How to Make a Dry Erase Binder Using Workbooks

Binder that teaches about money

When I started homeschooling, I heard that teaching children through the use of wipe off books could be beneficial.  Eye-hand coordination through the use of hands on materials can help children hone their writing skills.  I could not afford and/or find these types of  books that I needed for my kids.  I decided to make the books.  Fellow homeschooling moms recommended how to make them.

I made binders for the following subjects:

ABCs,
1-10,
1-100,
Phonics,
Time,
Measurement,
Multiplication,
Calendars,
Place Value,
Geometry and Patterns,
Reading,
Science, and
Spanish

Inside of Binder with currency amounts divided with stick-it notes

This is a sample of my binders, using the concept of money.  The above picture shows how I further subdivided the topic of money.  I found worksheets from different workbooks on the topic of money.  I made sure that, under the topic of pennies, only pennies would be covered.  I did the same thing for nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, and then the dollar denominations.

Money workbook

It's okay to use a math workbook like the one above.  I just don't like that it thrusts a child into covering all the coins at once.  I think it should be gradual.  That's why I prefer to teach the child through a concrete manner to coincide with learning the concept of counting to one hundred.  After all, children need to count by 1's, 5's, and 10's, which will help later with multiplication.

Box of sheet protectors

Individual sheet protector

Here's how to make your own subject binder: Buy sheet protectors and cheap binders.  Get your desired workbooks and tear them up from the spine.  Then, organize the pages according to how you want to present the information to your children.  Slide the individual sheets, sometimes back to back if necessary.  Don't be afraid if you "lose" a page of a workbooks; as long as you are covering the content, it is okay to go without one or two pages.

Individual sheet slipped into sheet protector

Manipulatives for money placed in the back of binder

To solidify the learning of money concepts, manipulatives added to the binder is a perfect idea.  If the binder has no pockets or small pockets, you can use a gallon size baggie.  Punch holes into the baggie and slide into the back of the binder.  That way the manipulatives stay with the binder.  The child can take the binder to the sofa or his/her desk.

Wanted pennies to be covered first

More about pennies...

And more on pennies

The three pictures above show worksheets covering "pennies," sometimes found online, and printed them out.  It is wonderful that I have the internet to cover concepts using "free resources."  I took the time and effort to print these worksheets because I knew I could use them with all four of my kids.  Yes, I used these binders with my oldest, who is now 15.  For me, it has been worth allowing my kids to reuse these binders, saving me time and effort in the future.

Dry erase markers to fill out binder

I have bought dry erase markers, with low odor.  Also, different colors for variety help the children customize their learning.  The eye-hand coordination involved in marking the binders is helpful, especially as they are learning how to write.  That's the beauty of using the dry erase markers--a child can erase and start over again.  All four of my children have used at least some of the binders.

Ingredients to clean dry erase binder

When the binders need to be cleaned, it is easy.  Grab some wipees and baking soda (for hard to remove stains).  Once the sheet protectors are cleaned, use the paper napkins, like the ones below, or paper towels to dry them.  The binder will be ready for the next child. 

To dry the cleaned sheet protectors

Cleaned up even after four years

 

My youngest, Kaelyn, was recently ready to learn about money.  I sought out this green binder.  I opened it and found it needed cleaning.  I worried because it had not been cleaned since about four or five years ago.  When I tried the above method to clean the sheet protectors, it worked wonderfully.

 

 

Well, thanks for reading this entry and viewing these pictures.  I hope I've given you an idea for teaching money, one of the first math concepts for the elementary grades.

How about you, my readers?  How have you taught math?  Have you ever considered using wipe off books to teach early childhood learning concepts?  Your children can benefit from using a hands on method to learn.

May God bless you all with His wisdom and peace, as you teach your children.

This has been an entry for Thorough Thursdays.  Hope you liked it.

Hands On Materials for Kindergarten

Old MacDonald manipulatives

I love using manipulatives.  In previous posts, I have mentioned hands on materials.  Teachers are taught about using items that are to be held in hand.  Tactile learners benefit from hands on materials.  Here, I have pictures of different materials I've accumulated for the kindergarten age children.

A sampling of manipulatives

Closeup of ABC Bingo game

"Opposites" and "feelings" in flashcards

Handmade flashcards in index cards

Shapes in flash cards from different sources

Baggies hold manipulatives by type and subject

Booklets and sight words taken from a workbook

Puzzles combined with flash cards teach numbers

Die with pictured coins

Closeup of money die

Manipulatives out of baggie

Wheels that teach word families

Hands on flip book for word families

Closeup of flip book

Target words of a given book

Dr. Seuss book with target words to teach

I think you'll agree with me: there are many types of manipulatives.  Hands on materials can help teach a kindergarten child.  Even though it can be time-consuming to create hands on materials, it is worth it.  If you have more than one child to teach, it is definitely worth it to make and/or accumulate these materials.  Over the years, I have also bought some of these flashcards, workbooks, and puzzles either from a store and/or other homeschool moms.

Thanks for reading this entry and viewing these pictures.  I hope it has given you some ideas for teaching Kindergarten.

How about you, my readers?  Have you every used hands on material with your children?  Do you have children who are hands on learners?  Your children can benefit from using manipulatives to learn their subjects.  Even teenagers can learn through actual lab experiments, by dissecting and combining chemicals.  It's definitely something to think about.

I hope your children have enjoyed their learning time; Kaelyn has learned by using hands on materials.

May God bless you all with His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for Thorough Thursdays.  Hope you liked it.

Homeschool Organization 2: Science, Play Dough, Soldiers, & Pipes

This old entertainment center was found in someone's trash.

A week ago I discussed homeschool organization.  I want to continue on that thread.  I want to present you with some closeups of what the entertainment center holds.  Just remember that when I say manipulatives, I mean hands on materials.  Manipulatives is a term that some teachers use.

Boxes obtained from Office Depot.

Above are boxes holding hands on material for such subjects as math, science, and language arts/reading.  The subjects are in separate boxes.  It makes it easier to lug the materials around during our homeschooling.  I had the manipulatives previously in baskets but the stuff ended up with dust bunnies.  This way, I reduce the need to dust the materials before they are used. 

Closeup of science box

This box holds such things as educational toys that we have accumulated over the years.  Anything I consider science has gone in here.  I have placed similar items in one gallon-size baggies.  Things that aid the eyes like a telescope and binoculars, and 3D glasses are in one baggie.

Baggie of magnets is housed in the science box.

Here is another gallon-sized baggie.  This baggie holds gear-like magnets that can go on the refrigerator.  I have that available in case the children would like to play with them.  Sometimes the magnets annoy me because of the clutter they create.  That's why I will let the kids play with the magnets every once in a while; however, I want the kids to put them away when guests come over.

This is a shoebox that holds another set of manipulatives.

Shoe boxes are a great way to divide collections.  Sometimes, the collections are fragile.  I have some hands on materials that are hollow cubes.  They have been squashed before.  These boxes are ideal because they are stackable.

Shoe boxes are perfect for small collections.

I had the original box of these 3D shapes for a long time.  The box finally gave out.  I moved the shapes into this much sturdier box.  I'm not afraid to adapt to change.  Things break; containers break.

A dishpan is a perfect container for some collections.

I love it when the kids play with their pipes and marbles.  I bought a few dishpans to use around the house.  I grabbed a dishpan for the pipes and marbles.  Then, I used an index card to label the container.  This dishpan is placed up at the top of the entertainment center because marbles are a choking hazard for young children.

I utilize white baskets as containers.

That is one basketful of soldiers, little workers, animals, and terrain pieces.  This collection has gotten larger over the years, and I weed out what I can.  The kids role play with these toys so I decided to place them together in the basket.  I used to split the pieces by type into separate baggies, but I see that it is not worth it.  The kids would mix up the items so I quite sweating this small detail.

Closeup of basket reveals soldiers, Indians, and bushes.

 This is a deep basket, but it fits perfectly in the entertainment center.

2.5 Gallon-size baggie--yes, they make them this big!

Jumbo size baggies are wonderful for larger collections.  The one above is holding farm buildings, animals, and road signals--very bulky items.  This baggie actually fits inside the big basket above.

Tin container and a smaller basket hold other collections.

The Play-Doh tin can originally held some molds and small containers of play dough.  I removed the molds and threw them together with plastic cookie cutters in the basket.  Now, the tin can only holds the small containers of play dough. 

Well, I hope that I have given some ideas of how to organize collections of manipulatives.  There are more pictures and themes I want to cover.  Stay tuned to see how I organize such things as Legos, Megabloks, and art supplies.  These are such things I deem worthy of keeping in my homeschool.  That's why I take the time to organize them.

Thanks for reading this blog entry.

How about you, my readers?  Are your hands on materials organized in some way?  Is your home optimized for learning?  I encourage you to see if you have the right containers to hold your teaching tools.

I pray that God bless you all, my dear readers, with His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for Thorough Thursdays.