By Heather Sanders.
Now that we are more than halfway through the school year I wanted to share about Smash* Book, an elective class my friend Shannon is teaching in our homeschool cooperative.
As I mentioned before, the idea for the class came straight from Lauralee, one of the commenters here on Pioneer Woman’s Homeschooling blog.
According to the website, SMASH* is defined as “the act of sticking your cool stuff into this awesome book.”
Each time the students meet they bring in a collection of various tidbits of paper, leaves, quotes, candy wrappers, napkins, coasters, photos, lace, stickers, and any other small tokens they want to smash into their book.
Meredith keeps all of her Smash* book supplies in a small plastic bin. Other students bring in their “findings” in shoe boxes, small totes/bags, or even gallon size Ziplock bags tucked neatly (or not-so-neatly) between their binders and folders in their backpacks.
On the very first day of class Shannon encouraged students to decorate the book’s initial two-page spread with a personal photo of their choice. Because Shannon collects the Smash* books at the end of each class, this ensured all the books would be easily identifiable throughout the home school year.
An experienced scrapbooker, Shannon came prepared with several pre-cut photo mats and capital letters on the first day of class.
After listening to her instructions, the students carefully picked through the provided selections before finding and pasting them into their Smash* books.
This co-op class meets every two weeks, so each time the students come they decorate a two-page spread. Meredith decorated this two page spread with a winged heart she water colored earlier in the week. The trim was scraps from a previous project.
Every few weeks we get a few more photos printed for Meredith to use. She selects her own photos and records her thoughts alongside them. I find it interesting which photos the students select to use in their Smash* books.
Meredith wanted a baby page so, sitting on the floor in the hallway, surrounded by keepsake boxes, we took a trip down memory lane together. It was a precious moment as I shared stories she’s heard a thousand times, but wanted to hear “just one more time.”
In Shannon’s class description, she wrote, “This is a completely individual task, and we anticipate that each student’s book will look completely different.” For instance, the photo above preserves the memory of Olivia’s older sister’s wedding.
Each book includes 40 pages, measures 7-3/4 by 10-1/4 inches, and has a Smash* pen affixed to the side. The “pen” has a glue stick on one end and a thin-lined black marker on the other end. At the start of the semester students affixed their items to their book pages with the glue stick. However, now that most of their glue sticks have run out, they bring in additional glue sticks or tape.
Though most of our students are girls, we do have a few boys who are really enjoying the class too.
I find that boys don’t bother a lot with cutting out background mats for their photos. Just give them photos, a glue stick and some theme-oriented stickers and they’re set.
WHICH IS PERFECT since these books represent the children who create them!
Also? How adorable is this shot?
Shannon gave a long list of suggested items for students to think about collecting over the summer months before the class began.
Above, Ashlyn brought in black and white print-outs of her favorite things.
On her Summer camp page, Ashlyn surrounded her photos with stickers and knick knacks, writing in short captions.
In addition to the items brought in by the students, Shannon brings her personal collection of scrapbooking tools, like trimmers and punches. This is where her parent volunteers (me and two other Mommas) help out. Some of her punches require assistance or, at the very least, supervision to use.
She also gives out special Smash* products weekly. Some examples are Smash* folder pockets, secret mini pockets, Smash* pads and date stamps, and special stickers, tabs, and even their Smash* bands that keep their books securely closed.
Shannon’s daughter, Ashton started a page from her mission trip last summer.
Along with movie tickets, students also include special receipts, birthday or greeting cards, cherished notes from friends and family members, quotes, fortune cookie inserts, maps, travel guides, flowers and feathers.
In other words, ANYTHING YOU CAN SMASH IN A BOOK.
I love how Ashton cut out this baby photo of herself and pasted it off the page, reaching for her pen.
One can learn a lot about each student by flipping through his or her book. If I had a candy page it would include wrappers from dark chocolate bars and Sour Patch Kids. Okay, maybe a Sour Skittle and Lemon Sours too.
My mouth is watering right now.
Our co-op offers the Smash* book class for 2nd graders on up to 12th graders. Though I did not capture all the students in this photo, the class includes 13 students.
The kids love the class. They pour in talking a mile a minute, naturally congregating toward those in their own age group. Shannon does not even have to tell them to get busy working, they all fling down their backpacks, get out their supplies and get busy smashing!
It is a nice break from the more rigorous academic coursework some of the older kids take at co-op, but at the same time, a chance to share some of their memories with friends.
At the end of the year students will take home their Smash* book to show off to their parents, family and friends. It will be a collection of a year’s worth of effort, a snapshot of their lives.
“For all the things that matter, and for all the things that don’t.
For all the stuff that’s too good to forget.
For any reason and FOR NO GOOD REASON AT ALL.
For all the good ideas, life lists,
conversations & happenings.
For all of life’s tidbits that make you smile.”
Source: Smash*
View the video above, or click here to see it on YouTube.
OMSH/Heather L. Sanders is “Momma” to three kids, Emelie, Meredith and Kenny. When not homeschooling, or writing about homeschooling, Heather is busy designing websites or going on dates with her husband Jeff, the love of her life.
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