Keeping in 2017-18

What is Keeping?

For more information about the big picture of Keeping, please take a look at the Keeping resource page.

Recommended Keeping in 2017-18

This year, we are encouraging our study group to try out two Keeping habits: the Commonplace Book and the Science Notebook.

These are optional practices meant to help you grow in your understanding of Mason’s principles and methods. But they are only a recommendation; there is no ‘momma guilt.’

The Commonplace Book

What is a Commonplace Book?

Laurie Bestvater in her book, The Living Page, describes a commonplace book:

The Commonplace collects student-selected passages from any and all reading on any and all subjects. Mason also refers to it as a Reading Diary. (p.32)

You could consider it to be a collection of quotes from your readings. It might be something that inspired you or that caught your attention or a well-crafted turn of a phrase; in essence, ‘worthy thoughts, well put’.

How Will We Use One?

We encourage you to capture quotes in your commonplace book* as you pre-read Volume 3 in anticipation of our monthly discussion. At our meetings, we might, from time to time, add other selections from our poetry readings.

*Your commonplace book is not included in the Resource Fee. It can be a lovely journal, a composition notebook, or as simple as some sheets of blank paper. When you get the hang of these, they become life-long reading companions and a documentation of your experiences with books; you might prefer something more attractive and designed to last. For now, we are building habits, so feel free to experiment to see what format you prefer (lined/unlined? bound/loose-leaf? etc.).

The Science Notebook

What is a Science Notebook?

A Science Notebook is similar to a Commonplace Book in that it is a blank notebook and can 'catch' various keeping activities: written narration, questions generated by the reading, a diagram or illustration...and so on. You, the reader, decide what information you'd like to 'keep' and in what form.

How Will We Use One?

We will practice this keeping during our meeting time, after reading from The Wave Watcher's Companion.

*This notebook is not included in the Resource Fee. You may choose a lined or unlined journal or composition book; sheets of blank paper work just fine, too.