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Evernote is a new tool in our homeschool. I mentioned in my post on how we put together a stress-free Medieval Feast that my friend Ashley reintroduced me to this online notebook I had abandoned long ago as something I didn’t need. Well, I see now just how useful it can be.
So much of our lives is now online. You have lists of links, websites, ebooks, etc. that you plan to use “someday”.
Well, make “someday” happen now!
Evernote is a simple online tool you sign up for. You can install an applet (button) to your browser toolbar and an app on any of your mobile devices, and every time you see something you want to remember (hence the elephant icon), you put it on Evernote.
But let me suggest you take this concept further for your homeschool beccause if you only use it to file away sites and ideas, you might as well stick to Pinterest.
For me, Evernote is where I flesh out my Pinterest ideas and make them into lesson plans. I pull together all my links and ideas in an Evernote “notebook” and work off of them. The links are hotlinks so I can go directly to the website they came from. You can also add images and photos to Evernote. So, if you are somewhere and see an idea you like, you can snap a photo and add it to the appropriate notebook.
For example, to plan our Medieval Feast Day, I made a notebook in Evernote labeled Knight Party (because that’s what my 7 year old kept calling it).
Every time I had an idea for the celebration, I added it to this notebook. The day before the party, I organized it all, so it would be easy to follow. I was able to click on the links as we came to them and show the kids any of the visuals via my iPad.
Also, think of how useful this tool can be during homeschool convention season! Make a notebook on Evernote for curriculum. Put in links to books and supplies you want to look at, along with prices from varying websites. At the convention, snap photos with your smart phone and add them to your notebook. Take photos of some of the pages, add prices and your own thoughts. Then you can review it all before you buy!
Evernote syncs with all your devices so it doesn’t matter what you are using to gather data, it will all be there. I like to use my laptop to gather information and my iPad to execute it for homeschool lessons. While at conventions, I’ll be using my husband’s iPhone with the Evernote app.
The best part of this whole thing is, I feel so organized! 😉
You can find more ways to use technology in your homeschool at Sidetracked Sarah and Peace Creek on the Prairie.
Sarah says
Thanks for explaining Evernote so clearly! I get it now!!! I never used it because I couldn’t figure out how it was supposed to work or how it was any different from Pinterest. Guess who’s gonna be using Evernote to plan for next year? Me! Yay!
I’m not on Facebook but just wanted to thank you for mentioning my eBook on your Facebook page. I really appreciate it. 🙂
Have a great day!
Take JOY!!!!
Sarah
Amy says
You are welcome, Sarah! 🙂
Marie says
I copy and paste in recipes into Evernote and have a beautiful mini-gallery in my Food notebook, with the first picture of each recipe. I’ve got 30 different notebooks ranging from investing to homeschool to travel tips. Only things I really *NEED* goes into it. ROFL. But it’s searchable so that makes it quite easy to find what I really do need.
And like you, feel so organized ever since I started using it!
Amy says
Great idea!
ChristineMM says
Seems microsoft word is fine for this with my pc but my mobile apple devices don’t have word so hello Evernote! Great idea! I am going to try this app. Thanks.
Amy says
Awesome!
Brynn says
We use Evernote to create checklists. They have an awesome checklist box and I can make a list of assignments for my son. He has his own note that he knows how to search the tag for. Each week it changes. Throughout the day he can go in and check off what he has done and think about what he wants to do next. It allows him freedom while I still know exactly how much is getting done. At the end of the week the not can be edited for next week.
JLeja says
And very important side note…it’s free! (Or did I accidentally pay for it without realizing?!?)
I’m excited to give it a whirl myself!
Jennifer
Amy says
Yep, it’s free! 🙂
Janet says
Thanks for this post and explaining how it works. I’m going to try this!
Scott Harmon says
We use Evernote in our therapy clinic business and in with some of our homeschool projects. There simply is no match. I have also use Springpad but Evernote is a as good as it gets. I recently found a link on the Evernote site geared toward teachers.
http://evernote.com/teachers/
Diana says
I love the idea of using Evernote at convention! What a fabulous idea! I love the idea of Evernote, but I’m still trying to figure out the best ways to use it!!