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dakotamidnight
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| Posted: Jan 31 2010 at 10:26pm | IP Logged
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I have a bunch of Amazon gift cards coming in, and am trying to figure out how far to buy in advance for our Home school.
I have 1 DD who is starting K this fall. We're using CHC as written for K with lots of extra books from our thrift.
For 1st We're using CHC as well but I'm scrapping their 1,2,3 Science and going with a full year Magic School Bus science study that will also probably cover 2nd grade for science as well.
I have all the materials for K, and all of the materials for 1st that Amazon sells as well - would you buy 2nd grade materials? 3rd Grade materials?
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Sarah M
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| Posted: Jan 31 2010 at 10:41pm | IP Logged
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I wouldn't, but that's just me. My plans shift/change rather frequently as we discover new interests and as I observe how the children learn best. If I bought ahead, I'd feel like I *ought* to use materials, even if they weren't working for me. Buying-as-we-go (just a few months ahead) takes the pressure off.
Again, that's just me. If you are someone who likes to pick a plan and stick to it, then buying ahead might work fine for you! 
I recently ran across an old chart I had made, where I had planned out everything we'd do for K-5th grade. I was shocked to read what I had written!  I had a very different vision for our curriculum back then than I do now. There's been a lot of growth on my part, and I'm glad no one is holding me to my old ideals. These new ones fit us much better.
Not wanting to discourage you- just to share my experience-- things can change, and you might not want to buy yourself into a plan that doesn't turn out the way you envision it just now.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 1:04am | IP Logged
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When I have "extra" money to spend toward homeschooling.. I prefer something more flexible than curricula. Like books.. living books I guess you'd call them. And those you can go at least a level above what your children are in now for read alouds now and silent reading later. But I think there's never enough money for more books. 
One thing I made an exception for was I did buy Rosetta Stone Spanish before I was ready to use it. I had the money and I found a great deal. I'd heard so many good things about it that I was fairly sure that I would use it sooner or later.. whether alone or in conjuction with other things.
Oh and I will buy my math program ahead. I like it, the kids like it.. I'm good with adding things if needed but I like the basic program and unless I had a child that was really drastically different and needed really special curriculum I knew I would be reluctant to change it.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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JuliaT
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| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 7:38pm | IP Logged
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I wouldn't buy that far ahead. Your plans might change by the time you get to the 3rd grade. Ask me how I know. 
I think Jodie has a wonderful idea of buying books. Living math books would be a great asset to your home library or audio books would be a great idea as well. You can never have too many books.
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Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3(14,13 & 11 yrs.old)
MusingsofaPrairieGirl
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sewcrazy
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| Posted: Feb 02 2010 at 9:57pm | IP Logged
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I now never buy more than a school year ahead. I used to by bargains when ever I found them. Then I ended up with many unused books when interests changed or learning styles evolved.
When I have extra money, I invest in classics. Perhaps, the complete "Little House" set, or Anne of Green Gables or something
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LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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dakotamidnight
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| Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 9:06am | IP Logged
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So what would you buy instead? I would just hold the gift card, but it expires in 6 months and I get a good $30 a month in these to Amazon.
We're drowning in living books and classics - our thrift store {just 3 blocks away} has kids books .10 each and had an entire private school library donated - most of which I bought. So we have all the "Little House", etc classics and a fair amount of living books.
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 9:42am | IP Logged
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I wouldn't. Same reason as Sarah mentioned above. You just never know what will change. I don't buy curriculum ahead of time, but then, I don't buy much curriculum, period 
This is what I would consider from Amazon....
::Math Games
::Geography Board Games
::Math Game book to always have handy, such as Games for Math
::Catholic picture books (such as those that are in Catholic Mosaic) that my library doesn't have.
::Baltimore Catechism
::Neumann Press books...some are available at Amazon
::Liturgical Year books....books for you to help plan liturtigal year events
::Maybe a couple good saint books (compilation-reference-books) if you don't have them already
::Catholic Treasure Box Books
::Family Prayer Book such as: Let's Say Grace or Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers
::Catholic Music CD's....for kids (there is a thread here with lots of them listed)...also maybe a good Latin music CD
::Homeschooling Books that you may want to own instead of borrowing from the library. My two are Charlotte Mason Companion and Real Learning
::Your favorite parenting reference books....that you'll need at your fingertips for the next 20 years .... Discipline that lasts a lifetime, Parenting with Love and Logic, Siblings Without Rivalry and How to talk so kids will listen
::Some sort of DRAWING NATURE book that you can pull out for examples and just for browsing
::Field Guides!!!!!! Bird, Trees, Rocks, flowers, insects, weather...YOU NEED THEM ALL!!!!! I like these: Golden Guides from Acorn Naturalists. Lots of times I find these at thrift stores, but I've purchased new ones to fill in what I can't find.
::Do you have a good Atlas?
Holler if you want more specifics on anything....there are threads in the archives full of suggestions if there is something that stands out for you!
Have fun with that $$$$$$!!!!!!!!
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 9:44am | IP Logged
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I know I know! I'd spend it on books that go along with Catholic Mosaic. 
I too, have made the mistake of buying ahead and regretting. But living books and quality picture books I never regret purchasing.
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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Sarah M
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| Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 10:56am | IP Logged
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Awesome list, Suzanne. I'd buy math/geography games and more Catholic Treasure Box books if I were in your situation, dakotamidnight.
Have fun shopping!
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 11:11am | IP Logged
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Is there something else you could use in your homeschool that Amazon carries. I love the Letter Factory dvds that Jodie recommended! How about classical music cds? Chant? Music for the liturgical year? What about a wall map or globe for geography? Do you use command strips for hanging things? I love Command hooks, and Amazon carries them!
Jennifer recently posted about having a small protable dvd player/tv for the school room. Would an extra cd player be of use in the school room or bedroom for listening to Jim Weiss.
You do have Jim Weiss cds, don't you? If not, THAT's what I'd buy
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 11:18am | IP Logged
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oh and if you're talking CD's.. also check out Cat. Chat  love 'em
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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MrsM
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| Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 1:08pm | IP Logged
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I'd invest in math manipulatives, rather than books.
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Lynn in California
Homeschooling dd13, dd11, ds10, and ds8
Mom to Miracle Baby ds3
Mom to darling Elizabeth and Francis, held in Mary's arms and always in my heart
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 8:19pm | IP Logged
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I probably wouldn't buy curriculum related items either. I ALWAYS have a few (ok...a lot) of living books on my wishlist, but you said you're set there...so...I would definitely go the all-purpose-always-handy-tool sorta route. LOVED Suzanne's list. I'll add a few more tools to consider:
:: small dry erase boards for the kids to use
:: educational DVDs - love Leap Frog (Letter Factory, Word Factory, Math Circus) here as well, Signing Time, etc.
:: gardening tools
:: sandbox equipment
:: This will be no surprise to anyone here (  ) but I'd totally stock up on good art supplies!!!!! Watercolor paper, acrylic paints, nice watercolors, brushes, palettes, portfolios, tabletop easel (we love ours!), new markers, pastels, chalks, extra nature journal books
:: scrapbook paper!! I love this stuff!! We make nice notebook covers as well as covering spiral notebooks to make them pretty. Very useful!!
:: a nice set of classical music CDs - great for music appreciation later
:: some new poetry books
:: I'd get some lovely nature study books -- I know I have gushed before, but I just love ALL of Carol Lerner's books, they're so lovely and illustrated so beautifully!! She's a lovely naturalist! Backyard Birds of Winter is out on our nature shelf right now and we use it more than our field guides for winter ID because her illustrations and descriptions are just THAT good! Or...at least I think so.
:: I'd be tripping all over myself to add to my collection of Let's Read and Find Out Science books for youngers!
:: A nice set of binoculars or a hand lens for nature walks. How fun would it be to purchase a few nice tools to stock a naturalist bag for nature walks?! Good tweezers, hand lens, specimen containers.
:: How about a nice flower press?
:: Do you have a butterfly garden? It's almost butterfly time and that is so much fun to do with the kids!
It's so fun to spend someone else's gift card, isn't it?! Happy shopping!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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ALmom
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| Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 9:43pm | IP Logged
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Ditto about not ordering curriculum ahead. I did that thinking I'd save shipping. I ended up with entire series of handwriting (several) that I never used. I also ended up with spelling and .....
If I had a gift card, I'd order real, living books. At least you never outgrow those. I might also order supplemental fun stuff to enrich what I already have planned. If you are doing science a certain way - what experiments or kits would complement your plan. If you are doing history - are there project kits, cut and create, how to make a Roman arch kind of stuff or supplies for diarama or .... A lot depends on the inclinations of your children. In second grade, mine would not have touched a pencil (art, paintbrush or anything like that) but clay - that would be good.
I wouldn't try to predict too far in advance - really. You only end up with clutter and wasted money. Please don't ask how I know .
Janet
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: How Far Ahead to Buy?
