Station Work

As a teacher, I know that my kids work and learn best in small groups. Whole group instruction is just so difficult when I have 17 different students at about 10 different levels. No wonder it is hard to keep a class focused at the same time. Each set of students learn an entirely different way than another set of students. First I tried reducing my whole group instruction and putting more time into stations. My kids loved it and I saw their growth skyrocket. So I decided to take the unconventional leap and take out all whole group instruction. All of my best teachings takes place with less than six kids anyways. Why not teach them like this all the time?

I switched my classroom to all station-based learning the last couple months and the kids are loving it. They feel so independent at their little workstations, collaborative meetings, and tech time. One thing I have noticed, though, is that I am running through a lot more paper. Every station needs instructions. And let’s be honest, the instructions get lost within the first week. Whether a kid accidentally picked the copy up and something was spilled, my instructions always get lost. My trick was to invest in some shipping supplies. That’s right! I ordered some job ticket holders from a shipping supplies company and have been loving them ever since.

You could go with classic black or upgrade to all sorts of different colors. In my room, each color stands for something different. Red are always instructions, blue is independent work, and green is partner work. I have them strategically placed around the room for easy access for the kids. We spend a lot of time learning and revisiting procedures so the kids always know what is expected of them. They know to pick up their job ticket holders and get right to work.

I don’t have to make as many copies of things because they can use the clear holders to write on! Every kid has their own dry erase marker and they can actually check off lists or complete their worksheets without ever actually writing on the paper! Most of my station work is ungraded anyway. So one student can write all over the outside, turn it in for a quick check, use wipes to erase their work, and the next kid can get started right after! It has been such a lifesaver and a tree saver! Each year and group of kids is different, but I think this is one trick I’m going to keep around for quite a while!

Clear Shrink Wrap or Printed Shrink Film?

You may wonder whether or not you want shrink film that’s printed, or something that’s les reflected or glossy. While there are a log of questions to answer, the most critical usually involves these two. Printed and clear shrink have a lot of similarities and are used for similar types of applications, but you want to choose the right shrink film for your packaging needs. So what’s correct for you? What should you use? We’ll dive into that here today, in order to give you a definitive answer on the type of shrink film in which you should be using. 

Clear Shrink Wrap 

This is shrink film, and it’s a substrate of packaging made from one of three main types of formulations of plastic. They usually include PVC, PE, or POF types of film, with different properties that are good for applications.

 

Usually, this is on a flat sheet that’s around a cone of carboard and are usually available in different gauges or widths of size. The application you decide to use will determine the length, width, and the gauge that are best fit for the products at hand to be used. 

Printed Shrink Film 

Printed shrink film is like the clear one, made from PE or polyolefin, and usually they are a bit thicker, and polyolefin also has a tighter type of shrink. Printed shrink usually comes with graphics and typography that’s catching to the eye, used to entice those who come to it, with different verbiage for marketing, ingredients, prices, and also warnings too. It also is noted that the printed one also has a specific order, so if you don’t have a ton of different items, then it may not be good for you. 

Usually, they have about 50,000 types of impressions that do wrap into a singular bundle to be printed onto different products. These are good for those who can use this with different brands, and you also may want to look at whether or not this is good for you. You should talk to a packaging specialist in order to figure out how much you need. 

What’s right For Me? 

That depends on the packaging needs that you have. Do you need something that requires graphics or typography on the packaging itself? Then get some printed shrink film. Do you need a packaging to be clear so people can see it? Then you should have clear shrink wrap as the superior choice for this. Are you looking to replace labels by putting them directly on the packaging? Then get the printed shrink film. Does your budget allow for enough printed shrink film? If the answer to tis is no, stick with the clear wrap, but if you’re able to, get it printed. Light gauge printed shrink wrap is another type of shrink wrap that is an alternative. And finally, look at the plastic packaging needs that you have. If you’re trying to put together a sustainable packaging that doesn’t use plastic? If the answer’s yes, don’t use either of these. But there is a plant based bio film that you can use which is a great alternative to plastic. 

Shrink film is good for you, and there are a lot of o benefits to be had with all of this. If you’re looking to see which is the right option, take a look at all of these, and from there, see for yourself just what kind of shrink film that you need, and the best options for you to choose when going through the decision of one these options. 

Moving Company Paperwork that is needed for Residential Relocation

It’s pretty boring to deal with the tasks related to moving. Packing items for day, weeks or even months and turning the lifestyle into nomadic one by disconnecting services and putting necessary items out of reach is not only boring but scaring. Nevertheless, there is even more boring task that awaits you ahead of moving day, i.e. dealing with the paperwork that moving company provides you. This length of this tiresome reading can sometimes drive you to make a mistake; for instance, signing the papers without reading them completely.

No matter how boring or difficult it is to read the company’s paperwork, you should read it completely and carefully. If you are failing to understand any point call the moving company and discuss the issue to get complete understanding.

Here is a checklist that you should complete in order to make your move smoother.

The price estimate

Moving price estimate is perhaps the first documentation that you should receive from the moving company. Read the estimate carefully and match the final price with the sum of individual tasks mentioned in the estimate. If that math is simple and you are able to understand the formula according to which you are charged, that's fine. If you don’t, read the estimate again and find the most confusing factor. Call the moving company and request for the clarification about the estimate. If you still don’t understand, ask them again. This questioning is the process that will create a relation of trust between you and the moving company.

The order of service

Upon finding the price estimate and conditions suitable, now you will call the moving company to inform them that you are willing to acquire their services. After that, they will send you an order of service, which is a document that states several services that company can offer along with the policies that are applicable. The main elements of this document include date of picking items, date of delivering, recommendation about packaging supplies, cancellation policy, and type of vehicle to be used etc. Read the document carefully and don’t sign it immediately. Call the service again and try to explore if there are any hidden charges that will be later masked as taxes.

Bill of lading

Bill of lading is an extremely important document that you will receive on the moving day. You must sign this document before the moving begins. The best practice is to match the terms and prices mentioned in the bill with the document copy of order of service. Make sure that statements in both these documents are synchronized. If there is a difference, ask from the movers for the clarification about that difference.

Inventory sheet

The final document that you should get is the inventory sheet. Inventory sheet should contain a list of all the items that you are going to move to the new house. The additional benefit that you can get from this document is that it will serve as a checklist at destination. There, you can make sure that all of the listed items are delivered at your new home.