I got this in the mail about a week or so ago but have been so busy have not yet had the time to open it and try it out. Imagine my surprise when it came with all of this (note: I received a start package with my machine in order to complete this review):
When I was working in each quarter we made books for each individual student with their goals and worksheets for that quarter. It was a great way to keep track of progress on IEP goals. The problem was finding a time to use the schools single binding machine to create over 40 individual books.
I have had dreams of being able to make these books at home at my leisure. Uhhh huh... dreams people. I can make class books whenever I want. No endless gossiping while thinking "hurry up peeps I got things to do!"
My first thought... this is gonna be expensive! It actually is quite affordable. A package of 100 combs is only $4.50. Plastic covers are $10 for 100 (I don't usually use these). I usually use card stalk for the covers and they have 100 packs starting at $16! That had got to be the cheapest I have ever seen it.
Plus they have this amazing metallic line... no clue what to use it for but it looks like glitter!!! Glitter covers people... can you imagine it? I held in the girly squeal of excitement as hubby is in the room. He equates excited girly squeals with the balance in our checking account diminishing.
After all that excitement.... I wanted to know how easy this was going to be to use.
The more pages you put in the harder it is to whole punch. I liked using about 8 pages at a time. Any more than 12 and I had to use a lot of muscle. Make sure ya get it all the way in. If you put in too many at once then you might not punch the paper correct. So less is better!
Load from back to front and make sure that you are putting the pages in the right side up so that the spine is on the left.
Make sure you use both handles so that you close it up smoothly. You slide it out of the locking mechanism to release and there is your book. It took me about 5 minutes to make the first one but I had a lot of helpers. It would take me about 3 minutes to create a book minus helpers and reading instructions.
Speaking of helpers... this item comes with a few warnings!
While checking my camera to make sure all the pictures were clear I heard "Thanks Mama for the Christmas present!" and snapped this of my baby trying to take the machine off to his lair. While wrestling with the bear and reclaiming my papermonster....
I hear "Awesome! I can create a new book!" and captured this picture. I shoulda known my "helpers" had their own agendas. They are now off writing stories and drawing pictures. The bear (my baby) is the middle one's walking dictionary. I love how they are so excited about writing and left the video games in the dust.
The boys would like you to know it is so easy to use that they could sneak out of bed at midnight to make their own books.
The best news... MyBinder is having a sale and I am giving away a PaperMonster! =)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!

I would use this machine for EVERYTHING!!!! Math journals, class books........
ReplyDeleteLive Laugh and Love to Learn
livelaughandlovetolearn@gmail.com
OOOOOhhhhhh...I want one of these sooo bad! I would make oodles of books for my class with this!!
ReplyDelete~Jen
Jen's Kinder Kids
Come by my blog to win SCENTOS markers!
I would bind tons of our classroom books. instead of letting the pages pile up on my desk.
ReplyDeleteVera
abltadventure@gmail.com
bedfordloveandteaching.blogspot.com
Such a cool product. I woud use this to publish class books and allow individual students to publish their stories as well.
ReplyDeletebeth.shavelson@browardschools.com
MyBinding.com is so supportive to teachers! I would love to have this product, but I LOVE my laminator!!
ReplyDeleteJenny
Owl Things First!
oh my!! This is awesome!! I would love to have one of these at home!! :D
ReplyDeleteCourtney
cmizufuka(at)gmail.com
I am "giddy" thinking of all the writing projects they could do- the assessment books I could put together AND the end of the year- my fingers are crossed!
ReplyDeleteStaci
Going Nutty!
misssquirrels@yahoo.com
OH gosh, this would be great to use for putting our class books together!
ReplyDeletekellybrown28021@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThe paper shredders look great@
kellybrown28021@gmail.com
For making class books!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
First Grade Blue SKies
I would use this to make class books and to make our handprint calendars for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteLisa
Learning Is Something to Treasure
I want one of these so badly! The possbilities are endless- student books, class books, books made for different letters and themes, calendars, gift ideas for mothers/fathers days and holidays.
ReplyDeletedivingintolearning@gmail.com
Ever so cool. I would make a publishing center in the library ... we could make class books or school books or storytime books or our own non-fiction research sources.
ReplyDeleteSomeone else mentioned "instead of pages piling up on my desk." I empathize with that statement. A lot. :/
Not only do kids like class books, parents do! Kids love to be "published"! :) Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI would love to make snazzier class books than my stapled ones!
ReplyDeleteTokyoshoes at hotmail dot com
I would use this for so many things! I would love to publish student work and to create more personalized math journals! Thanks for the awesome giveaway :)
ReplyDeletecarlycaneparo at gmail dot com
I would use it to put together our class books and our Young Authors books in the spring! :o)
ReplyDeleteCindy
ccfirstteacher@gmail.com
Misty this is awesome. Much better than the really old one my mom in law gave me from the 80's. :o)
ReplyDeleteVicky
I would love to have this for class books! And I could start my morning math journals!
ReplyDeleteIf I could have any product from mybinding.com, I would love to have a personal laminator!
Ashley
arclark2012@gmail.com
I would use this to bind student books as well as my teacher books. I love this thing. My school's binding machine is broken and I need to bind! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThis would make book binding so easy that we could be making books all the time!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great too ~ Papermonster 12" Business Laminator - LA3.
ReplyDeleteThis would be great to make all my class books instead of using notebooks. Love it.
ReplyDeleteTerri
thefirstgradeprincess.blogspot.com
As soon as I read about your new Papermonster my head started to think of all the endless possibilities I could use it for in my Kindergarten classroom. I would use the Papermonster to make my Parent Handbook, School Cookbook, Classwritten Monthly Poems, Dictionary with Sight Words, All About Me books, Our Classroom in Pictures books, My Reading Buddies and Us books, Our Special Days Book, Welcome New Student books. These are just some ideas!! I would also share with the other staff at my charter school. Thank you for the giveaway, and giving me the opportunity to dream!kayklingler@cox.net
ReplyDeleteI would have my students develop stories using various storytelling apps such as Storylines, Toonastic, Pictello, etc. They would love to use the Papermonster make books from the stories they created.
ReplyDeleteTammy Harris
tammydawnslp@cox.net
I would use this to bind books that the children make or to make class books.
ReplyDeletelraines78@gmail.com
My favorite product is the laminator.
ReplyDeletelraines78@gmail.com
I would use this machine for soooo much. I make a lot of class books and they are so motivating for my pre-readers. It would be so cool to make them look nicer (and last longer!) than with plain ol' staples or brads.
ReplyDeleteKara
Spedventures
The double sided markerboard easel looks great!
ReplyDeleteKara
Spedventures
I would use the machine to make workbooks for the students!
ReplyDeleteMath Journals, handwriting, writing journals, and more!
ReplyDelete