You might be told you need paper saving strategies at some point in your career. I unofficially call this a “paper diet.”
At first, you might be frustrated and check sales at your local office supply store to see if you can find a way around this “paper diet,” but eventually, you might realize that with the economic and environmental cost of paper, you might just embrace some paper saving strategies.
Paper conservation is important, not just for economic reasons but also for the environmental impact. Think about all the paper used in your classroom each day, then think about all the classrooms in your school using a similar amount of paper.
This is why encouraging paper saving strategies is so important. This blog post will share 14 simple and effective ways you can save paper in your classroom, as well as teach your students about the importance of paper saving strategies.
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14 Paper Saving Strategies For Teachers
Here are some paper saving strategies that might work in your classroom:
Photocopier Settings
Sometimes one of the easiest paper saving strategies is to check the settings on your school photocopier. I have used photocopiers that allow you to copy two or four pages per sheet of paper. If you photocopy double-sided, you could print eight pages on one piece of paper. Personally, four to a page might be too small, so you can try the two-to-a-page format and photocopy it double-sided to see if it works for your students.
You can also ask yourself before photocopying if the resource has a digital component. Nearly all 2 Peas and a Dog resources come with a PDF and digital option for students to learn from, so it could be as simple as ditching the photocopier and going digital.
Think Dry Erase
Student desks, whiteboards, and dry-erase pockets can be used for student practice work. Think critically about the activities you are planning that week and see what needs to be done on paper and what can be done on a dry-erase surface. Don’t forget you will need a supply of dry erase markers.
Use Notebooks
At some point, notebooks stopped being used as much in the classroom, and photocopies became the norm. Let’s teach students how to use notebooks properly and save the photocopies for essential items.
Try to use notebooks made with recycled materials and encourage them to write on both sides of the page.
It’s also important that students know how to take notes. Instead of writing down every detail, students can focus on key points or summaries. They can also use bullet points, concept maps, or abbreviations to save space. Check out 12 Great Ways To Teach Note-Taking Skills for more ways to teach students about note-taking techniques.
Try Lined Paper
Depending on the age of your students, lined paper combined with binders and duotangs can also be used. Try to stock up using your school supply order or during Back-to-School sales. You can also look for recycled options for notepads, lined paper, and plastic folders.
Embrace Your Whiteboard
Students can copy notes written on the whiteboard or data projector. You don’t need to do this every day, but it is a strategy to save on photocopying. Have students copy their notes into a notebook or onto lined paper.
Go Digital
Have students collaborate using online tools when working together. There are many digital options available for digital learning, including:
- Google Keep for collaborative note-taking.
- Padlet for interactive bulletin boards where students can post ideas without printing.
- Trello for organizing group projects digitally.
For even more digital learning tools, check out Digital Learning Tools For Teachers and Students or Useful Digital Classroom Tools.
Create an Online Table of Contents
Use your school’s LMS (Learning Management System), such as Google Classroom, and create a digital table of contents for students to reference their lessons. I was very fortunate that a fellow teacher shared this strategy with me.
Digital Assessments
You could also use digital assessment tools like Google Forms if you have access to technology in your classroom. Learn about 10 Engaging Digital Assessment Tools.
You could also reduce paper usage in classroom activities by:
- Creating interactive learning stations where students complete tasks on tablets, computers, or dry-erase boards instead of printed worksheets.
- Recommend e-books, articles, or PDFs for reading assignments. Use digital options for reading assignments that can be read through Google Classroom or on a device.
- Encourage students to submit assignments through email or Google Classroom instead of printing them for submission.
Get the Print-Friendly Google Extension
Download the Print Friendly Google Extension if you use Chrome as your web browser. It allows you to “print” webpages in PDF format. This can help reduce the amount of printer paper you use. It is also available as a website.
Collect GOOS Paper
If you find paper that has been only used on one side, save it and have students use the other side for practice work. This is called GOOS paper which stands for ‘Good On One Side.’ This paper is great for brainstorming or group work where students do not need to have a brand new piece of paper to do the task.
Rethink Paper Assessments
Does every assessment in your classroom need to be on paper? Check out these 6 Quick Assessment Strategies that can help you streamline your paper usage.
Use Chart Paper
There is something fun about using chart paper and markers. Depending on the task, students can work together and complete their work on chart paper. Project a template onto your whiteboard and have students recreate it on the chart paper. Students could also work collaboratively on a Google Doc instead of using chart paper.
Remember Glue Sticks
Once your students are using notebooks, you can photocopy questions or journal prompts several to a page and then cut them out on a paper cutter. Students can then use glue sticks to put the small piece of paper into their notebooks and write their answers on the notebook page.
Teach Students How To Manage Paper
Learning how to manage paper is a skill, just as keeping your digital spaces organized is also a skill. It is important that students learn how to organize the paper they receive and that it is not an unlimited resource. If students misplace their notes, teach them how to reference your online table of contents to access the digital version of the notes. Read this blog post, How To Teach Students Organization Skills, for more information on this topic.
Paper saving strategies don’t need to be implemented all at once. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, start gradually. For example, begin by having students use dry-erase boards a few times a week, and then slowly introduce digital tools as you go.
You can also initiate a discussion with your students about the importance of paper saving strategies, not just in the classroom but also at home and in the workplace.
Over time, these paper saving strategies will become natural habits and another tool in your teacher tool kit.
Join the Teaching Middle School With 2 Peas and a Dog Facebook group, a community of like-minded educators, and share your paper saving strategies.
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