Reformatting the student SAPs from the Loom is not difficult and I hope this post helps those of you that would like to see the process step by step. You need the following software:
A PDF reader (Adobe Reader is free)
Word processing or desktop publishing software
I use Quark because it's great, I'm used to it, and we have it (my husband needs it for his advertising business.) For the purpose of this example I am using Word since most of you probably have that software or something similar.
Open your weekly SAP with your PDF reader
When you open a pdf document with Adobe I believe the default tool is the grabbing tool (the hand.) You need to switch to the text tool (the letter T )
Click and drag over the area of text you would like to copy:
Choose "copy" from the edit menu (or command c)
Switch to your word processing program and open a new document. After the blank document is open choose "Paste" from the edit menu (command v.)
Unfortunately the document will lose most of its formatting and you will copy in some words or numbers you may not want to include, e.g. the title of the week.
Not a big deal though since the plan is to open up room for answers to be written in. Simply delete anything you don't want and format the questions with as much room as you like. Choose whatever font you would like and add in any text you need to make the document fit your plans. Sometimes, for example, the question will be, "Compare y to x," and I will add in, "Using the Venn diagram (or T chart) provided on the next page," and then I make sure I add the appropriate chart. Whatever you want to do to personalize your book. You will probably find yourself changing your mind on things from unit to unit, coming up with all sorts of brilliant ideas (which you must share with me ;-) Here's a page that is partially formatted:
And the finished page:
I don't reformat pages that seem to work on their own such as the LG, UG, & Dialectic literature worksheets and various charts included at the rhetoric level:
Sometimes if 1/2 a page is a fantastic chart, but I need to make changes on the other 1/2 I'll copy the page, cut off the portion not need, copy again (now 1/2 of this is blank), format that particular page to fit in the blank area of the copy and then print it on that sheet. If you look on the left page below you will see an example of this:
I hope this post helps clear up things for those interested. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll try to get back in a timely manner. :-)
I'm not sure if it would work with the spiral binding, but I might see if I can include some sort of pocket folder (like you would put in a binder) for loose papers.
it looks like you have a mac. are you using word on a mac?
can I do the same with pages?
thanks for the entry, very informative!
cant's wait to start my notebooks.
This blog is a look into our homeschooling journey as we use Tapestry of Grace. You'll also find stories from various books I have collected that are now in the public domain and real life slipping in occasionally. Most posts from the public domain books have a pdf that you may download and print. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Posted by Anonymous 
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May. 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment
you are so thoughtful to take the time to walk us through this, and with photos- wow. Some of us really need hand holding!
Jenny
www.homeiswhereyoustartfrom.blogspot.com