Lapbooking 101: Five Reasons To Use Lapbooks

It's no secret that one of my favorite homeschooling tools is lapbooking! If you've been homeschooling for long, you've probably heard of them, but have you tried them yourself?
Here are five great reasons to give lapbooking a whirl:
1. Lapbooking helps both visual and kinesthetic learners pick up and retain information. Lapbooking involves lots of visual elements - colors, pictures, text, etc. as well as tons of cutting, gluing... and of course writing and drawing!
2. Lapbooking allows seamless integration of various subjects during a unit study. Working on a literature unit? You can incorporate science, social studies, and even math into your lapbook! In my current elementary literature co-op class, we're reading Pippi Longstocking and Cricket in Times Square and our lapbooks include maps, fun facts about insects, flippable books about counting money, and more!
3. Lapbooking is an inexpensive way to record student learning and create a keepsake for years to come. Lapbooks can be created with supplies that you may already have on hand. All you really need are file folders, paper, scissors, glue, and colored pencils! 
4. Lapbooking is an easy way to capitalize on your child's creativity. Lapbooks can be created very simply, or very intricately! There are no limits to lapbooking - if your child is very creative, you can investigate hundreds of foldables and mini-books, and incorporate all sorts of fun paper, stickers, and scrapbook supplies.
5. Lapbooking is more than another boring worksheet or report! While there is a time and place for formal reports and worksheets, variety is the spice of life (and education)! Mix things up and try a lapbook.
Now it's your turn! Do you have any other reasons for using lapbooks? Leave a comment and share!