Tuesday 10 September 2013

Journals in Homeschool

This is rather an interesting topic.  My first question was "What's the difference between a journal and a notebook ?" Over the years I've heard both terms used interchangeably and wondered if they were the same thing or not.

notebook [ˈnəʊtˌbʊk] n
  1. a book for recording notes or memoranda 
  2. (Economics, Accounting & Finance / Banking & Finance) a book for registering promissory notes
  3. a book of or for notes, esp. a book or binder of blank, often ruled pages for recording notes
  4. a small, lightweight laptop computer.

jour·nal (jûrnl) n.
  1. Personal. A personal record of occurrences, experiences, and reflections kept on a regular basis;
    a diary.
    b. An official record of daily proceedings, as of a legislative body.
    c. Nautical A ship's log. 
  2. Accounting
    a. A day book.
    b. A book of original entry in a double-entry system, listing all transactions and indicating the accounts to which they belong. 
  3. A newspaper. 
  4. A periodical presenting articles on a particular subject: a medical journal. 
  5. Engineering / Mechanical Engineering
    The part of a machine shaft or axle supported by a bearing. 
  6. Government, Politics & Diplomacy
    an official record of the proceedings of a legislative body 
  7. a periodical or magazine, esp. one published for a group, learned society, or profession.
After having a good look at the definitions I discovered that it depends of the use of the book as to the correct term used.  You would keep a personal journal in a lined notebook or you could use a lined notebook to keep an official journal. It really does become a play on words.

Homeschool Notebooking
Within the home education community however notebooking refers to a school folder in which a student records what they have learned.  There are some amazingly creative home educators who create some rather impressive notebook pages for a variety of educational topics.  You don't need a fancy page however you can simply used lined paper and write out your thoughts.

Notebook Page Resources
Homeschool Journal
Journaling with in the homeschool community often refers to a more intimate and decorated book.  Although some homeschoolers will journal along a notebooking style. More often than not however they would use journaling in Nature Study.

For the last couple of years I have been journaling here about my week in the Homeschool Mother's Journal. This is a great link up to meet like minded homeschoolers and a relaxed way to keep a diary journal of what you've been up to. I have always intended on starting a Nature journal/notebook and recently Sir N and I started one as spring is upon us.

Journal inspiration

If you are after an inspirational book on Journaling I highly recommend books from the author Gwen Diehn.  In particular try to get her book The Decorated Journal {Creating Beautifully Expressive Journal Pages}. This book is full of inspiration.  She shares a multitude of ways to do a journal and how to personalise a journal as well as the educational benefits of different types of journals.



Do you use journaling or notebooking and what are your favourite resources ?

Blessings
Chareen
This post is part of the Homeschool Help series brought to you by a group of homeschool Mom's from around the globe.  Do not forget to visit and read their inspirational insight.



This week
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4 comments:

  1. Great post. We love notebooking as it really engages the learner with whatever we are studying. We have never journaled before...but I am intrigued by perhaps blending the concepts...getting a little more of "them" into the engagement. :)

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  2. What a great article about the difference between Journals & Notebooks! We love them both...sometimes the terminology can be confusing...Thanks:)

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  3. Wow you pulled together some brilliant resources, Chareen - thank you!
    I love looking at definitions in the way you have. There's almost always some new idea or other sparked!

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  4. Interesting. I always thought journaling was a record of personal thoughts, but after reading some math journal, art journal and nature journal ideas from other educators, I now think it's more of a personal record book.

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