How to Increase the Shelf-Life of Your Homeschool Curriculum
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Now that many of us are back in the swing of school or will be starting soon, I wanted to share one of my favorite “how to increase the shelf-life of your homeschool curriculum” tips.
Because we have three kids who will be using each of our favorite curriculum choices, it’s important that these items hold up well in order to make it to that third child.
For non-consumable texts that I’ll be using frequently – especially those with reproducible pages of which I’ll be making copies – I always have the bindings cut and have the pages books 3-hole drilled. This can be done very inexpensively at most office supply or copy stores.
I usually have the binding cut at an office supply store (generally it’s less than $1 per book) and 3-hole punch it myself.
It’s one idiosyncrasy of mine that I don’t have the covers 3-hole drilled, just the pages. Then, I place the books into 3-ring binders and place covers inside the clear pockets on the front and back of the binder.
Extra tip: Don’t take the copy store up on their friendly offer to place the books in binders for you. They will charge you ridiculous amounts of money for this friendly offer service.
Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.
I think a few days have passed without my saying that you’re awesome. Which you are. Totally.
I love the 3-drilled-hole idea!
And your post at The Homeschool Classroom. : )
Excellent binder tip! I have done this for years with my Beth Moore Bible Study workbooks.
I think this method is especially valuable because you can add things to the binder with the specific pages you work with. No more finding a place to file it! Just hole punch your page and slip it in at the appropriate place! 😉
Traci
I’m a homeschool grad and I’m just starting to pre-homeschool my 3yr old. I love the t-shirts your kids are wearing! Where can I get some?!?
These are fantastic tips. I’ve purchased used curriculum before that has been bound…rather, UNbound that way, and I’m perfectly happy with it. I would have to agree that it doesn’t really affect the resale value.
By the way, thanks for stopping by our blog!
Joy @ Happy to be at Home
 I. Love. This.  I just got the binding cut off my son's math book and it's going to be so much easier to use!  Thank you!
We've done this for years. It makes the books so much easier to use. Hope that you find that to be the case, too.