blondeviolin Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 What would you get? We are trying a homeschool charter this year. They are paying for music lessons and swim for my son. We are all set curriculum-wise. We will be buying two new computers and some books. After that, we'll have about $3000 to spend on supplementary items. I'm thinking things like science kits, Little Passports, and FUN things. We have more tablets than we do kids so I don't need anything like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Is there a museum you'd like a membership to? Do you want any equipment like a laminator or binding machine? Are there any PDF resources that you'll need printer ink and paper to print out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocelotmom Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Make sure you know the fine print. My experience is that non-consumable materials (ie. materials meant to be re-used) bought with these funds have to be returned to the school, so don't use the funds for non-consumables that you hope to keep forever and ever. The flip side of this is to ask your assigned teacher-person if they have something you're interested in already available because someone else bought it - then you can borrow that and use your funds on something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohini Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Maybe Youth Digital coding classes or EPGY. National Mythology exam. Brain Pop, discovery kids, supercharge science..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 search for the thread, if you had $5K.... 1 of everything from hometrainingtools.com? I especially love from there: Thames and Kosmos kits snap circuits robotics kit alnico magnet physics introduction kit deluxe hydronomics gears and pulleys And then, based on the ages of your children: young scientist kits a good set of reference encyclopedias stuff from montessori print shop materials for continent boxes all kinds of at home gym equipment: wobble board, therabands, kid exercise dvds, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 Make sure you know the fine print. My experience is that non-consumable materials (ie. materials meant to be re-used) bought with these funds have to be returned to the school, so don't use the funds for non-consumables that you hope to keep forever and ever. The flip side of this is to ask your assigned teacher-person if they have something you're interested in already available because someone else bought it - then you can borrow that and use your funds on something else. Anything under $200 will be ours to keep. We have brainPop as a school subscription. We have a laser printer, pro-clock, and laminator. I need some fun ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 search for the thread, if you had $5K.... 1 of everything from hometrainingtools.com? I especially love from there: Thames and Kosmos kits snap circuits robotics kit alnico magnet physics introduction kit deluxe hydronomics gears and pulleys And then, based on the ages of your children: young scientist kits a good set of reference encyclopedias stuff from montessori print shop materials for continent boxes all kinds of at home gym equipment: wobble board, therabands, kid exercise dvds, etc. Oh, I will look there! The kgym equipment could be fun. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 A great microscope? what about foreign language tutor? Brain Pop? Can you buy educational board games? Local Cooking Classes - like Little Chef's Academy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Can you use it for enrichment classes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 A set of hardcopy encyclopedias Microscope Art supplies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Anything under $200 will be ours to keep. If you can keep for current and future use: Brock microscope Snap circuit SC-750R $123 Make: Electronics - the Complete Collection $185 Graphing calculator for future use e.g. TI-84 Plus C $104 Scientific calculator If you have space in your home: Drafting table easel in a box (for nature/outdoor drawing. It is something like this http://www.dickblick.com/products/jullian-original-french-easel/) ETA: If your kids like geocaching, the entry level geocaching gps is under $200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 The Make stuff referenced above is awesome....we've dabbled in bits, but I would love the whole kaboodle! Here's one of my favorite websites on continent boxes. Their printables came from the Montessori print shop I referenced above: http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/WorldGeography.html If you get a microscope, get a bunch of slide kits too. My 8yo loves looking at premade slides! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebbyribs Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Art supplies - watercolor crayons (LOVE these!) and watercolor paper, oil pastels, clay. Reading Eggs, Dreambox a globe binoculars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Kits from Science in a Nutshell or ASK Snap Circuits 750R Zometool (the big kits aren't under $200, but smaller kits are) Microscope - I've seen the Brock suggested, which I've heard awesome things about, but with a young child we went with the Carson Zorb so DD can very easily work it herself and see the image large on a computer screen Lego Education kits Foreign language stuff - books, curric, tutor Board games like Chess, Scrabble, Bananagrams, Toss Up!, and others Shopping spree for good fiction and reference books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Misc. stuff that comes to mind: Snap Circuits Some Cricket Magazine subscriptions for their ages groups RightStart games; generally, I love the idea of educational games, I'd search here, check amazon for good reviews, etc. c-rods Magic School Bus videos set I'd buy some great picture books--choosing from Caldecott, Newberry, Five in a Row books, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Well, if they'd let me, it would become a down payment on ds's ballet. Argh. Expensive. I'd gear up for science... Brock Magiscope, mentioned above, better binoculars, more things to dissect... I don't really enjoy kits very often. I'd buy more math games and strategy games. I have many, but you can always have more, right? Muggins Math makes several that are really good but pricey so that would be one possibility, but there's many out there. What else... Um... I'd buy all the fun supplemental books that I hold back on and buy bit by bit like the Horrible books, fun living math books, fun reference books, etc. Better art supplies. Really good markers. More art ideas books. I really like the Art Lab series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 We must use 50% of the funds on social studies, science, language arts, and math. The other 50% is funding swim team, piano lessons, rock climbing, and another sport. I'm taking notes, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelmama1209 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 can i just say how jealous i am? my poor kids don't get to do many extras because we just don't have the money. i, personally, would love for each child to do an athletic extra and an "artsy" extra (sewing, cooking, art, music, etc). we are also delving into world geography this year and i would love to have all the 10 days in... games and the geopuzzles. i would also love passes to epcot for me and my oldest so we can "visit" the country we're studying. definitely more snap circuits and a good microscope. i am also almost desperate for an ipad. what about a netflix subscription? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Also insanely jealous! can you buy Lego robotics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverFamily Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Very jealous here too! Not sure if anyone else mentioned it, but timberdoodle has some really cool stuff. MCT island might be fun for the language arts category, my Dd8 is loving it this year. Have fun spending the money! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanabug Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 My kids are about the same ages as your older ones, so here is what I would do: - Microscope - Telescope - PE equipment (tumbling mats, small balance beam, handspring trainer, balls, etc.) - Swim lessons - Tennis lessons - Homeschool choir fees - Quality art lessons - Flower press - Lots and lots of books! Lana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kharisma Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I second Timberdoodle. Just curious which states give money for HS Charter supplies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasaMama Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Maybe, K'Nex education kits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto4inSoCal Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 We are with a charter and I just buy a ton of fun stuff to go with our history and science. We are doing anatomy so I got the squishy science kit, my body book to make a life size human body. History I am doing american history while going through the american girl books. We are buying craft kits that go with each time period like a flower press, hoop to make a sampler, scrapbook box (decoupage), gardening (victory ww11 garden), composting, tie dye, sand art and I'm thinking of ordering time capsules and having my girls fill them with current event things. We buy most of the curriculum ourself so I use our money on fun stuff that will add to what we already have. My younger daughter also has asked for some rock kits so I'm ordering that for her. I also bought some games and time tales (dvd to help memorize multiplication). Oh and ink and paper. You can never have to much of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinmyboys Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 I second Timberdoodle. Just curious which states give money for HS Charter supplies? Me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 I am jealous. I want to live in your state! At your kids' ages, I really can't think of anything that I would buy for the academic subjects that would cost 1,500. I could spend it easily in extra-curricular activities. Can you use it for field trips? It could be really cool to go to a bunch of parks and museums and get to sign up for their special classes. Depending on where I lived, I'd go to Jamestown, Williamsburg, Philadelphia, DC, and similar places for early American history, I'd visit the Grand Canyon and Glacier National Park for geography, I'd go to Dinosaur Monument and visit the Anasazi ruins, visit the Redwoods and Sequoias, and see the Everglades. It would be fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted September 5, 2014 Author Share Posted September 5, 2014 Heh. We live in Alaska, so there isn't much option to do historical field trips. That would be neat, though! I definitely think we're going to go with some simple machines Lego Duplo, some PE equipment (for sure a good few jump ropes), snap circuits, maybe a good microscope (might do that next year), some chemistry sets, definitely tickets to the symphony. We have plenty of math manipulatives (as we homeschooled previously and bought those with our own money). Luckily for us, they will also pay for swim team and piano lessons. I'd love a few things to go along with our history time period: Early Modern. Any good resources for American History kits (besides books)? We have the Easy Make and Learn AND History pockets. Is there anything FUN that I could order? Like hands-on projects/activities? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 There are some states that give tax credits for school supplies, not specifically for homeschoolers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Membership to the science center, museum, historical fort etc. Online classes. Science kits are great. I bought a bunch of wooden model kits for the different kinds of bridges and siege weapons that we will have fun building this year. Life science supplies (incubator to hatch eggs, or the various kits you can get for ladybug farms, work farms, etc) I am jealous of those kits because we can't get them here in Canada. Be careful of capital purchases (aka nonconsumable, large purchases) most charters expect those back when you leave their school, so look into that before buying anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Lego education Wedo kit http://education.lego.com/en-us/lego-education-product-database/wedo/9580-lego-education-wedo-construction-set Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonlight Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Makey Makey Squishy Circuits LittleBit Audio Books Logic games and puzzles: Rush Hour Jr. or Regular, Chocolate Fix, Games by ThinkFun and SmartGames Jigsaw or 3D puzzles Nice wall maps Globe Top Secret Adventures Mathmania Uncle Goose has some cool educational building blocks (Periodic Table, US Flag, etc) Rory's Story Cubes Lollipop Logic Dixit Game Spend some time on the Maker shed site for some more science ideas. Check out DIY.org. Might be fun to gather supplies to do some of the projects/activities featured there. Also, check out ForSmallHands.com Fun stuff on that site. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mswin15 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 A nice telescope or sky binoculars. You have to have amazing star gazing up there! It doesn't matter if you are formally studying astronomy or not - it would be a wonderful learning tool! I would go to as many performances as I could manage time-wise. Audiobooks galore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Microscope and slide set to last through high school, museum/zoo memberships. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treasuremapper Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Where do you live? Because I want to move there! Ok, never mind, just saw it, Alaska. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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