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Ladies,

I'm ordering my binders from Staples but need some advice on quantities and sizes. Do you keep separate 3 ring binders for each subject or do you combine? What size are your binders? We are already using composition books for dictation and Rod & Staff (we've been doing this for a few weeks and it's working beautifully).

Do you photocopy the poems for your child? How do you present the dictation passages to your child? We've been using the guide for that but I do need to give him a key for making his corrections when needed.

I found Julie's lovely Bigger prep. post and that was quite helpful. I am nervous about DITHOR for some reason.... But, I'm going to press on with it despite my (unreliable) feelings. We've chosen our book and project already....

We've just started Bigger and this is what we are starting with (I used most of Julie's list that you referenced):

One standard size binder w/dividers for History, Science and Science Experiments.
2 composition books - 1 for Dictation and 1 for R&S
1 notebook for Poetry

He copies the Poem right out of the book.

For dictation we are writing the passage on an index card and he makes his corrections on it. When he completes the passage then he can put a check by it in the main book. We tried right out of the book, but he has trouble if there is too much else on the page that we've started doing it this way. Plus, we have another one coming along that will use the same book so this keeps it clean for her. We'll probably get another index card box for the cards if we decide to keep them. Not sure yet...

We will begin DITHOR in the Fall so I haven't looked at what we will need for that yet.

Have fun organizing!
Laurie

We are doing Bigger this year with two sons.

abrightmom wrote:I'm ordering my binders from Staples but need some advice on quantities and sizes. Do you keep separate 3 ring binders for each subject or do you combine? What size are your binders?

Each child has two 3 ring binders (I think they are 2 inch, I thought 3 in. was too big). Each binder has two dividers. The dividers are labeled "History Notebooking", and "Poetry Copywork" for one... the others are labeled "Science Notebooking" and "Science Experiments". Also each has lots of page protectors, if you would like the exact number, I can give you that too .

abrightmom wrote:Do you photocopy the poems for your child? How do you present the dictation passages to your child? We've been using the guide for that but I do need to give him a key for making his corrections when needed.

For the poem, I make one photocopy and have them copy it from there (not my TM). For us it has worked really well to make all of my copies at one time and then I store them in my teacher binder (just a 1 inch binder I keep for myself). I have lots of copies though because we are also doing LHTH. I just keep anything I need in there, like my DITHOR reading list and Genre Lists for the kids, BIGGER poetry copies and dictaion, LHTH copies. Also for dictation I make a photocopy and my son doing dictation copies it from there, then we can put a check on the photocopy and stick it in a foder when we are finished.

The only thing I have added for DITHOR is a folder to put their finshed projects in (stuff that can fit into a folder anyway, like we of course could not put our story prism in it ). That is only because my dc enjoy keeping their stuff. Oh and the only other thing I think I will start that I do not do already is a folder or something for the art work... I currently am just keeping it in the pocket of our history binder. So if anyone has suggestions for that, it would be wonderful!!

BIGGER is soooooooooo much fun!!! YOu ARE going to LOOOVE it!

beverett wrote: Also each has lots of page protectors, if you would like the exact number, I can give you that too .

I'm not the op, but if you have these numbers handy, I'd love to hear. But only if you don't have to go to lots of effort to get them!!!

beverett wrote:BIGGER is soooooooooo much fun!!! YOu ARE going to LOOOVE it!

We'll be starting Bigger in August and I can't wait!

Heart mom, I am happy to share I saw someone else post it a while back when I was getting ready for bigger.
If I am wrong then someone pleease correct me! There are 34 weeks in bigger and each week you have 1-poem, 1-history notebooking, 1-science experiment page, and 1-science notebooking so you could put 34 page protectors in each section of your binder. I actually put 17 because i dont mind them being back to back in a protector together... the only time I havenot wated to do this is when they have run out of room on a page and had to go to the back (which is not often). So long story short you could do either 34 or 17 in each section, your choice

We won't start Bigger until July, but for Beyond this year I photocopied the poems and highlighted the poem with four different colors. My ds copies on color section per day.

beverett wrote:Heart mom, I am happy to share I saw someone else post it a while back when I was getting ready for bigger.
If I am wrong then someone pleease correct me! There are 34 weeks in bigger and each week you have 1-poem, 1-history notebooking, 1-science experiment page, and 1-science notebooking so you could put 34 page protectors in each section of your binder. I actually put 17 because i dont mind them being back to back in a protector together... the only time I havenot wated to do this is when they have run out of room on a page and had to go to the back (which is not often). So long story short you could do either 34 or 17 in each section, your choice

This is very helpful! Thank you so much! (I bet I'll do 17 for each section and just let them be back-to-back since it will be less expensive. )

twoxcell wrote:We won't start Bigger until July, but for Beyond this year I photocopied the poems and highlighted the poem with four different colors. My ds copies on color section per day.

This is a GREAT idea! Thanks for sharing!

Right now I have one 2inch binder with dividers... but will soon need to get one more. I just use a 3-hole punch and put everything directly in the binder. I write the unit and day in a corner of the paper for most things unless it says save for later.

RIght now we also just copy things straight from the TM. Although I could see it handy to make photocopies of the poetry and dictation. DD1 isn't having any trouble, but I could see DD2 getting distracted and reading other things

We have put everything into one big binder with tabs dividing it. This year the history notebook is in its own separate binder.

I highly recommend getting pre-three-hole-punched printer paper for any homeschooler.

birchbark wrote:
I highly recommend getting pre-three-hole-punched printer paper for any homeschooler.

I didn't even know this existed!

May I ask where you get yours? (Miller Pads and Paper, perhaps?)

Heart_Mom wrote:

birchbark wrote:
I highly recommend getting pre-three-hole-punched printer paper for any homeschooler.

I didn't even know this existed!

May I ask where you get yours? (Miller Pads and Paper, perhaps?)

I think you can get it at any office-supply store.

birchbark wrote:
I think you can get it at any office-supply store.

Okay, thanks! I'll check the next time I go...

birchbark wrote: I highly recommend getting pre-three-hole-punched printer paper for any homeschooler.

I agree. I buy mine at Walmart.