Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Literature

We changed how we were doing The Family School.
We decided that we like to study things in units rather than start a topic, pause, do a different subject, pause, go back to the first topic, pause, start a new topic, pause...

Once we started Little House in the Big Woods, we didn't want to stop.
We are trying a unit approach for the rest of the year.
I think we are going to enjoy it.
Lucky for us, we home school, so we can change our minds if we want to.

I minored in English at B.Y.U.
One of the things I was required to do was annotate.
I loved to annotate.


Here is a small sampling of my annotating style...way back then.









As you can see, my doodling urge has always been rather strong.
My professor liked the doodles.

I was thrilled when I discovered that The Family School has an annotating method!
We get to draw in our books!




I made the kids bookmarks with the system so they can mark with ease.


I got permission to share The Family School's Literature Pen System.  If you would like to give it a try in your own reading, here are some bookmarks for you!




And  a quote.




I used my one sided borders to decorate the boomarks and the quote.  You can get them here:
I have a few different colored options as well.  They are great for when you just need a little something to add to a project.

Each of the kids have a book that I read just with them.  
When I showed them my college books, they got so excited when I told them that they get to write in their books too.  Some of you are probably cringing right now.  Who tells their kids to write and draw in their books??  

I guess I do.

Although, I will make sure they know that I get to choose which books they get to annotate...

6 comments:

  1. Thank you for the word art! I really believe we have gotten away from reading classics that are immortal. What a great reminder. We need to pass those on. Love seeing you annotating style. I was taking notes on good and thoughtful books as I was reading them. I looked those notes over and thought, I will never read these notes. I decided it was much more efficient to write in the books, so this has really helped me. Is the style you did in college like the style you are teaching the kiddos to do? Any suggestions for those of us who aren't doing it for school, just for pleasure, retention, and to remember the important points and lessons of the book? Thanks for all the ideas and inspiration you share!! Loving your creativity!! We sure are missing all of you!! Would love to be reading those books with you!!!!

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  2. Thank you for putting the bookmark up. I am looking forward to how it will help me look at the books I am reading. Love your creations!! They are so much fun for the kids and for me!!!!

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  3. Thank you for sharing your bookmarks! They are so much cuter than the ones I made :) I love that we are supposed to write in our books for Family School as well!

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  4. So awesome! I like this quote from CS Lewis too . . . "“Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage."
    xoxoxo

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  5. I love this. I love to look through my annotations in old books! I never thought about letting the kids do it too!

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  6. You make 2 very important points. 1) Read GOOD books, including classics. 2) Think about what you read and what you've learned from it. Annotating is a great way to do that.
    That said, I doubt I will ever get over my decades-old apprehension about writing in a book I'm reading. (Dan turns down page corners - I can't even make myself do that.) I think I'll wimp out and just keep with the translucent stickies that point to interesting/significant statements. I do review all my stickies when done with a book though, and do think about the issues. Of course, your way is waaaay cuter and more creative than my way...as per usual. I also really like HInkley's quote that you made into a poster. Love and miss you all!

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