CTC notebooking pages - small spaces, what do you do?

[Aimee]

Good morning;
We're using CTC for our two 11-year-old sons, as well as our 13-yo son, with extensions. The two younger boys are using the notebooking pages, and we are having some trouble with the small amount of space provided for narrations. They are both decent writers and aren't struggling with the writing process, and they both have nice handwriting skills, but the boxes seem extremely small, and they have to write in tiny letters to fit their narrations into the boxes. It is even more difficult with the handwriting verses, where they might be asked to copy several verses of scripture into a tiny box. I was really considering ditching the pages, despite the $ investment in them, and using blank books for their narrations, but the boys have protested and really seem to like the pages.

Has anyone else struggled with this space issue? For what it's worth, perhaps this issue could be considered, if the pages are revised? At our house, I'm telling the guys they may start their narrations in the box, and finish on looseleaf paper we'll add to the notebook, or use the box for illustrating their narration, and use looseleaf paper to write the whole narration. I'd love to hear if anyone else has found a solution.

[LynnH]

What we did last year was I would cut a piece of paper that was the same width as the boxes, but longer and so my ds would write on the paper and then I would glue it in the box and fold the extra paper up like a letter if that makes sense. It worked out very well.

[Aimee]

I think I can picture that - it makes sense and keeps it together. Thanks for the suggestion!

[LynnH]

You can see it in a picture on my blog from last year http://graceandfur.blogspot.com/2010/10 ... d-927.html. You will notice my ds types his written narrations because he has dysgraphia due to Cerebral Palsy so he writes some things and types others. He always writes the copywork though so that is why we needed to add paper.

[Aimee]

This looks great, thanks for sharing that visual. I love the way you have made it work for him; we do a lot of that sort of thing by necessity here, and I like this suggestion. My perfectionist who wants to stay in the boxes will really appreciate this suggestion and I think it will meet his needs too.
Thanks again!

[Tiffini]

Hi! This may not work for you, but we had the same problem last year, and solved it by typing up the narration, printing it out and glue-sticking it into the notebook. It worked great for us and helped the kids with typing skills, too!

[Carrie]

Aimee,

I'm glad that you are getting a chance to use CTC! We enjoyed it ourselves with our own sons.

With our own boys, we didn't run into any challenges with the space of the notebook pages, but the amount of space needed will likely vary widely from child to child. It actually would be pretty difficult to "ditch using the pages", as the pages contain much more than just boxes within which to record narrations and copywork. Everything in the pages is keyed to the guide and many supplemental materials needed are within the notebook pages. The pages are much more than just a pretty face!

Lynn was so kind to share the advice that I gave her for her own child last year (on how to compensate for the needs of her son's CP and disgraphia) within the notebook by adding a folded piece of paper to any boxes as needed. The ladies on the board are so willing to help, and we are grateful daily for them and their shared experiences!

Another helpful tip to keep in the mind is the intended length of the written narrations scheduled within the CTC guide. I am away from home right now, however if I remember right, the number of sentences for narrations I believe is 5-7 sentences at the most. This makes the box size provided for the narrations very manageable. At HOD, we begin with shorter narrations in order for kiddos to work on the skills listed in the Appendix of CTC that go along with written narrations.

I'm so glad that you asked here for suggestions before foregoing the notebook pages. The pages will truly make a beautiful keepsake and are designed with the specific needs of each guide in mind. As your kiddos get used to the space provided, it will likely get easier to work within it, especially as your children head into middle school and look toward high school and the smaller writing that often accompanies those years.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Aimee]

Thanks, Carrie. We actually did implement Lynn's suggestion today, and my perfectionistic ds11 was very pleased with how it turned out. No fear of ditching the pages - he was no-way, no-how going to let that happen! You will perhaps be happy to know, the boys are really enjoying the pages, and now, having completed four weeks of them, are really excited about what they've done. This particular guy in question is so hard working and has lovely handwriting, but is missing several fingers, and it's perhaps more work for him to fit it all in neatly. Using an extra bit of folded paper seems to give him just the space he needs, and lets him keep using the notebooking pages.
Thanks to you both, and thank you to Tiffini too, that is a great suggestion to keep in mind.