| As any teacher or home schooling parent knows, | | | | project assignments within a single class. Another way |
| educational materials are expensive. One of the most | | | | you can personalize workbooks is to allow students to |
| expensive educational materials is the consumable | | | | design their own covers. (This will add a little more time |
| workbook. Since all students get their own workbooks | | | | to the project, but it will likely increase student buy-in |
| and they can never be reused (as traditional textbooks | | | | for the work you will be assigning them. That buy-in |
| can), they can be an expensive component of your | | | | can be invaluable.) |
| curriculum. | | | | At this point, you are probably pretty curious about |
| In addition to the expense associated with buying | | | | how you can make your own custom workbooks and |
| consumable workbooks annually, there is also the issue | | | | exactly what equipment is needed. All you need is |
| of relevance. While some workbooks are superior | | | | access to a copy machine, cardstock to use for the |
| products that truly do enhance learning, most | | | | covers of your workbook, and a binding machine. As |
| experienced teachers know that the best educational | | | | an educator, you are probably already very familiar |
| approaches do not all come from a single source. | | | | with copy machines and cardstock. As for the binding |
| Most educators like to use certain worksheets from | | | | machine, you will find that many different varieties are |
| certain books when teaching a particular lesson. | | | | available. Before spending time researching machines, |
| Oftentimes, they will use different materials from | | | | you should check to see if your school or district office |
| different sources for other lessons. They also like to | | | | already has a binding machine they will let you use. |
| use worksheets and activities they have created | | | | Binding machines are affordable and easy to use. If |
| themselves. | | | | your school doesn't have one, give your administration |
| With all of the administrative responsibilities that | | | | the information you find through your research and ask |
| teachers have on top of their teaching assignments, | | | | that they purchase one. |
| time can be scarce. Making copies can be | | | | One you have your equipment and paper ordered or |
| time-consuming, especially for those who choose to | | | | available, the final step is to assemble the contents of |
| make a few copies everyday so that loose papers do | | | | your workbook. Make two-sided copies if you can and |
| not accumulate in the classroom. Wouldn't it be great | | | | prepare enough copies to fill the workbooks you need. |
| to have your own consumable workbooks designed | | | | Gather your covers and assemble books one a time, |
| by you especially for each class and customized for | | | | making sure the contents and covers are appropriately |
| each student? | | | | aligned. Punch the papers according to the |
| This educational fantasy can be turned into reality. | | | | specifications included with your binding machine, and |
| Even better, that reality can be less expensive and | | | | then bind the documents. |
| less time-consuming than the other approaches | | | | With a little planning and some help from the right |
| covered so far in this article. With the right equipment, | | | | office supplies, you can make workbooks that are a |
| you can assemble customized workbooks for your | | | | perfect fit for your class. Not only do they provide |
| classes. If you assemble your workbooks during the | | | | exactly the content you need, they do so simply and |
| summer, you will save even more frustration. You can | | | | economically. |
| even create variations for different reading groups or | | | | |
