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Okay, I am finding the teacher manual frustrating because you cannot open it up all the way. I really want to spiral bind it, but I'm worried it will get ruined easier...

Share with me what your experience has been!

Maybe you just need to break your guide in. Mine lays flat open really well, but it has had a lot of use. I know there are those that spiral bound so they can address that, but seriously my guide does lay pretty flat so maybe with a little time yours will behave better.

In the past I've gotten other manuals (not HOD) spiral bound, but haven't with my Beyond Guide. The HOD manual does have a special binding on it. I think it'll hold up a lot better this way.

Ours are well worn and lay flat, but I also do buy the large presentation binder clips and keep the sections we've completed clipped.

Hello I haven't had any problem with any of my guides, but I have considered cutting the binding off of our phonics book and then placing the cover and all pages into a 3 ring binder in page protectors... just a thought? It would be well protected...

Before finding out that HOD pays more to get the special binding that makes the guides lay flat, I did spiral bind a couple.
press your book in the middle to get it to lay flat and it will work. I actually do not like the spiral bound books, because they don't stay as nice over the years!
Ring binding would get harder as the manuals get thicker! Hope you can figure out how to push your binding down so it lays flat!!
Here is the link where Carrie explains about the binding: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=133&hilit=bindings
Success!

I have found that a cookbook holder works AWESOMELY. I found a clear, uh, what's the material called? It's a plastic...

I bet they'd have it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, or maybe even Wal-Mart. I have had mine forever so I don't remember where I got it.

I agree with the others who have said you probably just need to break it in. The bindings are made to lay flat. I have no problem with ours staying open to the right page. Open it up a couple different places in the middle and bend it back to break it in and it will probably be fine.

Thank you guys for your thoughts. You all are right. It's brand-new, So it just needed some breaking in. That is awesome that it has the good binding to lay flat. I do find it a little bulky when I'm holding it in my arm. But it sounds like everyone is a vote for no spiral. Now that I can get it to lay flat, it really is a blessing!

Thanks everyone!

I've also found the guides to be excellent in their ability to lay flat! There is a particular way to break in the binding of a book that helps its durability. (That's the only thing I remember from Library class in elementary school!)

Here's a link to that procedure: http://boingboing.net/2010/09/06/how-to ... ew-bo.html

I do this with every new book that comes into the house.

Oh, and if it's not okay to link to an outside website in this manner, please feel free to delete my post!

Heart_Mom wrote:I've also found the guides to be excellent in their ability to lay flat! There is a particular way to break in the binding of a book that helps its durability. (That's the only thing I remember from Library class in elementary school!)

Here's a link to that procedure: http://boingboing.net/2010/09/06/how-to ... ew-bo.html

I do this with every new book that comes into the house.

Oh, and if it's not okay to link to an outside website in this manner, please feel free to delete my post!

Here's another description of the process that might be helpful:

1. Hold your closed book in one hand and place the spine on a flat, hard surface.
2. While holding the closed leaves of the book upright, take one cover and gently smooth it out on the flat surface, running your fingers along the fold near the spine.
3. Repeat with opposite cover.
4. Next, part a few pages at a time and smooth them down gently, alternating from one side to the other until you reach the center of the book.