Preparing for Back to School

Yep, it is… just around the corner. 


Next month is only a few days away. There will be the frenzy of sales & no sales tax shopping days in various parts of the country. Lists of supplies needed for various teachers or curriculum will give mothers a headache. Brightly colored & illustrated notebooks, pencils and a myriad of tempting tools will light up the children’s eyes. Homeschoolers are not immune to such marketing propaganda. As a matter of a fact, us homeschool moms use this to our advantage.

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I tend to be nostalgic in my purchases. We still use black boards in our home and since hubby has his own business, all our #2 pencils proudly proclaim our address and phone number rather than cutesy pictures of the most recently popular tv personalities. I am a bit over practical in the purchase of notebooks and folders, I like bulk sale packs in assorted colors. We decorate them with stickers. I do give in for the occasional notebook or folder with cute puppies and kittens or majestic wild animals. I will also admit, like any good nerd, I am actually a sucker for laminated periodic tables and star charts.

Since we have been homeschooling 20 years, we have collected a nice library of resources. Regardless, I have an insatiable appetite for geeky, nerdy reference books. My mad scientist laboratory is going to have to wait for an addition to the house and a major economic overhaul, so I’ll just have to settle for a few books this year. I am surfing the used books on amazon, but I will probably try to splurge on a a few newer publications.

My wishlist this year?

Science:
The Ecology Book (Wonders of Creation)
The Archaeology Book (Wonders of Creation)
(We have several in this set already. These are excellent books!)
Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You
(Nature Study is a regular part of our homeschool.)
Body of Evidence: Human Anatomy Answers in Genesis, Complete Set
(We have a few of Dr. David Menton’s DVD’s. He’s a wonderful teacher. Very engaging, even for the younger children.)

History:
1800 Mechanical Movements, Devices and Appliances (Dover Science Books)
(This could be science too, but it is the history I’m really interested in. The boys will love this book!)
How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Teach Yourself, Revised Edition
(Yes, we are doing some ancient history study. Wouldn’t this be TONS of fun?!)
The Ancient Hebrew Language and Alphabet: Understanding the Ancient Hebrew Language of the Bible Based on Ancient Hebrew Culture and Thought (Now ain’t that a mouthful!)

Music:
Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?
How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?
(These books look really cute. They will be fun songs to learn…)

Art:
Water Color Field Sketch Set
Blank Watercolor Postcards pad
(I’d like to experiment with field watercolors. The girls carry drawing tablets with them everywhere we go. Adding another medium will be fun.)