I have to spend $300 by tomorrow - what should I get?

[oceanbaby]

The remaining budget from our charter school has to be used up by March 1, and I am going out of town Sunday morning, so I need to email an order to our teacher by tomorrow morning. What should I get?!?! My kids are in K and 3rd. My older boy is probably heading to school in the fall and is really behind in writing, if there is any magical writing program you would recommend.

Any ideas? Thanks!

[chfriend]

Some ideas:

http://www.bravewriter.com/
http://www.all-about-spelling.com/
http://www.fun-books.com/reading.htm especially Games for Writing
http://www.writingstrands.com/home.asp

and

http://www.gingersoftware.com/

[JessicaS]

Some nice language programs might be good. My dd is the same age as your eldest so I wouldn't have a lot of experience with that.

Writing Strand is good but not nearly that much

[Lillian J]

Writing programs aren't that costly, so I'd also think in terms of a subscription to Boomerang Audio Magazine for Kids - "Big Ideas for Curious Kids" - it's fabulous! And maybe a foreign language program for children - like BBC's Muzzy. Maybe also a full subscription to Enchanted Learning, a copy of KidPix - in fact, come to think of it, playing around with something like KidPix would probably bring in a bit of writing here and there... Here's a site where you can find reviews on children's software, CDs, etc. I'd also take a quick look through FUN-Books - they have such a scrumptious array of delightful educational products!!!

Okay, back to housecleaning and paperwork here - procrastination break over...

Lillian

[skueppers]

Not related to writing, but some things I might consider if I had a sudden need to spend $300 for kids of those ages:

The Private Eye
Right Start Math Card Games Kit
BrainPOP Jr. Subscription

DK Eyewitness books
Other reference-type books

[Tjej]

I would buy a ton of books and experiment supplies/outdoor tools on amazon (magnifying glasses, child-sized gardening equipment).

Tjej

[elizawill]

i'm considering a dvd art program for next school year, but i've not decided which one. i'm looking at atelier, how great thou art, and lastly, i like this water color set: http://www.store.thegluckmethod.com/...products_id=43

hth.

[oceanbaby]

It has to be through their vendors, so no Amazon, but they do have a big long list. Here it is, actually: http://www.pathwayscharter.org/page146.html

I would love to order a bunch of art supplies and science stuff, but to be honest, my kids aren't really that into art projects, and we're pretty overloaded with science supplies. I'd love a quality microscope, but big ticket, non consumable items like that have to be given back at the end of the year.

We already have access to Enchanted Learning and Brain Pop, which we enjoy.

This is my list so far, in case anyone is interested. It's just a running idea list, it's not all set in stone. But I realize that my available budget is closer to $400, not $300, so I may just start to add some nice hardback books to the order. (The first item, the typing software, is the same one that ds1's possible future school uses, so I thought I'd get him up to speed on what the other kids are already using. Otherwise I'd never blow $80 on typing software.)

http://www.edresources.com/product.aspx?p=88306 $80

http://copperfieldsbooks.com/prod_9780395938478 (The New Way Things Work) $35

http://www.criticalthinking.com/getP...ample_page.jsp 40

http://www.criticalthinking.com/getP...ode=p&id=05001 $20


http://www.kidsdiscover.com/ subscription 20

http://www.rainbowresource.com/produ...7244547-159224 $7

http://www.rainbowresource.com/produ...7244547-159224 $5

http://www.rainbowresource.com/produ...7244547-159224 $5

http://www.rainbowresource.com/produ...7244547-159224 $5

http://www.rainbowresource.com/produ...7244547-159224 $33

http://www.euservices.com/client/Sci...startpage.aspx Level A and Level C $40

[Jennifer Z]

Handwriting without tears is our go-to writing program (if you are talking about the physical act of writing, not the composition aspect). It is multi-sensory, developed by an occupational therapist and used in a lot of schools now.

If I had that kind of money to spend, I would probably do Brainpop, books, art supplies and educational toys & games. A good quality globe and some maps would also be on the list if I didn't already have them.

A good quality chalk or whiteboard might also be a good buy if you don't already have one. A lot of times my child isn't really interested in doing a worksheet type thing or writing out information on paper, but you write the same information on a board and it is suddenly much more interesting.

[CariOfOz]

I'd be assaulting Lakeshore Learning if I had that to spend! (saw them on the list you linked!) I have a wishlist as long as my arm so it wouldn't be hard for me to spend 3-400bucks