katnorman Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I know many of you have mentioned re-using workbooks through different kiddos, but I am wondering how you have done this?? I know I am way overthinking this:confused: I really curious with The Critical Thinking Company workbooks as I would love to not buy them 4 times :tongue_smilie: If you have cut them apart and laminated them, is it more cost effective?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krisperry Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I think most people either cut the binding off and put the workbook in page protectors. Or they use transparency sheets. Here are some blog posts on the methods: http://thehappyhousewife.com/homeschool/reuse-workbooks/ & http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/2010/04/using-page-protectors-to-reuse.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starwarsmomma Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 IF the workbok is affordable, then we use them. We use our TT and Easy Grammar workbooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma2Many66 Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I got the kids a "workbook window", if you google it it will come up on a website to purchase. It is nice, it is a large laminated "window" ( it is like 24 inches by 15 inches) on a heavy board (other side is felt board so you can use it also for felt board play ). I just insert their workbooks into the top of the "workbook window" in the workbook's "open position" and my children can then fill the pages out with a dry erase marker, bring it to me for correction, then they erase it and give it to the next child to work on. It is nice because their is no slippage of the plastic sheet like before when I used transparencies on the workbooks (these slipped and caused my children to make marks all over the workbooks). It also keeps the workbook fully opened, so I don't have to bend the book up to fit it into one of those narrow 9 X 12 inch smaller plastic sheet holders that do not fit the thicker workbooks. This saves me tons of money on purchasing more then one workbook per kid and allows me to use the workbooks over and over again for the younger kids. The "workbook window" costs about $ 25.00 or so, but it is well made, sturdy, easy to erase and holds up with my kids rough handling. I only had to purchase one and they share it, it has paid itself back in all the money I saved in getting to re-use the workbooks over and over again ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rootsnwings Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Crayola actually has come out with something similar to the "workbook window" mentioned above. One tip, we use the dry erase crayons on page protectors that way the kids can color and not have to worry about the markers erasing before their ready. My lefty was erasing his work as he wrote with the dry erase markers but the dry erase crayons are just waxy enough to stay on the page even with his hand wiping the page. You actually have to use a dry erase eraser or piece of felt to remove the dry erase crayon from the page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erika Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I use page protectors and transparency sheets with dry ease makers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertmum Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 My kid doesn't like erasable ink so I scan the pages I need and print them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishmommy Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Crayola actually has come out with something similar to the "workbook window" mentioned above. One tip, we use the dry erase crayons on page protectors that way the kids can color and not have to worry about the markers erasing before their ready. My lefty was erasing his work as he wrote with the dry erase markers but the dry erase crayons are just waxy enough to stay on the page even with his hand wiping the page. You actually have to use a dry erase eraser or piece of felt to remove the dry erase crayon from the page. Do you have a link to the crayola one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishmommy Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Oh, I mostly use pdfs. Markers give me a headache! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homemomandnild Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 We do the work on notebook paper for a few of our books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katnorman Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Thanks so much for the suggestions!! I knew I was overthinking it:tongue_smilie:. Here is a link to the crayola one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00125V99S/ref=s9_simh_gw_p21_d0_i5?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0KCMZSZ3AGYC48SNDAWG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eloquacious Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I found the Crayola one at Michael's recently, it was $12.99 and I used a 40% off coupon, so after tax it was just over $8. Then last night, after reading this, I ordered the workbook window, too, just because apparently I have too much money floating around my PP. ... or rather, I viewed it as spending money to save money, as I can now use all the workbooks I've been holding on to because I didn't want to "chop them up," and I'd have to do that to be able to use the Crayola thing. So we'll keep the Crayola one for print-outs or the workbook from which I already removed the pages, and use entire workbooks (like ETC and the Singapore math ones) in the window. Thank you for the recommendation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchara Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I cut them and put them in page protectors, but we use Sharpies instead of dry erase markers. The dry erase ones wipe off too easily, but the Sharpies stay put until I get around to grading them. They clean up easily with alcohol and a rag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I love the Workbox Window as you slip the whole workbook in, spread out to two pages already. I don't use it much though as I only have one child. If I had multiple children, I'd use the Workbox Window and dry erase crayons which don't wipe off easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katnorman Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Off to order my Workbook Window :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OK Family Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 :lurk5: Very interesting ideas...I will need to comeback and read them all:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinzluvsGJ Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 On ones that are just writing, I have them do it over on regular paper. If it requires coloring or math problems, etc, I use a transparency sheet. Of course when I sent the MUS text w/ a friend from church who was thinking about helping w/ some math issues my oldest has, it really freaked her out that none of the pages in the book were worked LOL. I had to explain that we do them with transparency so they can be worked repeatedly as needed. We use either the crayola dry erase crayons (awesome invention) or fine tip dry erase markers for doing the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsMe Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 For the record, dry erase markers work better on page protectors than on laminated pages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 (edited) I know many of you have mentioned re-using workbooks through different kiddos, but I am wondering how you have done this?? I know I am way overthinking this:confused: I really curious with The Critical Thinking Company workbooks as I would love to not buy them 4 times :tongue_smilie:If you have cut them apart and laminated them, is it more cost effective?? I just got our thinking skills workbooks out today for summer. What I did was just cut the hole-punched side off of a page protector so that it slips right onto the workbook page without having to cut the book. I don't like taking the binding off my books if I can help it. My kids work the problem with a dry erase marker. I know someone sells special sleeves that fit better onto a workbook. Maybe RR? But mine work fine for our purposes. ETA: That workbook window sounds very neat. Slippage is a problem at times. My favorite thing to do if the workbook will allow for it is to stick a post-it note on the page. The beginning mind-benders work well with a large post-it note. I was working on the Perplexors today and they do NOT work with a post-it note. :tongue_smilie: Logic Links are great because they are 100% non-consumable. Although those chips are consumable by toddlers. Don't ask me how I know. :D Edited June 2, 2011 by silliness7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathkath Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 What about clipping an overhead projector transparency film to the workbook and use a vis-a-vis pen? Those clean with water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morosophe Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I just got our thinking skills workbooks out today for summer. What I did was just cut the hole-punched side off of a page protector so that it slips right onto the workbook page without having to cut the book. I don't like taking the binding off my books if I can help it. My kids work the problem with a dry erase marker. I know someone sells special sleeves that fit better onto a workbook. Maybe RR? But mine work fine for our purposes. What a great idea! One of those that you know is brilliant because, in retrospect, it seems obvious. Here's the link to the Reading Rainbow version, by the way. They cost $1.75, but look pretty durable. (Now I wish I hadn't already made my RR purchase for the year. Oh, well, I have plenty of cheap page protectors I can massacre!) For the slippage problem--have you tried paper clips or the mini binder clips? Is there just not enough there to "grab"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I really am intrigued by that Workbook Window. I'm trying to scrounge together a similar thing here at home for the sake of thriftiness. I thought I had an old plastic table cloth but I can't find it. Not sure what I was going to attach it too. But found something that works great for thinner workbooks that you can bend back flat. Just slip those into the front of a 3-ring binder that's got the clear sleeve on the front. Nice fit. No slippage. I know a particular child of mine who will appreciate this method much more than my slip-on page protector. picky. picky.:tongue_smilie: And if you already own one (or ten) of these binders it's totally free. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamachanse Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 What a great idea! One of those that you know is brilliant because, in retrospect, it seems obvious. Here's the link to the Reading Rainbow version, by the way. They cost $1.75, but look pretty durable. (Now I wish I hadn't already made my RR purchase for the year. Oh, well, I have plenty of cheap page protectors I can massacre!) For the slippage problem--have you tried paper clips or the mini binder clips? Is there just not enough there to "grab"? Those look awesome! Definitely adding them to my order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morosophe Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I really am intrigued by that Workbook Window. I'm trying to scrounge together a similar thing here at home for the sake of thriftiness. I thought I had an old plastic table cloth but I can't find it. Not sure what I was going to attach it too. But found something that works great for thinner workbooks that you can bend back flat. Just slip those into the front of a 3-ring binder that's got the clear sleeve on the front. Nice fit. No slippage. I know a particular child of mine who will appreciate this method much more than my slip-on page protector. picky. picky.:tongue_smilie: And if you already own one (or ten) of these binders it's totally free. :D Well, my husband likes to pick up cheap framed large art at Goodwill just for the plastic "glass" covering the artwork. It's actually acrylic. He uses it with his games--he can put it on the tiny little cardboard counters and they'll stay put for next time. Plus, this is the same stuff that is used for dry-erase boards, so he can easily write what was going on and then return to his game later. I have no idea how much this stuff would slip, but I can easily see having fun making a new frame for the right size acrylic that could accomodate your workbook. Sounds a little better than a vinyl tablecloth to me, for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Well, my husband likes to pick up cheap framed large art at Goodwill just for the plastic "glass" covering the artwork. It's actually acrylic. He uses it with his games--he can put it on the tiny little cardboard counters and they'll stay put for next time. Plus, this is the same stuff that is used for dry-erase boards, so he can easily write what was going on and then return to his game later. I have no idea how much this stuff would slip, but I can easily see having fun making a new frame for the right size acrylic that could accomodate your workbook. Sounds a little better than a vinyl tablecloth to me, for some reason. That is fabulous!! Yes, much better than the tablecloth. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OK Family Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I really am intrigued by that Workbook Window. I'm trying to scrounge together a similar thing here at home for the sake of thriftiness. I thought I had an old plastic table cloth but I can't find it. Not sure what I was going to attach it too. But found something that works great for thinner workbooks that you can bend back flat. Just slip those into the front of a 3-ring binder that's got the clear sleeve on the front. Nice fit. No slippage. I know a particular child of mine who will appreciate this method much more than my slip-on page protector. picky. picky.:tongue_smilie: And if you already own one (or ten) of these binders it's totally free. :D I have never tried any of these ideas, but a thought just came to me. I have a laminator that just laminates, 8 1/2 x 11 (or something like that). I bet if I just ran through the laminating sheet with nothing in it, I wonder if that would work:glare:, guess I'll need to try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eloquacious Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 As to the laminator: mine came with explicit instructions not to do that, so I'd check your manufacturer's web site first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clover11 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 (edited) I have never tried any of these ideas, but a thought just came to me. I have a laminator that just laminates, 8 1/2 x 11 (or something like that). I bet if I just ran through the laminating sheet with nothing in it, I wonder if that would work:glare:, guess I'll need to try it. Great idea!! I went and got one of my laminating sheets and just slipped it over a workbook page. I used a permanent marker and it worked perfectly!! Since the laminating sheet is 'sealed' at the top (instead of the side), it held onto the workbook page without slipping at all. All of the marker wiped off with rubbing alcohol. :party: Edited June 3, 2011 by Clover11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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