What has been the best hs-related purchase you have made?

[grahamsmom98]

For us, no question, it has been the copier machine. We use it everyday for a variety of copy jobs.

Ds loves that he can be working on something (colouring, writing or whatever) and, if he really makes a big mistake (he's a perfectionist!!), we can simply make another copy of the original worksheet (or, whatever) and off he goes. (Easier than using a gallon of WhiteOut)

I also make copies of workbook pages for him to work on. It's also nice to make copies of any book page for him to be able to underline the various grammatical parts of paragraphs (highlight verbs, pronouns, etc...).

We are currently studying Egypt and he is busy colouring enlarged copies of King Tut's jewelry!

I also use it to enlarge recipes. : I don't understand why cookbook & Bon Appetite magazine printing is getting smaller as I get older. They must be trying to conserve ink...

Hmmmm, think there is a science experiment in that somewhere?

We also have a shredder that has become an important member of our home!

(((Another good "buy" was our subscription to EnchantedLearning.com )))

[AnnR33]

electric pencil sharpener-seriously!

cheap abbacas-used almost every day for a year

copier/printer-I agree that this new purchase (just a few months ago) was way overdue! I wasted too much time at the library making copies last year!

Draw Write Now-both kids love these books

[illinoismommy]

I'll be watching this thread with interest :

[domesticzookeeper]

:

[kathymuggle]

-the computer, and a high speed connection
-we were able to get a second hand piano for the cost of getting it here. We love it!!

[Wilhemina]

nak

when we lived in tx we bought an annual state park pass. great to be able to go for an hour and not consider the expense.

[falcon]

: great question for us newbies to lurk on

[3momkmb]

We are a rather visual family so...our subscription to Netflix.

Also the computer and internet connection.

[momto l&a]

Another vote for a printer/scanner/copier

We where given an old piano the girls just love. They don't take lesson just have fun playing around on it.

[AnnR33]

yes, I agree about the memberships-we have one for the zoo, acquarium and children's museum and they definitely have pd for themselves!

[alima]

computer and internet connection

museum and science center membership

atlas, globe and reference books, ds would read them like novels in bed at night

measuring tools-rulers, tape measures, measuring cups and spoons

a Canadian book called "From Reader to Writer" about children's literature and writing assignments. I bought it when ds was 8 and I'm still using now at 13.

Not a purchase, but found in the back lane on garbage day, an old school globe, old enough to have not only the Soviet Union on it, but also some pre-independence African colonies on it. Sparked a lot of discussions about 20th century historym and ds spent a lot of time going back and forth between the globe and more current atlases and history books, reading about how and why these countries had changed names, borders, or gained independence.

Nature handbooks of all sorts, you know the ones about "birds" or "trees" or "rocks". Not really a nature book, but ds's favorite of all these kinds of books was one on "French Cheese" they have at the local library. He takes it out at least twice a year. He wants to visit the town in France that has erected a statue in the town square to a local cheese maker of great repute

[gr8fulmom]

definitely our stokke chair so my ds can sit at the table for my than 5 secs!! when HE wants to of course

globe and wall maps
abacus (great for counters when little babies are aorund because I don't end up with little objects everywhere )
geometry set
digital camera (to take pictures of our adventures and things we find but don't want to take, like mushrooms and wild flowers)
microscope because ds loves science
science world membership

not coming up with much else

[Lillian J]

Other than the computer, assorted software, travels, and lots of books, the first thing that comes to mind big time would be the Boomerang! - The Kids' Audio Magazine About Big Ideas. My son and I both cherished those. - Lillian

[mwherbs]

computer and internet connection

the keys to math workbooks-- bought them years ago and all of the kids have looked at or used them at different times-- they wrote answers on a sheet of paper

art supplies- I have never regretted a single art supply we have bought

book shelves

fabric

sewing machine

tools, I have repaired so many things and the kids have helped--

a subscription to a CSA- we had neighbors who ran one and we not only get food from them but help in the garden through the seasons

yearly membership in a local homeschool group

cd and tape player
library cards (not bought but indespensible)

[lilyka]

Wall maps - $5 at sams club. one of the worl and one of the US. we use these all the time. constantly.

piano - $40 for piano dolly rental. lessons and piano were free.

electric pencil sharpener - $35 go big. buy the good one. look for one lables "heavy use" you will thank yourself multiple times daily.

[Roo_Online]

I must be missing out on something. I have a printer/copier and I rarely use it.

I would pick the computer and internet connection. I first learned about homeschooling on the net, and I found my local homeschooling group through an internet search. Our group communicates extensively though our yahoo group and email. I can access our library system online (love that!), and I can order supplies and book online.

The other best purchase was the library card, and that was free (except for the fines I rack up.)

[pixie-n-hertwoboys]

I think for us it would be everything! lol what ds1 didn't like it seems like ds2 loves. globes, wall maps, wooden marble runs, seeds, felt, over the door shoe holder used for crafts, I could go on and on! oh and having our own computers helps!

[mommy68]

T agree with the others, definitely having our internet service helped.

[moominmamma]

I talked my mom into buying a copier a year ago. Maybe I should talk myself into it too, based on the recommendations here? But my kids don't really do seatwork other than in their Singapore Math books, and I'd have an ethical problem with violating copyright to reuse those, so maybe I'll just hang tight.

For us the best investments have been our musical instruments. For the price of a violin or viola for each child, we've got ourselves a holistic curriculum that covers diligence, persistence, character development, social growth, creativity, memory skills, history, mathematics and community service. Oh, and we also bought a grand piano for our eldest.

The other great investments have pertained to the outdoors ... gardening tools, bicycles, a canoe, camping equipment.

Miranda

[Mom4tot]

Most used things in the house:

*piano

*legos

*playmobil

*art supplies/ easel/ colored pencils/ watercolors/ fashion tracing kit/ scrapbook and card making materials

*lots of picture books, fairy tales, field guides, atlases, girls chapter books (Beacon Street Girls being a current favorite )

As the weather gets warmer it will definitely include the bikes and hiking/ bird watching equipment.