Trivial Question about Elemental Science

[DarlaS]

Anyone prefer the printed book? The legality of resale is a non-issue for me. Is it as workable as having it loose leaf?

[Monarch Room]

I have one of each for different guides. I bought a used copy of a printed book, and I printed and bound an ebook. Buying it printed already was much easier, and then of course I could sell the printed version. With that said, I would prefer to be able to print the student pages.

[SFM]

I prefer the Teacher's manual printed version but like the student pages printed, 3 hole punched, and placed in a binder. They are easier to write on that way.

[DarlaS]

It looks like the perfect solution would be a printed teacher's book and loose leaf student pages. Too bad she doesn't sell it that way.

 

Every time I buy a perfect bound book, I end up removing it from it's binding. Guess I could do that or keep my eye out for a used printed teacher's book.

[Kathryn]

I prefer printed for both. DS loves that he's making his own "real" book and he wouldn't feel quite that way if it were printer pages that we bound. It's not like a workbook. And, of course, I love to have my book in print.

[ByGrace3]

I think it is so inexpensive, the no resale issue doesn't matter as much to me. I printed out both the TM and student pages last year, but this year printed just the student pages. I like the TM on my iPad and I have the student pages spiral bound so they are in workbook format. I like that better than being bound anyway, easier to use.

[Dahliarw]

I like digital. I write down the plans in my own homeschool sheet, so I don't need the teacher guide open all the time (just for reference). The student book is much easier printable - and then you can use it with multiple children. At $17 or so for both in pdf, it's a great deal!

[acsnmama]

Printable for both has been great! It is so inexpensive, that re-sale isn't worth it anyway. That was one of the perks to the program for me, and the science books can be re-sold. Not to mention, I have multiple children who will use the program, so it's much easier to be able to print what I need, when I need it, rather than having to make copies, etc. I will definitely get $17 dollars worth out of the program for all 3 of my children!

[acsnmama]

Oh, and I can highlight, write, mark, etc in the TM because I am not going to re-sell it! I tend to be cautious of use when I know I'll be reselling something. This time, I don't have to worry about it!

[AMJ]

Thanks, OP and everyone -- helpful discussion. I'm about to start the switch to homeschooling, and will be spending enough on curricula to get started that hearing opinions, pros, & cons on print vs. digital, perfect binding vs. other is quite helpful.

 

I was going to order some things printed, but DH insisted that pdf makes more sense, being cheaper. Okay, but that means he's going to have to replace the color printer -- it's dying, and we were debating whether to replace it or just stay B&W (our back-up printer). I want color in my books where ever the original has color. And the new printer will have to handle double-sided printing without me manually flipping every blasted sheet.

[Dahliarw]

I highly recommend a black and white laser printer for homeschooling. A vast majority of what you need to print is not going to need color. I have a Brother HL-2270DW Wireless Monochrome Laser Printer that I got for $99 on sale at Office Depot a few months back. It does double sided printing without me having to flip. Then I use my color printer just when I need color (my color printer is also the one with the scanner). If you're going to order books (like textbooks) with lots of pictures that you'll want to read/see in color, you might just want to invest in a color ereader or a tablet to read those books on rather than printing.

 

I also love that pdfs do not take up room on my bookshelf!

[Mommy2BeautifulGirls]

Thanks, OP and everyone -- helpful discussion. I'm about to start the switch to homeschooling, and will be spending enough on curricula to get started that hearing opinions, pros, & cons on print vs. digital, perfect binding vs. other is quite helpful.

 

I was going to order some things printed, but DH insisted that pdf makes more sense, being cheaper. Okay, but that means he's going to have to replace the color printer -- it's dying, and we were debating whether to replace it or just stay B&W (our back-up printer). I want color in my books where ever the original has color. And the new printer will have to handle double-sided printing without me manually flipping every blasted sheet.

 

HP makes a really nice OfficeJet. They are sort of a cross between an ink jet and a laser. Ink is WAY cheaper than ink jet, but the printers are WAY cheaper than lasers. I paid around $200-300 for mine in December. I think it's the OfficeJet Pro 8600 Plus. There are three in the series, and I got the mid-grade one. It does color, and it also does double sided without you having to flip the paper. 

 

In addition, it's also a scanner, a fax, and has wireless capability. If you use a laptop, like I do, this feature is way more helpful than I could have imagined. I can be upstairs in bed getting ready for the next week and print out materials without getting up!

 

And my 2 cents to the OP... I prefer getting PDFs for as much as I can. It gives you the option to make extra copies if you need to. I can't tell you how many times we've taken a math assignment somewhere, didn't get it completed, and then "misplaced" it. I don't usually do all my printing right away. I plan in 6-week increments, so I only print out what I need for the upcoming 6 weeks.