Apr 27 2010
The term “going green” is the catch phrase of recent years. But unlike most catch phrases that spread like wildfire and eventually slow, the idea of “going green” has picked up speed and changed the way families live. Communities are quickly shifting from being aware to taking environmental responsibility, and they’ve adopted “green” habits into everyday life as a result.
Whether or not families realize it, they all participate. Every time an email is sent in the place of a letter, both paper waste and the fuel required to ship it are being conserved. Businesses help consumers make greener choices by offering recycle bins, reusable shopping bags, nontoxic cleaning products, energy-saving light bulbs, fuel efficient (and hybrid) cars, online bill-pay options and paperless curriculum.
That’s right... paperless curriculum.
Just in time for Earth Day 2010, Time4Learning received a prestigious Green Certification from the Institute for Green Business Certification (IGBC), for its environmentally-friendly business practices and paperless product delivery.
Time4Learning offers a great solution to the paper mountain pile-up. Their animated lessons are both presented and completed online. Printable worksheets are available, but parents only need to print what they find useful. Automated grading and detailed reporting makes record keeping simple (and paperless).
While "going green" is a nice feature of an online curriculum, the benefits of Time4Learning go much further than just being Earth-friendly.
- It’s convenient. Students can access their lessons at any time from any computer with an internet connection.
- It’s individualized. Students progress through lessons at their own pace and repeat lessons whenever they want.
- It has many uses. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, as an afterschool alternative to tutoring, or as a summer skill builder.
- It’s good for parents, too. Lesson plans, teaching tools, automated grading and detailed reporting makes tracking progress and record keeping simple.
- It’s low cost. Time4Learning requires no contracts and offers a 14-day money back guarantee.
Families who homeschool might have already wondered how to reduce the clutter… especially if they’ve got a large family. Yes, the books can be sold to used curriculum sites or reused, but that only takes care of part of the problem. But, what about the notebooks, workbooks, worksheets, folders and that pile of papers hidden in the box, over there? Where do those end up… besides a storage closet?
Homeschooling parents have the opportunity to make a green choice by selecting a paperless curriculum for their children. In traditional schools, students are required to use a long list of supplies. But homeschoolers can create a virtually paperless homeschool environment if they choose to. And in going paperless, they’re teaching kids about the importance of greener living.
More and more families are looking for ways to be environmentally conscious, and choosing a paperless curriculum is a good beginning. Not only can families drastically reduce waste, but they will also be setting an important example about making greener choices. After all, it’s the next generation that will be creating new and innovative ways of preserving the planet. Choosing a green curriculum is a great way to start.