Saving Money with Consumables (Classical Sources Message Board)

Saving Money with Consumables
Author: KC	May 30, 1999 at 06:18:12

This is a tip that I'm sharing to help you save money with your consumable texts, if you desire. I found that some texts (particulary math) were very expensive ($35, $42, etc.) for the student workbooks, and it just rubbed me the wrong way to write several answers on a beautifully glossy page, and then throw it away! I currently have four children, and decided there must be a better way...xeroxing in and of itself can be expensive, when it's allowable by copyright. Here's what we do in my school when the cost is about $12 or more. Usually for handwriting I always "consume", but I primarily use the suggestion below for math student worksheets, criticial thinking books, etc.
During the summer, I buy some 3-ring binders with a clear front cover. I cut the text apart and 3-ring punch the pages (some office supply stores will do this rather inexpensively) putting the "cover" of the text into the clear "window" on cover of 3-ring binder. (I also put i.d. on the binding.) Now, either daily or weekly, I take out the pages that I need, and slip into "plastic sheet protectors", and the children do their work with erasable pencils. After I have checked their work, the plastic sheet protector can be erased, the original pages placed back into the 3-ring binder, and I can use that expensive "consumable" for my next 3 children!

Here are some specifics if this money-saving tip appeals to
you:

A China Marker is a type of pencil (Sanford makes them, and
other companies, I'm sure) that writes on

glass, china, film, plastic. You "peel" away the outside to "sharpen" them. They come in many colors: I
don't recommend black, because black is harder to erase. All big office supply stores (Office Max, Staples)

and most stationery stores carry these.

Pen Notes is a company that sells a similar pencil (that
has to be sharpened with a pencil sharpener) but

has a finer point than a china marker. (China marker's chubby point is fine for most K, 1st, 2nd grade

work because spaces are large for writing; older kids may
bawk at using the china marker because it writes

"thick" and therefore you can get the Pen Notes pencils.). A contact for Pen Notes company is:

http://www.pennotes.com/ Also this is a link for Stabilo,
which makes the Pen Notes pencil:
http://www.schwanstabilo.com.sg/ I would just see if a
large office supply either carries them or will order them
(I haven't gotten around to finding the best price yet).

Just a word about the plastic sheet protectors: be sure you
get the THICKEST you can (4.5 mil or more)

and get CLEAR (not "non glare"). Avery makes a good example (and there are many different ones!!)
but the two I like are: single pages-no. SPX119-50 75259 called "Ink Guard" Vinyl sheet protectors. For a

"double page" version (good for 1 day's worth of math, in a
folder type fashion that houses 4 sheets of paper): is also
by Avery, no. 75256 called "11x17 Fold Out Sheet
Protectors".

Use a kleenex, paper towel or napkin to erase these DRY:
during math I hand yesterday's sheet protector

to my child and have him erase while I ask him to go over oral math facts. You can use "Goo Gone", a
liquid substance that erases, but it isn't necessary to buy this. Also, I know some moms prefer to use
Vis-a-Vis markers and wet-erase these. DON'T use dry-erase markers; they work on SOME sheet

protectors (but come off too easily, therefore not proper
for student's work) or they stay in the plastic
permanently, ruining the sheet!

Happy marking, erasing and saving money with your
consumables!! KC

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> This is a tip that I'm sharing to help you save money with your consumable texts, if you desire. I found that some texts (particulary math) were very expensive ($35, $42, etc.) for the student workbooks, and it just rubbed me the wrong way to write several answers on a beautifully glossy page, and then throw it away! I currently have four children, and decided there must be a better way...xeroxing in and of itself can be expensive, when it's allowable by copyright. Here's what we do in my school when the cost is about $12 or more. Usually for handwriting I always "consume", but I primarily use the suggestion below for math student worksheets, criticial thinking books, etc. > During the summer, I buy some 3-ring binders with a clear front cover. I cut the text apart and 3-ring punch the pages (some office supply stores will do this rather inexpensively) putting the "cover" of the text into the clear "window" on cover of 3-ring binder. (I also put i.d. on the binding.) Now, either daily or weekly, I take out the pages that I need, and slip into "plastic sheet protectors", and the children do their work with erasable pencils. After I have checked their work, the plastic sheet protector can be erased, the original pages placed back into the 3-ring binder, and I can use that expensive "consumable" for my next 3 children! > > Here are some specifics if this money-saving tip appeals to > you: > > A China Marker is a type of pencil (Sanford makes them, and > other companies, I'm sure) that writes on > > glass, china, film, plastic. You "peel" away the outside to "sharpen" them. They come in many colors: I > don't recommend black, because black is harder to erase. All big office supply stores (Office Max, Staples) > > and most stationery stores carry these. > > Pen Notes is a company that sells a similar pencil (that > has to be sharpened with a pencil sharpener) but > > has a finer point than a china marker. (China marker's chubby point is fine for most K, 1st, 2nd grade > > work because spaces are large for writing; older kids may > bawk at using the china marker because it writes > > "thick" and therefore you can get the Pen Notes pencils.). A contact for Pen Notes company is: > > http://www.pennotes.com/ Also this is a link for Stabilo, > which makes the Pen Notes pencil: > http://www.schwanstabilo.com.sg/ I would just see if a > large office supply either carries them or will order them > (I haven't gotten around to finding the best price yet). > > Just a word about the plastic sheet protectors: be sure you > get the THICKEST you can (4.5 mil or more) > > and get CLEAR (not "non glare"). Avery makes a good example (and there are many different ones!!) > but the two I like are: single pages-no. SPX119-50 75259 called "Ink Guard" Vinyl sheet protectors. For a > > "double page" version (good for 1 day's worth of math, in a > folder type fashion that houses 4 sheets of paper): is also > by Avery, no. 75256 called "11x17 Fold Out Sheet > Protectors". > > Use a kleenex, paper towel or napkin to erase these DRY: > during math I hand yesterday's sheet protector > > to my child and have him erase while I ask him to go over oral math facts. You can use "Goo Gone", a > liquid substance that erases, but it isn't necessary to buy this. Also, I know some moms prefer to use > Vis-a-Vis markers and wet-erase these. DON'T use dry-erase markers; they work on SOME sheet > > protectors (but come off too easily, therefore not proper > for student's work) or they stay in the plastic > permanently, ruining the sheet! > > Happy marking, erasing and saving money with your > consumables!! KC
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