This is part of Works for Me Wednesday hosted at Shannon’s blog–go there to read all the great ideas!
Sometimes I’m frugal–not consistently–but sometimes. With homeschooling books and curriculum I look for things that can be reused with other children. That seems smart to me! But there are times when you just have to buy something that IS consumable. This fall we are going to begin using a new language arts curriculum that looks fabulous–CQLA. My only drawback with not trying it last year was the price, knowing that it was consumable and I’d have to rebuy it every year.
The secret I found to reusing is write-on transparencies and Vis-a-Vis markers. This particular worktext is sold as looseleaf paper that is 3-hole punched ready for your binder. So I placed the first unit in a one-inch binder with 2 transparencies between each page (hole-punched, of course.) Now my child can open to the appropriate page and use the marker to write on the transparency instead of the page. When we are done with the first unit (about one month) I will take all the pages out. I’ll put the worktext pages back in the big 3-ring binder with the rest of the units and get out the next unit. The transparencies I will just wipe off with a wet paper towel. Now I’ll be able to reuse with another child!
Note: If your workbook is bound you could cut the spine off and 3-hole punch the book. If it’s a pretty thick book take it to your local office store and they will do it for you for just a couple of dollars.
Great way to use consumables again. I wish I had thought of this when I was homeschooling my two.