Individual Lesson Plan Request

[Cheryl in CA]

Those of us who are using the individual lesson plans are most likely 3-hole punching them. Because of the current margins, the holes cut out part of the lesson plans. Can whoever it is that formats them please increase the size of the margin so this doesn't happen?

[Michael]

Re: Individual Lesson Plan Request

Those of us who are using the individual lesson plans are most likely 3-hole punching them. Because of the current margins, the holes cut out part of the lesson plans. Can whoever it is that formats them please increase the size of the margin so this doesn't happen?

We can certainly look into widening the margins. It would be a big project, so we'll revisit this idea in the fall to see if it's possible.

Thanks for the feedback!

[hackberryhill]

Re: Individual Lesson Plan Request

Cheryl, have you looked into discbound notebooks? The initial investment is more than a 3-ring binder/punch, but it might be worth it. They use a narrower margin than a 3-ring binder.

[jen1134]

Re: Individual Lesson Plan Request

Those of us who are using the individual lesson plans are most likely 3-hole punching them. Because of the current margins, the holes cut out part of the lesson plans. Can whoever it is that formats them please increase the size of the margin so this doesn't happen?

When you go to print them, the printing options window that pops up will have a "scale" option. If you set that to 90%, it should solve the problem.

[serendipitous journey]

Re: Individual Lesson Plan Request

Also: I've had luck by checking that when I print from Acrobat, the option "Fit" (under "Page Size and Handling", if the "Size" subsection is selected) is the one checked off. I myself often use "Actual Size" for the size, but found that in printing the lesson plans using "Fit" leaves just enough room at the margins for my 3-hole-punch. Don't know if it will work the same for you.

[TheAttachedMama]

Re: Individual Lesson Plan Request

Cheryl, have you looked into discbound notebooks? The initial investment is more than a 3-ring binder/punch, but it might be worth it. They use a narrower margin than a 3-ring binder.

I wanted to also mention the Swingline Pro Click system as an alternative to 3 ring notebooks and the disc bound system. IMHO, it holds up MUCH better to rough handling by kids. Plus the notebooks lay flat just like a coil-bound manual, take up less space in a shelf, and fit neatly into workbox drawers.

Pro-clicks bindings look just like a coil bound notebook, except that you can snap them open and shut. (sort of like pop beads, do you remember those?) Plus, they are only $0.43 per bindingg...and you can re-use the binding over and over again. The most expensive part is the hole puncher. I ended up getting a 50% off coupon to an office supply store and got mine that way. It has been well worth the investment! I pro-click everything.

I also make my own covers by laminating a standard sheet of paper and pro-clicking that. You can also pro-click binder dividers and insert those too. They work great with the MP lesson plan templates, etc.

[Anita]

Re: Individual Lesson Plan Request

Print the lesson plans and slide them into page protectors, then put into a 3-ring binder. Cheap, durable, reusable. Use a dry erase pen to check off tasks.

[Cheryl in CA]

Re: Individual Lesson Plan Request

Thank you all for your suggestions <3 I was gone all day yesterday, so I didn't get a chance to get back to the thread.

Print the lesson plans and slide them into page protectors, then put into a 3-ring binder. Cheap, durable, reusable. Use a dry erase pen to check off tasks.

It would make my binders too thick (they are on the verge of being too thick as it is), and I want a permanent record of what they have done (so no dry erase). But, it's a great idea for those who don't want a permanent record and don't have the thickness problem!

I wanted to also mention the Swingline Pro Click system as an alternative to 3 ring notebooks and the disc bound system. IMHO, it holds up MUCH better to rough handling by kids. Plus the notebooks lay flat just like a coil-bound manual, take up less space in a shelf, and fit neatly into workbox drawers.

Thanks, but that won't work with my planning system (3-ring notebook with tabs for different disciplines and a new weekly schedule in the front every week). I have a comb binder, which I LOVE...just not for our lesson plans.

Pro-clicks bindings look just like a coil bound notebook, except that you can snap them open and shut. (sort of like pop beads, do you remember those?) Plus, they are only $0.43 per bindingg...and you can re-use the binding over and over again. The most expensive part is the hole puncher. I ended up getting a 50% off coupon to an office supply store and got mine that way. It has been well worth the investment! I pro-click everything.

I also make my own covers by laminating a standard sheet of paper and pro-clicking that. You can also pro-click binder dividers and insert those too. They work great with the MP lesson plan templates, etc.

Thanks :-) I have had a comb binder (which I LOVE), but it's not a good fit for me for this particular use. Probably only this particular use, as I comb bind most everything else, LOL!

Also: I've had luck by checking that when I print from Acrobat, the option "Fit" (under "Page Size and Handling", if the "Size" subsection is selected) is the one checked off. I myself often use "Actual Size" for the size, but found that in printing the lesson plans using "Fit" leaves just enough room at the margins for my 3-hole-punch. Don't know if it will work the same for you.

When you go to print them, the printing options window that pops up will have a "scale" option. If you set that to 90%, it should solve the problem.

Thank you both, I hadn't thought about that! Duh, LOL! I will try both the next time I print out a lesson plan :-)

Cheryl, have you looked into discbound notebooks? The initial investment is more than a 3-ring binder/punch, but it might be worth it. They use a narrower margin than a 3-ring binder.

Thanks, I've never heard of them! At a quick glance (I had to look them up, LOL), I'm not sure they will work for what I need, but I will look into them more if the printing options above don't work.

We can certainly look into widening the margins. It would be a big project, so we'll revisit this idea in the fall to see if it's possible.

Thanks for the feedback!

Thank you :-)