As we dive into September, we will be looking at adaptive supplies that we use and love and think are essentials in disability ministry.

Today we are highlighting laminators!

There's something about laminators that tends to make teachers and ministry people really happy. When I (Brooke) was in grad school, I lived with two fellow teachers, and we would often spend time together by sitting on our living room floor with our personal laminators prepping classroom materials for the week. I can still sense the smell of warm laminating sheets and soft buzz of the laminators.

So today we'll be singing the praises of lamination, both why to do it and which ones to try!

WHY LAMINATE?

Durable and Reusable

Laminating materials helps them last longer in your classroom. They can be easily cleaned and used by multiple students and different groups. If you are inclined to save materials for later use, laminating keeps them looking good and ready to go for the next time you pull them out!

Interactive

Laminated materials can easily be turned into movable pieces, allowing students to interact with stories and lessons. This also allows the same pieces to be used for different purposes, cutting down on your material prep time.

Rough on Materials

The students we serve in disability ministry can sometimes be a bit rough on materials. Having items laminated really helps you keep materials usable for the whole class if you have students who like to tear paper or put items in their mouths, etc.

CORTNEY's FAVORITE LAMINATORS

I (Cortney) have used thermal laminators regularly for about 15 years. I've used 6 different laminators consistently, and today I'm spilling the beans about my favorites and why!

But…before I share, just know that I was not able to find exact links/in stock links for some of these favorites on Amazon. I know, I know! I'm hoping they come back in stock, but I've linked to what I can. :)

Amazon Basics Laminator

The go-to laminator that I have used most often through the years is the Amazon Basics 12-inch laminator. It is slim and overall works great! The big thing I love about this laminator is that is the 12" version! If you have ever struggled with the edges of your pages getting stuck or your pages being slightly crooked and it causing a jam in your laminator, you NEED a 12-13" laminator. This version typically runs about $40.

Scotch Thermal Laminator

I used a 9-inch Scotch laminator in my school classroom for many years. It is a great brand and super durable. But I did not like that it was 9 inches and that my pages would occasionally get messed up on the edges if things weren't lined up perfectly.

BUT they have a 13-inch Scotch laminator that I have heard many good things about, so I feel comfortable recommending it to you! I would assume this would work similarly to the Amazon Basics brand.

Fellowes Thermal Laminator

I randomly found this Fellowes Saturn 125 laminator at a thrift store about a year ago, and I couldn't have been more excited. It was in the kitchen section; I'm assuming someone thought it was a food sealer! Fellowes is a GREAT school brand, and this thing works really well and heats really quickly.

Here's a more updated edition on Amazon. This is the priciest option I've listed, at a bit over $100, but again it works really well.

Random Blusmart Amazon Laminator

When I was on staff at my church, I purchased a “Blusmart” laminator randomly off Amazon for our kids' ministry. I seriously love this laminator. It's 13 inches, it gets really hot, has a paper cutter on top, and actually seals TWO sheets at a time. No joke. But I have no idea where to tell you to get one - the brand evidently no longer exists, lol. I found this one that looks really similar and comes with some of the same “extras” that this one came with and is a similar price, around $45. But no promises that it is exactly the same! 🙃

Make it stand out

Here's a screenshot from an old Instagram story that shows this laminator.

Speaking of which…check out this old Instagram Highlight…

The screenshot above is part of a set of stories now in an old highlight (evidently 165 weeks old!) on my Instagram. Click over to see all about how this laminator seals TWO sheets at once.

I have heard from others that the Scotch brand 13-inch laminator will also seal two at a time. Just make sure your settings are set to 5 mil, and you're using 3 mil laminating sheets. Try your laminator and see if it works and let me know!

*I have tried this trick with the Amazon Basics laminator, and it does not consistently seal two sheets at once. I don't recommend trying this trick with that laminator.

Laminating sheets

I've bought a ton of different brands of laminating sheets in the past, and honestly they all have worked well. I just pick up the pack that is the cheapest at the time and go with that.

I prefer using 3mil laminating sheets because it makes the books and resources a bit less bulky.

Amazon Basics has a great price on a pack of 200!

We also had a reader email us and recommend matte lamination sheets for low-vision students. What a great idea! I have used matte sheets for display items at conferences to reduce glare, but I hadn't considered how this could help students with vision challenges! Thank you for sharing, Debbie!