[mykdsmomy]

I am on a "simplify our house" mission. We are going to start school in a couple weeks and dd11 is going to be doing the K12 curriculum and ds6 is going to be a combination of fiar, explode the code, and miquon math. What kind of extra things should I have on hand for him? I'm thinking crayons, scissors, paste....but what does everyone else use? any ideas? I'm having homeschool mom brain overload right now ...

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[chalupamom]

I'd say that legos and blocks would be invaluable, not only for use as manipulatives but also for constructing scenes from stories that he may read or hear (the K12 curriculum is controversial, as you no doubt are aware, but I will say that it includes some cool adventure stories!).

Other than that, I'd say with paper, crayons, scissors, etc. you've got the waterfront covered nicely. If you have a flat surface you can use as a "nature table" that's cool, or a lidded box works fine, too. If you believe in it and have the system for it, a neat, generalized skills-based software can be fun.

And don't forget a library card!

Apropos of nothing, my son would like me to add this

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[UnschoolnMa]

Great ideas up there for sure.

Maybe a big ol' nature/science book with a box of random things for experiments?

 

[AnnR33]

-globe
-abacus (my son uses daily but yours might use manipulatives more)
-blank journals for kids
-good magnifying glass
-basket/box to keep your library books separate (we have to do this since we have at least 20 bks/tapes out at a time)

 

[mccelticmom]

Being that we are talking about a little boy....let me tell you my best investment..a Bug Viewer. It's a plastic cup with a lid that has a magnifying scope, so you can put a bug in the cup/put on the lid and look, look, look at that bug and he can't get out...remember though...return him to nature in a few hours!

A roll of butcher or kraft paper, perfect for taping on a table top or his desk (we have a folding table that adjusts to kiddie height)...that paper becomes our artwork for the week, we draw animals, write our name, all kinds of fun stuff, plus it keeps the youngers from writing on the walls!

 

[[email protected]]

paper!!!! despite being 8, my dd is always going through paper!!!

sounds dorky but i'm thinking of getting a small broom (like a handheld one) and a dustpan. that way cleaning is fun and EASY to do since my dd likes to snip and cut and create (and glitter!!) her projects : )

binoculars / magnifying glass my dd has loved these for years now! some sort of bug book might be fun to go along w/the bug jar : )

 

[lilyka]

paper, all inds of paper.
glue. stick and runny
stickers are nice
post it notes.
pencils. splurge and get some fun ones.
crayons, markers, scissors, colored pencils and water colors.

I agree, bug viewers rock

 

[busybeemommy]

I would get a set of those plastic rolling drawers and fill it with different things- playdoh, crayons, scissors, construction paper, glue, paints and brushes, tweezers, magnifying glass, shaving brush (great for "archeology"), bug jar, string, etc. (maybe 2 art drawers and a science drawer?). I'd also get a roll of paper, a globe, a wall map of the US and the world, a great field guide, and a large mayonnaise jar full of Legos.