Old Blog Post I Forgot I Wrote in 2010!

I just left a comment on a blog and followed the link it created to my blogger blog from 2 1/2 yrs ago!!! I had no idea that I had even started a blog. This was weeks before Lil’ Red was born. Yikes, now I’m gonna try to get those deleted and focus on this blog:) For anyone curious as to what I wrote here’s my only entry until today that has been viewed 254 times, lol!

Quick Tips with Lapbooking

1. Check your printer settings. Our printer allows multiples pages to be shrunk and put into 1 page. So you can make elements a better size for your lapbook instead of having a full page document. If you find a few coloring pages and want to use them in your lapbook put 2 or 4 on a page from your print menu. You will end up with really cute elements small enough to put into minibooks. Only print the pages your really need if you downlaod a free kit. No need to print an entire 30 page lesson just to print 3 pages of lapbook elements that you want to use.

2. SAVE IT!! If you see a lapbook, links to lapbook resources, or links elements you think your child may be interested in then save it. If you research a topic or theme you want to learn about or your child might be interested in the future. SAVE IT. Things change VERY quickly online and I have been disappointed to find links that no longer work.

3. Gather Supplies. Get your basic supplies ready to go ahead of time. Make sure you have enough file folders, cardstock, colored paper, scissors, glue/tape, stickers, colored pencils/crayons, etc. You may want to keep your supplies together once you print out your lapbook elements and put them together by theme in a file folder. (Especially if you have more than one child or theme going at a time.)

4. Watch a video. There are some awesome demo’s for lapbooking. Watch these and you will understand how to fold things and put things together to create your own from scratch. Plus knowing what you are doing BEFORE engaging the kids will make your life a little easier and your lapbooking go more smoothly.

5. Swagbucks/Google search it. Do not be afraid to shamelessly search for topics or themes for your lapbook! Look for free ideas, themes, elements. Use some of the following general terms to help in searching.
lapbook basics
free lapbooks
free ____ worksheets
free minibooks
free ____ coloring pages
free printables
free Christian printbales

6. Favorite/bookmark Blogs. remember to visit homeschooling blogs. Favorite them for future reference and ideas. Usually a family that blogs about lapbooks or unit studies has links to free printables or other blogs that talk about lapbooks. These other blogs will usually provide more free lapbooking, notebooking, or printable ideas. There’s soooo much out there it’s truly incredible.

I hope this give you some of you new homeschoolers or new to lapbooking encouragement. Do not pay big bucks for a lapbook theme UNTIL you’ve exhausted all your free resources!