to list field trips
* a summary page to list special projects
* a page to commemorate academic milestones
* a space on the weekly pages to tally cumulative days
And finally, just so I can know a ballpark number to print,
how many of you would be interested this year? (This is
not an obligation to order.) What colors would you want?
I appreciate your help with this project. I had fun with it
last year, and apparently folks liked them enough to
want to use them again!
Thanks!
Virginia Knowles
http://www.hopechest.homestead.com/welcome.html