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This page gives a basic ball-park figure, if you print similarly to how I do. If you want more accurate prices for your circumstances, try my printing cost calculator after perusing this page.
- Total Page Count - books only (RC and optional Henty totals) plus links to "per book count" for both.
- More Material to Print - flashcards, penmanship, optional vocab exercises.
- Things to Keep in Mind - circumstances that will change your printing costs.
- Estimate for Specific Length Books - example: 100 pages half or full size, etc.
- Estimated RC Printing Cost - using the Total Page Count and my printing costs.
- Estimated Henty Printing Cost - using the Total Page Count and my printing costs for these Optional Books.
- Add the Rest - add in cost of disks, math books, binding.
- Putting it in Perspective - figure cost per child, or per child per year.
TOTAL PAGE COUNT - Hopefully one of these page counts is similar to your method of printing.
Please visit the RC Books Page Count and the Henty Page Count page, to see these totals broken down by book. Those 2 pages also list some dark pages to skip (to help you save money on toner). The software has many already marked, but I've listed some that were inadvertently missed.
Column 1 = Printing "as is" from the CDs. This is the actual number of pages you will print (the number in the software's left column), not the last page number of the book. This includes the publisher's ads, and all pictures.
Column 2 = Includes all pictures, but no ads.
Column 3 = Does not include ads or dark pictures.
| RC BOOKS TO PRINT | 1 - As is | 2 - No ads | 3 - No ads, no darks |
| Required Reading (books 1-157) | 56,627 | 56,380 | 54,496 |
| Supplemental Reading (books 300-378) | 18,636 | 18,334 | 18,203 |
| Required Science (books 200-203, 206) | 2,414 | 2,414 | 2,409 |
| Supplemental Science (books 204-5, 207) [for advanced students] | 1,325 | 1,325 | 1,325 |
| Grammar and Spelling (books 401-405) | 571 | 569 | 569 |
| HENTY BOOKS TO PRINT Optional extra history books, available separately |
1 - As is | 2 - No ads | 3 - No ads, no darks |
| Full-Length Novels (books 601-699) | 37,379 | 35,431 | 34,311 |
| Short Stories - Henty Only (books 701-729) See explanation | 2,153 | 1,968 | 1,882 |
| Short Stories - Complete (books 801-813 plus remaining 700s not duplicated in 800s) | 6,758 | 6,240 | 6,008 |
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MORE MATERIAL TO PRINT which I can't accurately estimate the price to print.
~ FLASHCARDS ~
Flashcards naturally have a lot of white space, so the cost of toner per page is much lower than when printing a regular page. But here are the page counts in case you want them. (At least then you'll know how much paper or cardstock it will take.)
Hint: To access the "RC Print Utility", open RC, then click the tab at the top right. It says "Vocabulary", but you can also print phonics and math from there. (By then clicking on the bottom tab that says "Print Flash Cards.")
• Phonics Flashcards = 34 pages (Printed from RC print utility, or from book #504 .)
• Math Flashcards
Printed with the RC Print Utility = 110 pages (horizontal problems)
Or: Printed from book #503 = 164 pages (vertical problems)
• Vocabulary Flashcards
Printed with the RC Print Utility = 588 pages (has sentence OR definition, no book # on card)
Or: Printed from book #502 = 1616 pages (has sentence AND definition, AND book # on card).
Alternative to vocab flashcards: Print the Vocabulary List page from the vocabulary exercises book. Students can learn the words from the list using the tried and true "cover the answer with your hand" method.
Flashcard tip - Feel free to download the Math Flashcards on my free files page. They are PDF files and formatted to print double sided. (168 pages total)
Also, see the RC tips page to learn how to print the vocabulary double sided. (RC originally gives you cards printed on one side that you have to fold in half.) Printing double sided on cardstock makes sturdy cards that don't need laminating.
~ MATERIAL TO PRINT FOR EACH CHILD ~ Visit the RC Page Count page for the following totals.
• Vocabulary Exercises - You may or may not want to print each exercise for each book. (One of the pages for each book is just a list. Not really necessary if you're using the flashcards.) These pages have a lot of white space and won't use as much toner.
• Penmanship practice - This teaches manuscript AND cursive. You will probably have to print these numerous times per child until their handwriting improves and you decide to move on to copy work. These also have a lot of white space and won't use as much toner. (The lines are kind of thick though, so you may want to try printing at a lower resolution, like 300 dpi.)
Make This Material Reusable with one of the following methods:return to menu
Worksheet Covers - Buy dry erase worksheet covers to make papers reusable. Or, depending on the price, you may want to see below to make your own.
Sheet Protectors - Place the page you want to use into a sheet protector and it can be written on with a fine point damp-erase marker, dry-erase marker, or washable marker. (You'll have to see which works best for the type of sheet protector you have. I've heard that the glossier the plastic, the better it erases with dry-erase.) You don't have to have a sheet protector for each page. You can keep the sheets you aren't using in a binder, and only have the ones you're using in the protectors.
Laminating - Since there are fewer pages in the Penmanship Practice (34 pages, or 17 sheets of paper), you could laminate them and then use a fine point damp-erase marker, dry-erase marker, or washable marker, depending on which erases better for you. Since there are so many vocabulary worksheets, laminating them could get pretty pricey.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
The price of toner per page (that number from the manufacturer on your toner cartridge and drum unit) is based on printing one side of a piece of paper at 5% coverage. A toner coverage meter I used shows an average of 10% coverage for RC, Henty, and wordprocessor books.)
• Pages with Lots of White Space on them will cost a bit less than average to print.
• Pages with Pictures are going to cost a bit more than average to print. The pictures that take an entire page are the ones to watch out for. Thankfully you can skip them by using the "Skip D" function in RC. (Learn how.) Many of these have already been marked for you, but some were missed. I've listed those missed pages on the RC Page Count and the Henty Page Count page, and you can easily add them.
• Supplemental Books - You most likely will not print all of the supplemental reading.
• The Science Texts - are not all required. Some are just for advanced students. View the booklist to see which are required and which are supplemental.
• Printing from text files instead of RC is a great way to save money. (See RC Books Online and Henty Books Online for free text files.)
• Printing in lower resolution may be an option. I've printed at 300 dpi instead of 600 dpi and often can't tell the difference. If you like how it looks, it can save you a lot on toner.
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ESTIMATE FOR SPECIFIC LENGTH BOOKS
Here is a rough estimate of what it may cost, if your printing prices are similar to mine. I use a Brother 5150-D laser jet printer, and these costs include toner, drum and paper. (I buy original manufacturer parts.) Manufacturers give (unrealistic) page counts based on 5% toner coverage. I used a toner coverage meter on RC and wordprocessor books and found they average around 10% coverage. The estimates on this page were calculated based on 10% toner coverage.
My costs per page are: $0.01224 per page in half size, or $0.02447 per page in full size. (Based on online prices in early 2008.)
Use my Printing Cost Calculator to figure your own personal costs. You can save money by using off-brand toner/drums, or by refilling.
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To Print Half Size Books:
100 pg = $1.22 200 pg = $2.44 300 pg = $3.66 |
To Print Full Size Books:
100 pg = $2.45 200 pg = $4.90 300 pg = $7.35 |
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ESTIMATED RC PRINTING COST (These cost even less to print from free text files.)
Estimates based on my cost per page are: $0.01224 per page in half size, or $0.02447 per page in full size. (Based on online prices in early 2008.) Use my Printing Cost Calculator to find your own personal costs.
Column 1 = Printing "as is" from the CDs. This is the actual number of pages you will print (the number in the software's left column), not the last page number of the book. This includes the publisher's ads, and all pictures.
Column 2 = Includes all pictures, but no ads.
Column 3 = Does not include ads or dark pictures. (Some "d"s were missed in RC, but are listed on the RC Page Count page for you to add.)
| 1 - As is | 2 - No ads | 3 - No ads, no darks | |
| Required Reading (books 1-157) | 56,627 pgs. | 56,380 pgs. | 54,496 pgs. |
| Print in Half Size | $692.91 | $689.88 | $666.83 |
| Print in Full Size | $1,385.81 | $1,379.77 | $1,333.66 |
| Supplemental Reading (books 300-378) | 18,636 pgs. | 18,334 pgs. | 18,203 pgs. |
| Print in Half Size | $228.04 | $224.34 | $222.74 |
| Print in Full Size | $456.07 | $448.68 | $445.48 |
| Required Science (books 200-203, 206) | 2,414 pgs. | 2,414 pgs. | 2,409 pgs. |
| *Print in Half Size (not recommended for science) | $29.54 | $29.54 | $29.48 |
| Print in Full Size | $59.08 | $59.08 | $58.95 |
| Supplemental Science [advanced students] (books 204-5, 207) | 1,325 pgs. | 1,325 pgs. | 1,325 pgs. |
| *Print in Half Size (not recommended for science) | $16.21 | $16.21 | $16.21 |
| Print in Full Size | $32.43 | $32.43 | $32.43 |
| Grammar and Spelling (books 401-405) | 571 pgs. | 569 pgs. | 569 pgs. |
| *Print in Half Size (full size may be better for these) | $6.99 | $6.96 | $6.96 |
| Print in Full Size | $13.97 | $13.92 | $13.92 |
* I would recommend printing the science texts full size. Text books are normally almost as large as a sheet of copy paper. In half size the text comes out painfully small. Full size comes out in 12 point font.
I also recommend printing the grammar and spelling in full size. In half size they come out in 10 point font (not too bad, depending on age) and in full size they come out in 14 point font (considered "large print".)
Most of the rest of the books were originally smaller and will do well in half-size.
(Exceptions include Little Women and Our Soldier in the Civil War. Possibly more, but not many. It should be obvious when you're ready to print.)
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ESTIMATED HENTY PRINTING COST (Optional books) - You don't have to buy the Henty CDs to get a full curriculum. These numbers are just provided for those who do choose to use them. (These cost even less to print from free text files.)
Estimates based on my cost per page are: $0.01224 per page in half size, or $0.02447 per page in full size. (Based on online prices in early 2008.) Use my Printing Cost Calculator to find your own personal costs.
Column 1 = Printing "as is" from the CDs. This is the actual number of pages you will print (the number in the software's left column), not the last page number of the book. This includes the publisher's ads, and all pictures.
Column 2 = Includes all pictures, but no ads.
Column 3 = Does not include ads or dark pictures. (Some "d"s were missed in the software, but are listed on the Henty Page Count page for you to add.)
Below, the short stories are listed 2 ways. 1 - Printing all of the 700s, with only the Henty stories, or 2 - Printing all of the 700s in their entirety, including stories by other authors. (Not all the books have multiple authors, but those which do are duplicated in the 800s section. See which ones on the Henty list for more clarification.) Only choose one way to print the short stories, not both.
(Optional history books) |
1 - As is | 2 - No ads | 3 - No ads, no darks |
| Full-length Novels (books 601-699) | 37,379 pgs. | 35,431 pgs. | 34,311 pgs. |
| Print in Half Size | $457.38 | $433.55 | $419.84 |
| Print in Full Size | $914.76 | $867.09 | $839.68 |
| Short Stories - Henty Only (portions of books 701-729) | 2153 pgs. | 1968 pgs. | 1882 pgs. |
| Print in Half Size | $26.34 | $24.08 | $23.03 |
| Print in Full Size | $52.69 | $48.16 | $46.06 |
| Short Stories - Complete (books 701-729 [complete], or sub 800s duplicates where applicable) | 6758 pgs. | 6240 pgs. | 6008 pgs. |
| Print in Half Size | $82.69 | $76.35 | $73.52 |
| Print in Full Size | $165.39 | $152.71 | $147.03 |
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ADD THE REST
From above, add together the printing costs you think apply to you (for example, half-size required reading, full-size required science, a portion of the half-size supplemental reading, etc.) Or use these page totals in the printing cost calculator to figure your own prices.
Then add the price of the disks ($195 new, or buy used), the math books ($550 new, or buy used), and a bit more for flashcards and your choice of binding.
This should give you a rough estimate of your cost. And remember, you spend the money only once, no matter how many children you have. (With the exception of the vocabulary games, which are optional, and the penmanship practice pages.)
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PUTTING IT INTO PERSPECTIVE
Look around at how much it costs to buy another pre-packaged curriculum that you don't print. I found one that cost more than all of RC (printing included) just to learn how to use it. Then you had to buy all their special books on top of that.
Also consider how much private school costs. Especially if you have more than one child.
Even public school isn't free. How much money do parents shell out each year for special materials, fundraisers, and activity fees for each child? (Not to mention the more expensive clothes they end up thinking they need.)
How many children will you be teaching with this curriculum?
See what the average price per child would be if you divide your estimated cost between them. Next, divide that between the K-12's thirteen years. Wow! What did you come up with per child per year? I'll bet it was good!
In reality the bulk of the cost goes to the first child, and the rest are almost free. But if you feel overwhelmed by the price, this is a good way to keep it in perspective.
Still a bit much?
If you didn't already, why not consider skipping the dark pages. It really cuts the cost. So does printing half size. Full size usually blows up the pages much larger than the books were to begin with (read about that). Also, see how much money you can save by printing from free text files. I own RC and often print from whichever free text files I can, just to save money on toner and paper, as well as shelf space. (Mine average around only 56% the size, and cost. Maybe even less, considering RC often has pictures on a page of text that you can't skip, and they take extra toner.)
You can save more by printing at a lower resolution. Try printing at 300 dpi instead of 600 dpi. Often it's difficult to tell the difference! Some people save money buy using remanufactured toner cartridges, or by refilling them. If you're buying a new printer, remember that the cost of your first drum is included in the price of the printer. My first drum has lasted 3 years so far.
There may be books on this list you already have, can borrow from the library, or buy used or at a discount. (Just make sure that it really does cost less than printing it. You can use the printing cost calculator to find the price of just one book, if you'd like. See this shopping tip.) There may even be some books you'd skip and use something else you already have.
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