Why Elementary School Teachers Should Use Paper Cutters to Create Classroom Materials

A paper cutter is a machine that is used to accurately cut large stacks of paper or other materials. This tool usually has a sharp blade attached to a flat surface, as well as a ruler or a grid that assists the user to align and measure the paper with precision. Paper cutters come in many different sizes and designs, varying from small handheld versions to large tabletop or floor-standing models. They are generally used in print shops and schools to trim paper.

Although paper cutters have sharp blades, they have safety features like guards, two-handed operation, and emergency stop buttons to prevent accidents and injuries from happening. When used correctly, these machines can be safer than cutting with scissors, especially for elementary school children who may have trouble working with sharp objects.

Paper cutters are valuable devices for elementary school teachers, and they can use them to create classroom materials for students like handouts, flashcards, and booklets. They can also be used for hands-on learning, arts and crafts, and trimming laminated classroom materials.

Paper Cutters for Handouts, Flashcards, and Hands-on Learning

One of the main benefits of paper cutters for teachers is their ability to easily make clean and professional-looking handouts. Educators can use paper cutters to cut worksheets, activity sheets, and study guides. In fact, paper cutters allow teachers to cut large quantities of handouts compared to using scissors. Teachers can quickly cut multiple copies of handouts. This is less time-consuming than cutting worksheets one by one, and lets teachers efficiently prepare documents for different classes or grade levels.

In addition to handouts, paper cutters can also be used to produce flashcards. Teachers can print out learning content, like vocabulary words, math equations, or history facts, and cut them into separate flashcards. By using paper cutters, each flashcard will be uniform in size and shape, and will have a professional appearance. This will make them easier to handle and organize.

Elementary school teachers usually have students partake in hands-on learning activities. These activities are educational tasks or experiences that let students engage with materials or objects to reinforce their understanding of the themes that they learned in class. A paper cutter machine can be used for mathematical hands-on learning activities. For example, instructors can cut out shapes for geometry lessons, fraction strips, or algebraic puzzles.

Paper Cutters for Arts and Crafts

Teachers can utilize paper cutters to cut paper into distinct shapes or sizes for art projects. This can include cutting construction paper for crafts, designing stencils, or slicing materials for collages. An advantage of using a paper cutter for crafts is that paper cutters can deliver clean and accurate cuts, which is helpful when making intricate designs or working with precise measurements.

Some elementary school teachers create classroom decorations with paper cutters to customize their classroom environment to fit their teaching method, preferences, and the needs of their students. By putting together their own decorations, teachers can personalize the visual elements of the classroom and integrate it with specific concepts, school subjects, or educational goals. Teachers can use paper cutters to construct banners, posters, bulletin board displays, or other visual aids to enhance the classroom environment.

Paper Cutters for Trimming Laminated Materials and Assembling Booklets

In elementary school classrooms, instructors use laminated materials for teaching such as educational posters and charts, visual aids, and flashcards. Laminating these classroom materials gives them a protective coating that makes them more resistant to damage from spills, tears, and general wear and tear. As a result, laminated materials are ideal to use in the classroom since they will be handled by young children, who can be messy and tear apart documents that do not have a protective coating.

Paper cutters can be used to trim these laminated materials. Using a heavy duty paper cutter ensures clean and neat edges, and improves the appearance of teaching materials. Trimming laminated materials can help get rid of any excess lamination that may have overlapped during the lamination process, which prevents the edges of documents from peeling or curling over time. This allows the laminated materials to be sturdy, and prolongs their lifespan in the classroom.

Educators should consider using paper cutters to assemble booklets and journals for school. Well-designed booklets and journals can boost student engagement when they include interactive activities, prompts for reflection, and opportunities for hands-on learning. Also, when students record notes in their booklets, they are able to review and practice the theories that were taught in class independently.

Teachers can use paper cutters to trim paper for writing assignments, creating mini-books for reading activities, or putting together student portfolios. Although there is an initial investment when buying a paper cutter, it can ultimately save money in the long run. Instructors can produce booklets in their classrooms rather than outsourcing printing and cutting services, reducing expenses over time.

Our MBM Triumph 4305 Manual 16.8” Paper Cutter

Our MBM Triumph 4305 Manual 16.8” Paper Cutter is a manually operated paper cutter fitted with German Solingen steel blades and polyurethane cutting sticks. This type of steel has a reputation for its exceptional hardness, durability, and ability to hold a straight edge. Polyurethane cutting sticks provide a sacrificial surface for the blade to cut against. They protect the blade and execute clean, accurate cuts. In fact, when the blade of the paper cutter comes down to cut through a stack of paper, it penetrates slightly into the cutting stick, instead of directly on the base of the paper cutter. Both the steel blades and polyurethane cutting sticks are easily changeable or adjustable without having to detach any of the machine covers.

Cutting is effortless with the Triumph 4305, and it has a patented, lever-activated, fast-action clamp that secures the paper, and a huge cut lever that takes 1-½ inches of paper when making a cut. An important safety feature of the paper cutter is its safety notch located on the clamp lever, which securely locks the blade in the upright position. Furthermore, there is a spindle-guided back gauge that has a calibrated hand crank and measuring scale. The hand crank lets the user readjust the gauge with ease. This paper cutter is ideal for schools because it is a compact size. It can be used as a tabletop cutter or with an optional stand, and it is lightweight (141 lbs.). The device can be transported from classroom to classroom smoothly.