Please share 3-5 things your homeschool couldn't do without!

[MissRubyandKen]

I've been on a kick to get my 'perfect' order list ready for next year, lol. I'd love if you'd share 3-5 things you have that you're homeschool couldn't do without. I'm pretty sure I must be overlooking something . A certain book, workbook, text, resource, manipulative, what have you.

[briansmama]

1. Library card
2. Laser b/w printer
3. e-reader for all those free classics for children

Ok, I guess I could do without the third one, but I wouldn't want to

[jake&zaxmom]

A big, laminated world map.

3 ring binders with clear sleeve covers so that you can customize them. We NEVER seem to have enough! We make notebooks for astronomy, spelling, history, math reference, poetry, handwriting, etc. When we no longer need one we just take out the pages and the cover sheet and it's ready to be used again.

Internet access.

[Savoir Faire]

1. DRY ERASE BOARD. The larger the better....complete with as many different colored dry erase markers you can find.

2. A printer/copier/whatever else you can add on. I finally got one. Changed my life! Yay!

3. As many 3 ring binders and notebooks and journals you can get your hands on. We go through them like gangbusters.

[RiverSky]

1) membership to a homeschool support group
2) internet access (for me really, not the kids, LOL!)
3) books, books and more books. We buy tons of books (new and used) but also love love love the library

[zebra15]

1. The internet on a laptop with connections to a laser printer / fax/ copier / scanner.
2. 2nd computer for DS
3. Library card to large regional library with programs for school age kids and lots of books, dvds, etc
4. PAPER, you would not imagine the amount of paper DS goes through - also art supplies
5. Once the kids get going most can accomplish 2 grades per one year, so make sure you have lots of academics on hand for them once they get rolling. (this will vary per student and outside factors but around here this seems to be the case)

ETA my son will be 10 next school year... so he is probably a bit older than many of your kiddies...

[MissRubyandKen]

Originally Posted by zebra15

1. The internet on a laptop with connections to a laser printer / fax/ copier / scanner.
2. 2nd computer for DS
3. Library card to large regional library with programs for school age kids and lots of books, dvds, etc
4. PAPER, you would not imagine the amount of paper DS goes through - also art supplies
5. Once the kids get going most can accomplish 2 grades per one year, so make sure you have lots of academics on hand for them once they get rolling. (this will vary per student and outside factors but around here this seems to be the case)

ETA my son will be 10 next school year... so he is probably a bit older than many of your kiddies...

zebra15- You've made me feel old, lol! My oldest is my dd, who is 10! That's very good advice with #5. I'm possibly going overboard with Math, Science, and Language this year, but I figure its all gravy considering I plan to homeschool for many years to come(my youngest dd is 2!). Most of the things I'm planning to purchase I can reuse with little dd in the future. I am buying Singapore Math and Science textbooks and home instructor's guides with the Math, so I decided to buy three workbooks of each instead of two.That way I'll have two workbooks, one for each of the older kids and one workbook left for little dd for future use. I know how Singapore likes to revise their books and want to be sure I'll be able to reuse the textbooks and home instructor guides with her.

[MissRubyandKen]

I agree with everyone! I could not do without my library card!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so accustomed to it I take it for granted even. Quite similar with the internet too.

[Niamh]

You're getting a few things that everyone needs listed over and over - I agree with those posters.

1- A library card
2- The internet - for you *and* them
3- A globe (which is what I prefer for my tactile children) or a world map (which is what I prefer for me)

A printer, now that I have one, is indispensable.

But, really, a library card (we have to pay $70 for one) is our best investment.

If I lived near any museums, we'd have memberships there.

[zebra15]

We also have a 'good' atlas. I think I got it on clearance for under $10.00
Actually we have a world atlas, USA road atlas, plus a few other geography books.

[Mama2Bug]

1) a globe
2) a good alphabet poster (upper and lower case, block-printing)
3) some kind of small math manipulatives (We have Counting Bears).
4) BOB books
5) lots of good reference books (atlas, childrens dictionary, basic "how-it-works" kinds of books)

My DD is five and doing "first grade" type work, if it makes a difference.

[PJsmomma]

Such a great question!

1. Internet
2. Printer
3. Library card
4. Atlas or globe
5. Art supplies

[Niamh]

Originally Posted by PJsmomma

5. Art supplies

Great addition!

Art supplies (paper, glue, popsicle sticks, markers, crayons, beads, yarn, fabric scraps, etc) are a necessity around here.

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by Savoir Faire

1. DRY ERASE BOARD. The larger the better....complete with as many different colored dry erase markers you can find.

This, by far, is now a necessity. We have a floor version and it is used every single day - for work or for art or anything. We've saved a bunch on paper because the board is often used in lieu of paper. If you get large binder clips, you can use large paper and make it a flip chart, too.

[hipumpkins]

1. a car (We are always off to somewhere)
2. Museum membership that offer reciprocal days to other museums
3. My homeschool group lists We get so much info from them
4.library card
5.Internet for Youtube, google and ABC teach etc...

[Mama~Love]

1. Internet access - especially for the free printables, online games, etc.
2. Library card
3. Arts & craft stuff
4. Access to nature - I feel it's very important for kids to be out there exploring and learning about the world hands-on
5. Lots of board games & card games - my kids just LOVE this kind of stuff!

[purslaine]

My list is very similar to everyone elses'.

The only addition I would make is office supplies - elastics, paper clips and thumb tacks. We use these items several times a month - and usually for crafts or science, lol. A strong glue is very usefull as well (white glue does not always cut it)

[kgianforti]

-A drawer full of "household" craft stuff - paper towel/TP rolls, egg cartons, jars, ribbon, yarn, lids, shoe box, strawberry baskets, etc.

-Math workbooks

[meetoo]

1) high speed internet access. We use the internet all the time! I seriously do not think i could homeschool with out it. We watch video's, use interactive website, educational web sites. I get ton's of ideas from blogs and other web sites. Google can be a quick answer to all their small questions...Internet access just adds so much to our homeschool!!

2)decent library system, we use five in a row which we love, but could never do effectively with out a good library.

3) a good stash of office/school supplies/art supplies

4)printer

5) a little bit of extra money budgeted weekly for our homeschool. For trips, experiment supplies etc. It adds a lot to our lessons.

[Momma Aimee]

subbing