I tell my kids that notebooking is simply a representation of what they’ve learnt in a lesson. It needs to have

• a title
• a graphic
• words

Though some people like to use notebook templates (which you can either get for free online, or buy at various places), we prefer to make ours from scratch.  This allows for a lot of design work which is important in this day and age when communication is so visual.

• Some of my children enjoy some scrapbooking type tools and techniques – like punches, borders, fancy titles, coloured paper behind the graphic/picture etc
• Sometimes they draw, or do other artwork
• Sometimes is it cutting out coloured paper to make shapes/pictures
• Sometimes it is a map, chart or clip art.
• Some of my children like to use the computer, using programmes such as Microsoft Word, Publisher or Powerpoint,
• Sometimes they use a digital scrapbooking programme, like Creative Memories Storybook Creator Plus.

But keep in mind that it is to represent what they have learnt.  I keep the ‘words’ part equal to their writing abilities.  So if they are doing oral narrations (as the beginning of their language arts programme) then I write what they say, if they are up to copywork, then their notebook pages are their copywork for the day, if they can write 1 sentence, that is what I expect – their notebook pages reflect their growth in language arts right up to when we do away with the graphic part and they are writing essays (senior highschool)