Main Lesson Book creators: what makes a good page?

[annettemarie]

We use main lesson books, although not always in a strictly Waldorf way. One of the things I ask him to sometimes do is gather information on a topic and create a main lesson book page on it. However, what he likes to do is chicken scratch 5 facts in the upper left hand corner and call it a day. I'd like to create a rubric of sorts showing what makes a satisfactory/good/great main lesson book page, but I'm not sure what all to include. I do know
1. No pens or permanent markers.
2. Think and plan before you begin.
3. Use your space wisely.
4. Include a border and/or background.

Can you give me some other ideas?

[Madame Pomfrey]

My eldest is not arty at all despite having grown up in a Waldorf home and being exposed to all sorts of arts and crafts. We stopped doing daily pages pretty early and instead went to just twice a week - and not in every block. About once each year we DO have a drawing block where we draw daily for a couple weeks. I always tell my boys that it's important to be able to express yourself or communicate your ideas in various ways. They don't have to become artists, just be able to do something basic.

When he was younger, I would require a central image - whether it was drawn, colored, or cut out collage-style - plus writing down something like facts and figures. It didn't have to be beautiful but he did have to make an effort. I didn't require a border, but he quickly learned that he could pass inspection more easily if the page looked fuller so he would often make a simple shaded or swirled border.

Around late fourth grade I switched him to the smaller lesson books that have one page of lines and one page of plain paper. Then he could write a short report and draw or whatever on the other side. He seems to prefer writing to drawing.

We never were very Waldorfy about the books either and I always felt that they were "his" alone. Only rarely would I share a page with someone and only when he gave permission.

Oddly enough he surprised me a few times with how great his pages would turn out or how much care he might put into a page when he was truly interested in a topic. He still does this. Recently we were studying about birds and he pulled out a drawing book to draw a beautiful owl - second time in his life he awed us with an owl.

Best of luck,

Lucie

[annettemarie]

Lucie, that sounds lovely! And one of the things that has plagued me about Waldorf is that I am not particularly artsy, and I think Michael has inherited my art ability (or lack thereof, LOL!) I think in his case, it's also a fair bit of not wanting to put the time into making something nice and *that* bothers me. I love your ideas because they can help move past the frustration of not necessarily being a great artist, but still make a nice page.

[calynde]

My ds is only 7, but our only "rule" regarding the lesson book is that whatever goes in there has to be his best work...whatever that is. For us, this means we don't go overkill with the lesson book work, so not every day, rather a few times a week. No, his books don't look like the lesson books you see on so many waldorf sites, but they look good to us and a lot of care goes into them. He uses lines when he draws so sometimes a fairy tale character looks pretty cartoony, but he pays a lot of attention to detail and that matters most to me. And even more important is that he's proud of what he does! He always shows his lesson book to his papa the minute he gets home.

[annettemarie]

I've tried that rule before-- that his MLB is for his very best work-- but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be inspiring him. And I would say maybe 2 times a week he's doing a page for the book, so I really do think he just needs clearer guidelines than what I am articulating. I'm not hung up on it being Waldorf-style drawings, but I do want him to take a little more time and care.

[craft_media_hero]

To add to your rubric:

Use the WHOLE page (this is a "rule" that will enhance any artwork for kids and grown folk, doesn't mean it has to all be colored solid, just all considered, negative space is fine if it's intentional and adds to the drawing)

Perhaps, at least one illustration is required along with

Written work of at least ____ length to explain/enhance the drawing