Homeschooling "must-have" 's?

**Missy** · 10-07-2003, 03:23 PM

I am gathering items...albeit slowly, for the purpose of homeschooling the children. So far I have coloring items of all sorts, crafty kid friendly supplies (popsicle type sticks, construcion paper, glues, colored pencils, clay, so on and so on.) I have books, a dry erase board and markers, a city full of parks and hiking trails, and so fourth. I was wondering though, what do you use most often, what do you find is the most helpful for your homeschooling? Is there a list of "must-have's" that you can't do with out??

**homesteadmamma** · 10-07-2003, 04:01 PM

The only list of must haves in my books are:

~a mom who loves her kids and wants to teach them and give them a thirst for knowledge
~kids who have an interest in lots of different areas
~a spouse that is supportive of the decision
~kids and a mom who have great imaginations

Melissa, you'll find that you'll be using lots of different things, but one thing is to have lots of books for the kids to read, a set of encyclopedias and basically what you have.

You might want to get a couple of good books on Homeschooling (anything by Raymond & Dorothy Moore or by Debbie Bell are good), but theres tons of other ones that are great as well. I always love reading books that not only tell different ways to hs but also tell real life stories (the good and the bad).

You might want to add to your list already posted: old magazines to use for art, finger paints, those types of things (if you don't already have them).

One other thing you'll find is that you'll want to make your school the same has a public school. A word of advice, don't!!! Within 6 months you'll be changing it and going with the flow. We most times do our work at the kitchen table, but we've been found to do it on a picnic table in the park, outside on the grass, in bedrooms, wherever the kids feel comfortable. As they get older then tend to move to different areas of the house.

Oh I forgot, you might want to get some plastic containers. Each of the kids here have a plastic container for their pencils, pens, scissors, crayons, etc. Helps that they don't have to run around looking for them. When they were younger, I kept all paper supplies in a plastic container. And they have their own special container for keeping items in, papers they've done etc. Only rule is, when one goes in, one goes out. They each have their own color, helps as well.

**guest2** · 10-07-2003, 04:02 PM

~prayer and lots of it!
~a good sense of humor.

~knowing when to drop everything and take a much needed break.
~a library card (you will use this over and over again).
~educational games (boggle, scrabble, yatzee, etc.) for Friday afternoon fun! The kids have no idea they are learning.
~a snuggly couch or chair to cuddle up in while you read together.
~measuring cup, spoons, etc. to do "kitchen math" with (also known as help mom cook while you learn your fractions)
~books on identifying bugs, plants, birds, etc.. You can check these out from the library, but we like having them in our home.
~a good dictionary, thesaurus, and writing guide.
~a good math program (I recommend Saxon)
~a good grammar program (I love Easy Grammar)
~science experiments books (kids love these)

*In our home we also have bibles for everyone, devotional books, Oxford Companion to the Bible, Strong's Bible Concordance, The Light and the Glory series for young readers and other books related to each child's interest. Music is also important to us so we have a piano, several guitars, electric guitar, lots of different kinds of musical recording ranging from Hawaiian to Classical to Praise and Worship.

**Missy** · 10-07-2003, 07:36 PM

Thanks for the great tips ladies!

So far for books I have the Childcraft Series 1-15 and three of the annuals, a few Dictionaries, The Value Of series, and the Charlie Brown 'cyclopedia series. I also have other dictionaries, thesaruses, The life Cycle Library, Literary Library World Book Set, and on and on. I plan on getting a "real" Encyclopedia Set when i see a full set at our Goodwill.

Thanks again for the great hints!!

**homesteadmamma** · 10-07-2003, 07:58 PM

Debbie, I had forgot about music.

Melissa, about encyclopedias. One of the best things we found was picking up some of the older ones, say before 1950. There is a wealth of information in them and they aren't all watered down to be "politically correct". We've picked ours up at yard sales for just a few $$ each.

The kids have used the older books far quicker than our new set of World encyclopedias.

Its also very neat to see the "then and now".