Paint Cans, Loose Leaf Binders, & Index Cards

Posted by Amy Bayliss | 0 comments

I use the binder rings to keep my flash cards and sequence cards together and in order. They are a sanity saver!

I also used them to make a flip chart for my posters. Visual charts and posters play a huge role in a child’s ability to retain information. This is evident to anyone who has ever taken a marketing class. These images and words become implanted into the brain and can be recalled for years to come. That is why the billboard industry is so lucrative.

Most teachers use this same approach in the classroom but it can be difficult for a home school parent to do it unless they have an ample amount of space in their home where they could be hung. I don’t have that kind of space available to me so I thought of this idea:

This is an old cheval mirror that had broken. I took the mirror part off and I had a wooden rod cut (and old mop or broom stick would work fine too) and then screwed it into the sides. I then punched a hole in the posters and inserted the rings. Then they were placed on the rod.

You could also use an adjustable garment rack for the same purpose.

I also use paint cans for fun and games while learning. They are about $2.50 at Lowe’s or Homes Depot. As we go through a section of our spelling curriculum, I write the words down on half of an index card and punch a hole in the corner. They go into the paint can.

Monday through Thursday they each stick their hand in the can and pull out ten words and hand them to me without peeking. I call out the word on the card and if they get it right then they get to put it on their loose leaf binder ring. When we go on car trips we take our rings and paint can with us. Everyone exchanges rings and the fun begins.

If Jacob has Gevan’s ring then he will call out the words to Gevan. We only do ten at a time to give everyone a chance since some trips are very short. If they get it right then they get to keep that word on their ring but if they get it wrong then it goes back into the paint can. Whoever has the most words on their ring at the end of the week gets special privileges.

There are many other ways to use the paint can. I will discuss a few of them here.

You can put all of those magnetic alphabets and numbers into the paint can for a lot of fun. That’s right, instead of having them on the refrigerator where they fall of and get lost you can keep them all in one location. This would be a great game to occupy a preschooler while the other kids are doing lessons.

We have also used them for treasure hunts. I find items that I think represent a part of history or science that we have learned about and put them into the can. The kids take them out one by one and then recall what they learned about that item. For example, a rainbow eraser represented the great flood and God’s promise to never flood the earth again.

Another great idea is to make an altered paint can. Here is Sprittibee’s version of an altered coffee can. You can apply the same instructions to the paint can.

Original idea published at FamilyFun.com.

This is what we use for a flip time line. It is an index card binder. We also use a wall time line but this one is great for quick reference since we have to take the wall chart out every time we use it. Plus, making each page for this chart reinforces what the boys have learned in history.

Index cards are also great for scripture memory, math, telling time, presidents, and so much more! You can put anything on an index card. Here is a great site with more ideas and some free printables: Homeschooling With Index Cards.

Married to her best friend and “main squeeze”, Amy Bayliss is a 4th year homeschooling mom to three boys. She enjoys writing about the eclectic teachings that bring a glimmer of curiosity to the eyes of her sons. In addition to being the co-owner of Heart of the Matter, she writes for Internet Cafe Devotions. Be sure to visit her blog, In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 and her family’s homeschool blog: Integrity Academy.