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Leocea
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| Posted: July 23 2008 at 7:27pm | IP Logged
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I am wondering what you all do for school supplies.
Do you buy everything in the beginning of the year, or buy it as you go?
This is the first year (12th year of homeschooling  ) that I will be organized. I usually buy a lot of stuff and then forget where it is. I go to do art projects or science things and don't have the supplies. I can't find a book I need. This has always been me.
I decided to have ALL of our school stuff in one room, books and everything. One whole wall, 19 feet of bookshelves. Organized by art, history, science, etc. In the middle is a two doored nature display. On another wall, about 10 feet of children's bookshelves. Then a large bookshelf for extras and a large two-doored cabinet for art/flapbooks, etc. I feel spoiled!! I can find my things!
I have read some basic lists of school supplies, but am feeling stumped this year. What are some of your favorite supplies that may be different from public/private school lists?
I guess I am looking for some fresh ideas to go with my new family/school room.
I should say that we learn *everywhere*, but all school things will be *stored* in this room.
Does anyone have any tried an true ideas? I feel like I am starting all over.
In Christ,
Leocea
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mellyrose
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| Posted: July 23 2008 at 8:05pm | IP Logged
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Your room and shelves sound awesome!!
I have no ideas about different supplies, but I'm jealous a bit of your room! 
__________________
Melanie in AZ
Colin (11/00), Nate (05/02), Lydia (04/07)
My Little Patch of Sunshine
Pictures of our Life
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websterm
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| Posted: July 23 2008 at 10:01pm | IP Logged
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I'm new to all this, but would love to see pictures of your learning room!
Marcia
On My Mind
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Milehimama
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| Posted: July 23 2008 at 10:44pm | IP Logged
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I stock up when the notebooks are a nickel and the crayons are a quarter.
By far the most useful school supply are inkjet cartridges and paper! LOL
Also, dry erase markers. I put our workbooks, handwriting practice pages, etc. in smooth page protectors, and the kids use dry erase markers. That way I can wipe them off and reuse the books for the next year.
I'm just a cheapskate, I guess! Also, it's helpful for when there are...attitude problems, and they don't do their best on purpose. (I'm sure no one else's kids do that, right?)
I have a link on my right sidebar on my blog to find out when your state is having their sales tax holiday - most states have a weekend when there is no sales tax on school supplies.
Mama Says blog
Unusual things on my list, that we use very often:
page protectors (lots and lots and LOTS!)
scissors (I like to get the special ones for scrapbooking, that cut scalloped, zig-zag, fringe, etc. So fun for about $1 each!)
sand (make your own moonsand, make sandstone/building/sculpture, sensory table...well, lots of uses, actually)
dry beans (Montessori transfer exercises, counting, art, also just feeling and digging in them while brainstorming, etc.)
digital camera (kids love to take pics and videos, I like to see what they notice, and so we're going to try to make a Lego movie this year. Hey, it's computer science!)
DVR, so our school isn't a slave to the National Geographic broadcast schedule!
Bandanas/cloth napkins/placemats
good to keep math manipulitives in place...it's the Montessori rug idea, but for slightly older kids. Bandanas are so very useful in so very many ways, indoors and out. I guess we don't do a lot of schooling at a desk by ourselves, LOL.
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sailormom
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| Posted: July 23 2008 at 11:21pm | IP Logged
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I wait until a couple of weeks after the traditional schools are back in session, then I hit the clearance sales at Target and the office supply stores. :) I stock up big time for the whole year. Then at the end of the school year, I take stock and figure out what I still have tons of and what I need to replenish.
By the end of the year though, we are *always* out of pencils, no matter how many I buy. I suspect our pencils are getting sucked into the same void as all our mismatched socks. 
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marihalojen
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| Posted: July 24 2008 at 6:40am | IP Logged
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Leocea, use this time to get the supplies that YOU need first. I just picked up 4 zip binders at a Buy 1, Get 1 sale and they are all for MY organization pre- school year. I'll take dd later and get some more fun stuff for her too, most likely good art supplies unless I can find a terrific deal online...
Oh, new small Sharpies came home too, some were a penny, others a dime. Perfect for writing on sheet protectors without smearing, just erase with an alcohol wipe or that Magic Eraser.
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: July 24 2008 at 7:02am | IP Logged
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I love school supplies but I've learned to make a list before I go shopping! After I get my curriculum for the year I sit down and think about what I'm going to need for each subject. I decide if I will use spiral notebooks or binders, which science experiments I think I need supplies for, which art projects, etc. Now, we always deviate a little from the plan when it comes to experiments and art projects but at least I will have the basics on hand.
So, for math I write down binder, looseleaf paper, mechanical pencils. For writing, the list is the same except I add a nice notebook to be used as a journal. For art, I have general supplies like drawing notebooks, colored pencils, crayons, markers, drawing pencils, water color paints, glue sticks, scissors, construction paper etc. Then I think of the big projects we want to do and try to plan for those. The list gets really long and sometimes it takes a few trips to the store to get it all.
If I don't make a list I buy things that look interesting but I don't use, or I don't buy the things I really need. I've learned NOT to look through the arts and crafts section of the Rainbow catalog until I have my list! I've bought so many things that don't get used when I don't prepare ahead of time.
Some things I really like are:
Clipboards which allow my dc to have a hard surface for writing anywhere,
Dry erase markers (low odor),
Binders and pocket inserts,
Mechanical pencils or regular pencils with a GOOD sharpener,
Play-dough to keep the little ones happy
(and I'm going to check out the new small sharpies Jennifer mentioned!)
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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TracyQ
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| Posted: July 24 2008 at 7:55pm | IP Logged
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I'm losing my learning room this year.  We have three teens now, and the extra room (instruments, game system, TV, computer) is needed for late nighters who want to stay up later than their brother, and a bedroom for only sleeping so the non late nighter can actually sleep!
My shelves are being moved to the basement. But at least I'll have them still. We're getting rid of a ton, so hopefully this will be OK.
I'm happy for you that you have great room now for your stuff!!! 
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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Leocea
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| Posted: July 28 2008 at 7:11pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for the great ideas!
I went to both Joanne's and Michael's yesterday, and bought a lot of paint and drawing supplies.
I just got my camera back, so I will post pics of my room when I figure it out!
I have almost all of my curriculum bought, and I have almost all of our supplies. I only need safety scissors, spiral notebooks for copywork, more glue sticks, and some misc. art supplies.
I have spent more this year than in years past, but have three students this year, 10th, 5th and 1st grade.
In Christ,
Leocea
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: School supplies and organization too?!
