| Author | |
Lori B
Forum Pro
Joined: March 24 2006
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 209
|
| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 7:50pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Since we are trying to eliminate plastics from our home, I'm not really thrilled with the idea of laminating our cards. Does anyone just print on cardstock and skip the laminating? My youngest is six, so I'm not worried about toddlers being rough, just normal wear and tear.
TIA 
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 8:11pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
You know- I just got a nice copy ( from the Trading Post here  ) of "Montessori Read and Write" , and the first thing I noticed was that all of the materials in the pictures were hand made and hand printed. I know the book was written before the computer/laminating era, but I had to laugh and immediately thought; why do I keep spending money on laminating rolls? I am making everything so hard- all this great learning can be accomplished with humble items.
Laminating does make everything sturdier and looks so nice and professional... but I am finding my ds isn't a big lover of the three part cards, anyway. Maybe that will change in time. For now, I'm just printing and saving the laminating for really special items.
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lapazfarm
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6082
|
| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 9:48pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am not laminating everything. I started out trying to do that, but I am also concerned about the amount of plastic I am using. I decided on laminating only the things that I think will get the most use. My youngest is six also and so I do not have to worry about little ones or having them stand up to multiple users over several years, like many of the ladies here do.
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ShawnaB
Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 05 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 377
|
| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 9:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
OK, I am only dabbling in the Montessori method...but here's my 0.02 cents....
So far, all of my 3 part cards have been printed from the internet, some for free and some purchased. Since I have these materials now in a file format, I'm not so concerned about them lasting forever because I can always print another if one of my toddlers chews on one. I figure that these cards are for use with my own children, and not a whole class year after year, so they don't need to be super durable.
That said, I actually own a laminator, but its seems that my kids handle the cards better unlaminated because they are less slippery. I use a heavy card stock for printing. Its much cheaper this way too
__________________
Shawna, wife of Jacob, mom to Abraham 8 Amelia 5 and Jillian & Jonathan age 3 years http://www.psalm121family.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
earthmaven
Forum Pro
Joined: June 19 2007
Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 105
|
| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 9:58pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Shawna,
How heavy a weight of paper can go through your colour printer without difficulty? What weight is card stock, typically?
We're looking at buying a new printer this weekend and I'd love to eliminate laminating as well.
Thanks.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ozlouise
Forum Rookie
Joined: July 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 51
|
| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 6:03am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm another that doesn't laminate everything. Especially cards that are topic related - ie we use them for the week or two and then not again.
Louise
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lori B
Forum Pro
Joined: March 24 2006
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 209
|
| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 9:25am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks, ladies! I feel better about our choice not to laminate, now. My husband also pointed out that laminated cards would 'glare' under our not-so-great lighting, which would make them very un-appealing to Baby (who is legally blind and photophobic, to boot). He came home last night with a big pack of cardstock and some new coloured ink refills, so guess what he'll be doing this weekend  What a man!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CatholicMommy
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2007
Location: Indiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1254
|
| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 10:49am | IP Logged
|
|
|
No advice here (I laminate some, leave others alone) - just some insight. Many Montessori schools are laminating now, despite the lack of other plastic material. I THINK that part of the difference in materials now versus the original materials is that cardboard was sturdier than (ie even our posterboard in the last few years has seriously diminished in stiffness) - so things could be made on posterboard, cardboard or similar materials as even stated in Maria Montessori's writings, but today's materials tend towards less quality...
and it is easier to print directly onto cardstock and such!
In the home, it is easier to just print, cut and use, rather than worry about laminating everything - I still laminate the things I plan to tape to the wall or something that will be used fairly roughly, but most things are just print/design and go.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
AndreaG
Forum Pro
Joined: March 25 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 326
|
| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 11:29am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I don't laminate everything either. I think small cards (like for the grammar boxes) feel better unlaminated. I do laminate most cards with photos though, b/c I have an inkjet and one little drop of water, baby drool, splash from an erupting volcano, makes the ink run horribly and ruins the card. Since that seems to happen often here (with 4 kids 8 and under), I feel it is more cost and time effective to laminate most photo cards, plus the laminating makes the printed picture look better.
__________________
Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: *not* laminating?
