5 days of Homeschooling Essentials - The Basics Part II

Now that we know and are convinced that this homeschooling thing is the route for our family, we turn towards the second set of basics:


The supplies:

• Books - no need to say more here - this is the homeschooler's best friend. You cannot called yourself a homeschooler if you are not a lover and hoarder of books (did I just say that?).

• Printer/copier - My number two friend

• Computer - for typing, research, Cds, DVDS etc...

• Internet: The internet is your friends for finding lots of resources free and for a fee. It can be an enemy too if we suffer with self-control issues.

• 3-hole puncher , Tape, Pens, pencils, crayons, markers. These are like obvious but you do need them. Trust me sometimes I find myself scrambling to find them in the house.

• Boards - dry erase, or any kind that suits you.

• Paint, brushes and any artsy things

• Games

• Blocks of some kinds

• Binders and files (for all these printed papers)

• Bookshelves, unless you want your floors, sofas, and bed full of school stuff, like at my house.

• Containers for storing

A Library Card

We do not have much money, living on one imcome and at that of a minister. So, I try to not buy too much and that includes school stuff. But as I said earlier, you can't homeschool without books, so what do you do when you can't buy all those books you need or think you need sometimes? You check the library. In my case this works really well because I live in a city and city libraries tend to be well stocked up. On top of that, because we live in one city and hubby works in a different one we are blessed to be able to take advantage of two library systems. This has been a life saver money saver. I am so grateful of libraries.

Schedules & Forms

This one is a tricky one because not every one works on schedule, but I have come  to realize that  as you go up the grades, this becomes more and more an essential. Homeschooling tends to get harder and harder; harder because you add more to the scope and sequence of what needs to be learn, and harder as the kids need and demand more structure as they grow up. To help with these, schedules can be life-saving and liberating. This also allows for them to take more ownership of their studies.

The schedules can be time-based or routine-based. Whatever you choose you need to have a system in place to make yourself and your kids accountable. I found that having some kind of schedule allowed me to accomplish more. Every time I ditch ignore the schedule (which happens way too often, and that is why I am always in search of a good system), school gets erratic and not much gets done.

Curriculum

This one is obvious but it is an essential. I will be talking about this important essential in more details tomorrow.

Now, don't forget to visits the other bloggers listed here and on the crew blog for more essentials of homeschooling.

Marcy @ Ben and Me

Lisa @ Golden Grasses

Tess @ Circling Through This Life

Victoria @ Homemaking with Heart

Kayla @ The Arrowood Zoo

Deanna @ His Treasure Seekers

Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool

Beth @ Ozark Ramblings

Rebecca @ Raventhreads

Happy Reading!

In the series:

Day 1: The Basics part I
Day 2: The Basics Part II
Day 3:  The Curricula
Day 4: The Attitudes
Day 5: The Extras