Sharing Literature With Technology

I'm sure that I'm not alone when I say that I am always printing something. We always need papers, but we need trees to breathe too. Today I want to share some troubleshooting ways to save on paper.

Why print it?

We have been meaning to get a toner printer, but you know what's cheaper? Apple TV. The teacher discount is only about $10 at the Apple Store, so don't bother driving out of your way. I (bf for my birthday, actually) paid $60 for Apple TV. I just click the remote to on, sideswipe my iPad, and whatever is on my pad is on tv. At first we went buck wild with the YouTube, but now we read articles together, i type with him in notepad, and bribe him that I'll let him watch an episode on the big screen if he just gets 2 more subjects done. It's amazing! I know it has saved us tons of paper.

Without Technology

I do love to use the back of Austin's math page as a whiteboard that we can save. I stink at math, so we actually do just about every problem together and compare our work. By using the back of the page, I can explain and save. I found that, with a whiteboard, the white quickly became foggy and the markers dried out. Also, I was demonstrating the same work over and over. Using the back of the page basically turns my examples not Austin's notes.

Another option I've considered to save paper is using composition books instead of a binder. This would probably be a bit cheaper too. Instead of making confetti with my hole puncher and fighting to keep each subject orderly and neat, I could just use composition books. We keep a reading journal in a composition book. The backs of pages have print-offs glued inside and hand-written pre-chapter notes. I've decorated the cover to keep Austin's interest. Composition books may be a cheaper, cleaner way to store and transport our classwork. I'm definitely considering the conversion.

Books are NOT a solid

I really want to share this with you! Our library uses Flipster and OneClickDigital for both e-audio and e-book books. I love this SO much! Check with your library to see if they're a part of portals like this. Think about it - no more waiting for books to be sent, no more hunting for a double copy or sharing of bookmarks, no more due dates to remember...Nothing beats "library and chill." It's our favorite hangout. However, Austin once borrowed a copy of Anne Frank with a cigarette burn down the cover and who hasn't experienced a torn or sticky page, gross. Sometimes, you want to snuggle with a good book, but sometimes snuggling with your gadget is just a little more...modern, clean, appealing...you know?!

With Flipster, I don't have to touch the dirty magazines at the waiting room. Our library has 28 magazine titles to choose from. I go to the site using my library card number as the password for the screen name being my library and download what I want to the app. I go into the app and there they are. When I'm without Internet, I just open the app and my magazines are available to me offline. The main page shows where you've left off in each of your magazines. I wish that they had a print option because I like recipes and knitting patterns, but it's nice to have 28 magazine options for free.

The OneClickDigital is amazing! I've read books I've never even thought of reading, like teen books that Id be too embarrassed to read in public, and Austin's choices always surprise me. We put our interests in our wish list on the site. Then we check out one or two at the same time. This app also lets you bookmark your page via a little gold tab in the upper right corner. You can place one bookmark in each book. Austin has his own card/app and I have mine. I pick up his iPod and check his app to see what he's reading. I plan to tell him to check out a book to read together so that we can discuss it. "Do You" by Ben Cohen lookslike a good first online share read. The most amazing part of this app is that my kid, the kid who prefers to read what HE wants, starts talking about classics that I was once forced to read. I have yet to test the audio books, but I'm thinking the audio might be perfect for Hamlet. We're studying a section on the origin of language in Language Arts right now. Austin does hum along to iTunes Radio while he reads in the app, but I don't know how he can focus on one audio and another visual simultaneously. 

So, here is my homeschool screen:

There is my Blogger app, DuoLingo, Flipster, OneClickDigital, and of course youTube. I also use notepad from the main screen.

Do you have any tips on how to save paper and ink? Do you use any of these apps or have any to recommend? Please, share with me in the comment box :-)