When we received our package, the first thing I did was make sure we had everything. Then, I went through and put washi tape on the binding of each book. On the washi tape, I labeled what box the book was used for and what units it was used (unless it was used the whole guide. I use a different washi tape for each guide, so I can easily see what guide a book is used for when it is on the bookshelf. I use one washi tape for all DITHOR (literature study) books. On the washi tape, I put the genre, level, and how many days it is used. I also put clear contact paper on the guide, to keep it in good shape.
Then it was time to get everything set up. First, I created a binder for history. This binder has the notebooking pages from HOD in it. The notebooking pages came with a piece of chipboard, already hole punched. I simply cut a single slit in each of the holes, so my daughter can move it without opening the binder rings. This way she can place it behind the current unit page, giving her a firmer surface to write on. And that is all I did to set up the first binder.
The second binder I set up was for science. I could have just put the inventor study notebooking pages in the binder and called it done. But, I didn't love how the guidebook opened, and I thought it might frustrate my daughter. So, I heated up the edge of the logbook with a hair dryer, and removed the pages from it. I then hole punched them and placed them in the binder. I used removable sticky tabs to mark the beginning of each section of the textbook. At the end of the logbook, there are a few template pages. I put them in a page protector, so my daughter can get them out easier. The index pages are after that page protector, so they are easy to find.
The third binder took the longest to get set up. First, it has the student pages for geography, printed from the MapTrek CDs. There is a file in the Facebook group for this guide that lists what maps are used with each section, which made printing easier! I wrote at the bottom of each page what unit the map was used for, to make it easier for my daughter to determine what map to use. I then placed them in the binder in that order. The second section in the binder is Worthy Words. This box is intended to be done orally, but my daughter prefers to be more independent. And if I don't remember, she just skips reporting to me. So, I printed the questions for each unit so she can jot down answers. I don't require full sentences, but I want to see she is getting the gist of the assignment in her quick answers. I also found a page explaining purpose and tone. I put that page into a page protector which serves as a divider in the guide. The last section is the material for the composer study, taken from the Amy Pak CD. I tried to organize them by how we would use them. Some pages I put in page protectors. Some items I pre-cut for my daughter, and then put those pieces in ziplock bags. I am still not 100% sure how it will all go together, but I think I have everything printed at least.
The last thing I put together was the MapTrek teacher maps. I decided to go with one binder for all the maps (RtR-MtMM). I put the pages into page protectors to ensure they last through all of my children.
The other items we have are:
1. 3 composition books for language arts - 1 for dictation, 1 for grammar, and 1 for writing. We continue these year after year until they are full.
2. Common Place book. My daughter's original one got destroyed, so I purchased a new one this year. I am contemplating going through the guide and noting what should be written each unit so I can confirm it is getting done.
3. Math. We are going back to Horizons Pre-Algebra. I am just not confident that Principles of Math is a great option for our family. I find the textbook lacking, the word problems often overly wordy, and more typos that I want to deal with.
4. DITHOR. We are moving on to Level 6/7/8 this year. I have decided to keep the books well "hidden" so my daughter can't read ahead.
5. Dictation - I print out the passages and put them in a report cover. We are still continuing a level from last year, so there was no preparing for the start of the year. But we will likely change levels mid-year. (Report cover under dictation composition book)
And I think that is it. We are ready to begin next week!
