That's what pencils are for!=) I haven't yet reused one from my 11 yo on my 5 yo. I do use resale shop workbooks. I tell my son that the person before might have not known the right answer, and to check his/her work. It is rare that these used book kind of workbooks have more than 5 pages finished in them, anyway.
My printer also has a scanner/copier on the top. I copy any worksheets he does. None of our books have been written in.
I have also copyied workbooks, but I don't erase them. To me, nothing erases clean, and you can see the writing/answers still. As far as copying workbooks, I've finally decided that it costs more in paper/ink/etc. to copy the whole book than it does to actually buy it. So if I plan on using the whole book, I'd rather just actually get a copy. If it's only going to be hit-and-miss, I will copy.
I've torn out pages of workbooks and put them in page protectors...that way the boys can write on them in dry erase marker and I can wipe it off later.
I have erased/whited out up to nine or ten pages of a book I've gotten from another homeschooler, either purchased along with the rest of a set, or that was "inherited" from somewhere... Some workbooks, coloring books, etc., I've made copies, especially some that are a "single topic" small workbooks from a discount store that I'm not sure I'll ever see again if I wanted another one down the road. I've retyped chapter reviews, quizzes and tests, sometimes "as is" and sometimes "with tweaks" of my own. OTOH, we actually use our curriculum workbook units, like CLE or Lifepacs, and order more as needed. I've heard some moms say that they don't disassemble workbooks but slit a page protector down the side to slip over a page while it's still in the book, to erase and reuse.
Meanwhile....erasing page 65. If I could go out and buy this one I would. But paying double the cost of the workbook in just shipping costs doesn't make sense. So I will continue erasing.
I did do the copy thing or have them write on paper but now I just rather have them write in the books and get new when the next comes along to do the work.
I have purchased books that had some answers written in them. I erased the answers. Ems knows that just because some of the answers are visible, after they are erased, doesn't mean they are correct. Plus she is the type of person who can't stand it when people give her the answer. She likes to figure things out for herself.
I don't often. I have erased a Reason For Spelling student copy that only had about 4 lessons done in it. Then I went over the erased answers in white out. We use CLE for reading & LA but it's not worth my time to erase. I either try to get a good deal on 2nd hand workbooks not written in or I'll pay the few dollars for new ones for the 2nd kid. I have copied math before but have decided it will be a better deal to buy an extra student book. Too much wear & tear on our printer-plus the toner,ink,paper.
I don't have my girls write in the books, we just copy and answer on notebook paper. That way I can reuse or sell them.
Ditto. All of my older kids' workbooks got copied last year. Partly because they were borrowed, but even my own I knew I could resell.
Yes! I have definately done that. I then found it was easier just to black out the answer. Now if I know that I will be reusing it my kids write all their answers in notebooks.
It is Explode the Code book 1. I was using MCP Phonics with my son, but didn't like it. I need to buy all my school items at once due to shipping costs. Shipping in Canada isn't cheap. I finished erasing the book and started on book 2. There is only one or two pages that look like something is written. Most of it looks brand new My younger son is a doodler so there is no way I could erase a workbook after he uses it.
I have a whole bunch of workbooks, that are half way used or partially used and I've saved them for some reason, like the mus workbooks. I don't know what the heck I'm gonna do with them but I have them.
