Setting up notebooks/binders..?

[momx3]

Hi everyone,
I will be using Beyond and Bigger this year with my dds. I checked to see what we will need and got the basic supplies. This is such a silly question, but how do I set this up for them??

I saw that you guys use plastic page protectors and tabs? I get the tab thing, separating subjects, etc. What are the plastic page protectors for?? Finished artwork? Copywork?

Would it be better to have a binder with tabs to divide the subjects....combining everything in one place, or different notebooks for each? I have an index card box for Bible verses and both girls have their own colored crates to keep everything organized.

When we used Weaver curriculum, they had a Timeline notebook with the pages dated and the dc just cut out and put each event in the notebook. Would something like that work? Using heavier paper like a sketch book? I'm just worried about index cards or paper timelines getting lost or destroyed! (We have a Chocolate lab that eats everything!)

I'm wish that I could figure this out......the school supplies are here and the curriculum is coming in a little at a time and I feel overwhelmed!

Thanks for your help. (I'm SO excited to start on the 30th! )
Kelley

[Tmisek]

Hi Kelley!

We just finished our first week of Bigger (after doing Beyond last year). I haven't used the page protector idea, but we use separate notebooks which has worked very well for us.

Last year in Beyond we used a wide-ruled composition notebook for copywork (and decorated the cover really nice). For the other work, I just used loose-leaf or manilla paper, hole-punched it, and put it in a binder.

For Bigger, we are using unlined sketchbooks with the heavy paper for the History and Science notebooks. The science notebook is then divided into 2 sections with a plastic sticky tab...the Bigger manual explains how many pages should be in each section (34, I think). We are using a composition book for dictation, and a plain spiral bound notebook to do English. For the timeline I glued two pieces of white paper to the inside of a manilla folder. For the Bible verses, we write them on a 4x6 note card and place them in a photo album. Vocabulary uses note-cards and a box with alphabetizers. We have decorated all the covers just to make them a little more special.

There are probably many ways to set up your subjects, but this is what has worked for us.

Whichever you choose, I am sure you will have a great year!

[momx3]

Tammy,
Thanks for the great ideas! I only have the Beyond manual right now, so when I get the Bigger manual, I'll check for tips.
I appreciate it!
Kelley