Notebook frustrations

Each year I buy a new notebook for my school age children, and each year I am frustrated. I get them organized nicely and then we start school. The very first day of using it the pages start to tear out and it begins to look sloppy. I have had a hard time understanding this phenomenon because I use notebooks quite a bit when I was a public school child and the pages seemed to stay in pretty well. But for us it has been an anual disaster.

This year I bought at Target some nice 3 pronged glossy pocket folders. These were very inexpensive as they only cost .70 for a package of 10. In these I am putting pages to make my own workbooks. I had started the process for Spelling Power books for my oldest boys, when my printer/scanner/copier breathed it's last. So, after I get another one (Lord willing this weekend) I will continue making them. I will make books for Math with notebook paper (.19 a package, don't you LOVE this time of year for school supplies!) in them, English with notebook paper in them, Bible with various forms in them, Penmanship with copywork in it, Science and History with notebook paper. These little folders hold the pages in really well. And anything else that isn't on my mind. This way they are not pulling the pages out and making a sloppy mess.

So, this year I am feeling pretty hopeful that we will have a nice and orderly school year. The key word is HOPE, because you know the greatest plans.....