30 Days of Tips - Workbooks

Tip #12 - For all the home learners out there, when you do workbooks with your children, don't let them mark on the workbook pages. Instead, if the workbook's copyright allows, make a copy of each page you want to use that day. Having an all-in-one copier, printer, scanner makes this very easy, so if you are replacing your computer's printer anytime soon, consider one of these instead of a standard printer. Of course, whenever you're making a copy for one-time use in the home, don't use a fresh sheet of paper. Try recycled sources instead.

If the workbook's copyright doesn't allow for in-home copies & you like to do workbooks together anyway, letting the child "write" with his finger is just as effective for learning the material. Some would argue more so, since you are sitting & learning together.

Clean workbooks have obvious advantages: they can be passed from child to child, traded with other families & sold when you're all finished with them.