You may think of a laminator as Vibratory Tumbling Media Factory
used in elementary schools or graphics shops. But a
laminator can be a valuable tool to have on hand for educational
purposes within your own home. Here are six reasons to have a laminator
if you homeschool.
You may think of a laminator as a big
machine used in elementary schools or graphics shops. Or you may think
of the smaller devices used to create driver’s licenses and ID badges.
But a laminator can be a valuable tool to have on hand for educational
purposes within your own home. Here are six reasons to have a laminator
if you homeschool.
They are safe to use. Before we get into the
practical uses, it’s important to take a look at the safety features
since it will likely be used around curious children. Some machines are
built with technology to keep the outer surfaces at a cooler
temperature to prevent burns. But the safest thing to do is get a cold
laminator. Since they don’t need to heat up, cold laminators are the
best way to ensure you or your child won’t incur a heat related injury
during use.
You can create teaching tools.
Young children often use a workbook to learn things like numbers and
letters. This often involves copying the items over and over. Instead
of paying for a pricey book, make a sheet tailored to your child’s
specific needs and laminate it. After they’ve traced and copied the
letters, simply wipe it off and it can be reused again and again. The
repetition will help to solidify the number and letter shapes in your
child’s mind.
Make your own flashcards.
While one-time use flashcards are sometimes logical to make, most often
they are studied over and over. Laminating protects them from tears and
spills and makes them sturdy enough for use by multiple children. And
you can customize the cards to represent exactly what your child is
learning. Flashcards are a great tool for learning the alphabet,
numbers, spelling words, basic math skills, and animals as well as more
complex concepts such as DNA replication or balancing chemical
equations. The visual will reinforce the verbal information you’re
teaching.
Design practice sheets. Whatever
your child is learning, he will need to practice. For example, printing
basic math problems on a sheet and laminating it will let him rework
the equations until he’s completely learned the concept. This will work
especially well not only for math but also for learning states and
countries, conjugating verbs, and labeling pictures.
It’s
great for craft time. Besides all the educational uses, laminators can
be used to create and preserve several crafts. Kids can design their
own magnets and stickers as well as make bookmarks and placemats.
Laminate any drawings or paintings they make and they’ll last for years.
Parents
will like it, too. Small laminators are surprisingly affordable.
They’ll even save you money since you won’t need to invest in as much
paper or supplies to get the same results. Laminate your recipe cards
to shield them from spills and rips. Preserve newspaper clippings,
photographs, and old documents from yellowing with age or tearing. You
can also create chore charts, daily schedules, and other parenting
tools.
As you can see, a laminating machine can enhance your homeschool
environment. A cold laminator is safe to use around children. Your kids
will benefit from the custom made learning tools you can make for them.
And you may even find a few uses for it yourself around the house. So
what are you waiting for? Get a new machine and start creating!
The 15 Inch Classic Cut lite is a medium use
paper trimmer from Swingline with some nice features for the price.
Here’s a quick look at some of this machine’s strengths and weaknesses.
The 15″ Classic Cut lite is a medium use
paper trimmer from Swingline with some nice features for the price.
Here’s a quick look at some of this machine’s strengths and weaknesses.
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