Meaningful artwork is the goal of every single one of my lesson plans. When a student is content to throw away what they have made at the end of the lesson, I see a wasted opportunity. 

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When a person makes a book, it is an exercise in patience, problem-solving, and creative expression. A book is made to last, to serve as a place to collect our progress as we grow and change. A book tells a story with its whole self - not just the words on the page, but the care in the folds at the corners, the stitches set in the signatures, the evenness of the paper or fabric covering. Every choice in the bookmaking process is a reflection of its maker. And every aspect of bookmaking is highly beneficial from a teaching standpoint. 

 

When I teach book-making, it is as early in the school year as possible. The students then collect samples of their work and use the book as a combination scrapbook and sketchbook. In this way, the book itself is a learning experience that contains other learning experiences. As the pages are turned, the student can see his or her progress over time and use it as motivation to improve even more.