Compile Your Home School Supplies

Our home school supplies are much like the tools of any skilled craftsman or someone hoping to do a great job. They make it much easier to get our work done. Sometimes, I think that the Back-to-School or better yet, "Back-to-Homeschool" sales are more for me than our children.

The major homeschool supplies that I need and don't want to do without in our home school, are listed below. Most are fairly common but some are less familiar.

Hopefully, I have provided a list that could be used as you shop for your home school supplies at a local, retail store or even in a home school curriculum catalog of a homeschool supercenter, like CBD.

And, I cannot say enough about the need to have a good supply of scrap paper. If you have someone who could furnish you with paper that has only been used on one side, that would be great.

You'll also need lots of printer paper and ink. No, really, I mean lots and lots of ink.

Helpful Homeschool Materials

I have also found it beneficial to have available at least one hard copy of the following homeschool resources:

• Picture dictionary
• Quality student or college dictionary
• Thesaurus
• Atlas
• Bible concordance

• English handbook
• Beautifully illustrated science books, like Usborne books
• Educational videos or DVDs, like classic Moody Science

Yes, I realize that we're in the twenty-first century and you can Google for most anything, now. But, remember, our goal is to teach our children, so at least introduce these tools to them.

When and Where to Get Homeschool Supplies

The "when" is easy. When they're on sale. Like thoseBack-to-School sales I mentioned earlier. Also, clearance sales and huge discount sales after everyone has returned to traditional schools.

I find great deals in the aisles of local supermarkets after school begins. So, be sure to check there and other retailers, too.

Typically, I purchase the bulk of our homeschool materials during these sales and have enough to last the entire year! The savings are astronomical when shopping this way.

Just let me know if I have forgotten to mention any other essentials, please? None of us are perfect, you know.

Now, for the where...

Any place that may have a sale, that's where you want to start. All of the big stores have great sales such as Wal-Mart, Target, and K-mart. You'll have to browse through the circulars and be ready to go where the sales are.

I have found some really great deals at Publix and Food Lion grocery stores. Check out weekly ads at the Dollar Stores and drug stores, like CVS and Walgreens.

When I need to replace our dictionaries, I head to Thrift Stores, library book sales or yard sales. Often, you can purchase hardcover books for just one dollar!

Used home school curriculum fairs are also great places to purchase reference books like dictionaries and atlases. And, be sure to sign up for the educator's discount at the various places that offer them.

Just to get you thinking, I currently have in my wallet, cards from:

• Barnes & Noble
• Border's Books
• Staples
• Books-A-Million
• Office Depot
• and OfficeMax

So, now you have an idea of what to buy, when to buy it, and where to buy it.

My final suggestion is that you label everything and try to store homeschool materials in an organized fashion. The clear, plastic shoe boxes sold in stores are ideal. It won't do much good to have these home school supplies and resources if you can't find them when you need them.

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