Comments on: Teaching teens to scrapbook

By: leasanders

leasanders — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:41:36 +0000

I know what you mean! I did a 3 hour scrapbooking class with 10 or so teenage girls last month and it was really difficult. The ages (13-18) of these girls along with the flippant or cavalier attitude that comes with the age was something I didn’t expect.

Lesson learned for me–pre-making kits so that each participant is limited to just those materials.

Recomendation for your next class (should you accept the mission…) — Try a card or minibook class instead of scrapbook pages. Cards and minibooks are tangible and the girls can see the end result. Scrapbooking pages, unless they intend on making a whole book in the future, might be a little much at first. You’ll be able to weed out the ones who are really interested in a whole scrapbook later on.

Keep on it! I teach my next class next week at a lunchtime session at work. We will be making acrylic bookmarks. =)

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:22:18 +0000

I agree with Joanna – the best way to do it for teens is to limit the supplies they use by giving them each a ziplock back of products to use while they are there.

Also, I would have several small trash cans available, and plastic bins for tools on the table. Then designate the last 5-10 minutes for clean up!

Good for you hosting such a great workshop – I hope you won’t give up – maybe next time will be better!

Angela

By: Joanna Slan

Joanna Slan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:17:49 +0000

Hi,

I’ve found it’s best to limit the project when you are teaching.

For example, create a sample page or project (like a paper bag album–not acid free but inexpensive and difficult to ruin therefore great for kids). Then, prepare it as a “make and take,” giving your participants only 1/2 page of paper if that’s what’s called for. Put all the pieces together in a ziplock bag. Make sure you have extras, put those in a labeled bag because someone is sure to lose or ruin a portion of her project.

I also like to use a wipe board to illustrate my explanations. Some people are visual learners, so that helps.

You did a fantastic job if your teens were excited, but golly, if you are so worn out you never want to do this again, you might want to scale down your efforts.

Believe it or not, I have instructions about working with a group in my upcoming scrapbook mystery, because I think it’s challenging to get started.

But again…you did an amazing job, and I’m sure you’ve learned a lot.

Joanna Campbell Slan
author of Paper, Scissors, Death: A Scrapbooking Mystery