FIAR without Fold n' Learns?

[Natalie (SD)]

We have done a few lapbooks and one fold n learn, and then we realized we preferred to do it without . . . we have rowed about 30 books, and I am sure more than 20 of them have been without any extra added.

[erin kate]

Thanks for being so encouraging. Many, many thanks!

I have to admit that sometimes I see blogs with incredible lap books and I may have a little lap-book envy, but I am not one to love the planning of them.

[Jennifer Unsell]

We have been rowing for 10 years now and have only done a handful of fold-n-learns. You most definitely do not need them to make the lesson complete and wonderful. They are just one of those items that can add to the lessons, if you and your children enjoy them and desire to do them.

[Tricia O]

I must confess that I'm a wanna-be lapbooker/FNLer. I have actually bought most of the FNLs, mostly to help support the FIAR creators even though we never seem to actually get around to doing them.

[laurie in ok]

My kids have not been that into lapbooks either, so we don't use them. I have bought some of the holidays, and then simply used the information and did activities without making a lapbook.

FIAR has been around a lot longer than lapbooking. It might be nice to keep a notebook of the topics covered and things you learn as you go.

[Rivka Wald]

FIAR has been around a lot longer than lapbooking. .

One of the things I like most about FIAR is that there isn't an emphasis on making "products" to show that you are learning. We make some (art, sometimes labeled maps, etc.), but much of our FIAR notebook just shows photos of activities.

[Suz MamaFrog]

I needed "products" as Rivka calls them to create a portfolio acceptable to the state for evaluation. We started FIAR long before FNL's were even invented. I depended on homemade notebooking pages. DD has always enjoyed making her notebooks and lapbooks. And then HomeSchoolShare came along and I used a lot of their wonderful free printables, especially with DS, as he does NOT like making it up as he goes. We tried a few FNL's when they finally came along, but my kids never really got into them. We've always preferred doing things our way, I guess. So, no, you do not NEED the FNL's to do FIAR. But if you live in a state where some sort of documentation is required, you need SOMETHING to show that yes, they did actually learn something this year....

Blessings,
Suz

[Lisabee]

We use them if it's something I think will help him visualize an aspect of the book...but I'm very picky because I know which ones he will enjoy and the ones he won't. I say use them if you want, but don't freak out if you don't want to...I get lapbook envy too sometimes...but then I know I would freak out trying to stay on top of doing the lapbooking! LOL!

[MarieD]

My oldest did a total of FIVE lap books over the course of three years. They are NOT necessary for everyone. She didn't need them to learn the material.

My youngest did many many many lap books/fold 'n learns, as she is more "hands-on" with her learning.

Feel free to try 'em out, but if they don't work for your child, don't feel like your child isn't getting the full benefits of the curriculum.

[erin kate]

I needed "products" as Rivka calls them to create a portfolio acceptable to the state for evaluation. We started FIAR long before FNL's were even invented. I depended on homemade notebooking pages. DD has always enjoyed making her notebooks and lapbooks. And then HomeSchoolShare came along and I used a lot of their wonderful free printables, especially with DS, as he does NOT like making it up as he goes. We tried a few FNL's when they finally came along, but my kids never really got into them. We've always preferred doing things our way, I guess. So, no, you do not NEED the FNL's to do FIAR. But if you live in a state where some sort of documentation is required, you need SOMETHING to show that yes, they did actually learn something this year....

Blessings,
Suz

Thanks, Suz. Yes, we're in the same boat this year (next year we'll be back in our home state without "portfolio" laws) so I am being deliberate about documenting with simple notebooking, mapping, etc. Thanks for the reminder, too! I heard that the FIAR resources are coming off of homeschoolshare this month. Does anyone know if this rumor is true? That would make me sooooooo sad.