this list is not exhaustive, and i wouldn't call all (or any?) of these items indispensable. this is simply a list of our family's favorite supplies, and are not absolutely necessary for a well-functioning homeschool set-up.
ART :
- acid-free sulphite paper, 500 quantity pack of 9 x 12 sheets for $17
- micron pens, size 05
- m. graham watercolor or gouache paints
- butcher trays
- paint jar holders (for liquid watercolor--easier set-up for everyday than watercolor tubes. we use these just for fun painting time; for detailed painting/nature notebooks we use the watercolor tubes + butcher trays or our pocket-sized sets with half pans)
- liquid watercolor (these are mixed with water & are stored in the jars, so they last a LONG time)
- ceramic paint palettes (7 or 9 well)
- bulk watercolor paper
- lyra super ferby colored pencils
- construction paper
- for drawing with children : journal + quality markers (we use crescent sketchbooks and copic markers)
- everyday markers : faber castell washable or permanent
- art boards or oil cloth to cover work space
READING : (based on supply list given in this curriculum i'm using)
- sand tray (i use coarse corn meal rather than the supplied colored sand)
- sandpaper letters + phonograms (blends); i have been using these ones from polliwog's etsy shop for years.
- alphabet fridge magnets
- first readers (frog & toad, little bear, various vintage readers in the I CAN READ and Science I CAN READ collection)
- moveable alphabet
- tray (for moveable alphabet)
- a basket to store learned letters & blends in
- a notebook for "my word book"
MATH :
- golden beads, colored beads, & other various supplies from Nienhuis, Alison's Montessori, Amazon (Kid Advance is a good brand)
- sandpaper numbers and activities from polliwog's etsy shop
- curriculum from NAMC, or a basic, lower elementary course, very affordable, from montessori printshop
- more info under the MONTESSORI MATH tab
HISTORY :
- history guide for appropriate era (we are currently studying Early American) from beautiful feet books.
- books can be purchased through beautiful feet directly, or scour amazon or powell's for used/vintage copies.
- Lyra colored pencils (waldorf selection + skin tones) for coloring pages (some coloring sheets arrive with the bf curriculum)
- 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock cut in half if children want to draw their own pictures instead of coloring pages. these can be pasted in their notebooks.
- notebook to record narrations
- rubber cement to paste pictures into notebook alongside narrations
HANDICRAFTS :
- i've stocked up on supplies from target (kid made modern line), dick blick, palumba (waldorf-y art supplies -- wood paint jar holders, liquid watercolor, beeswax crayons, craft kits, etc.), montessori services.
- favorite books i've used are listed in the RESOURCES / INSPIRATION tab.
HYMN STUDY :
- half-size binders with sheet protectors to hold hymns. we use the thin linen half-size binders from crane.
NATURE STUDY :
- Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock
- quality watercolor notebooks for nature journaling (we use the pentalic 7 x 10 field books)
- m. graham watercolor or gouache (for painting at home)
- butcher trays (for painting at home)
- i prefer natural sable brushes, but i buy budget versions for the kids until they learn to treat their brushes well!
- plenty of field guides. pocket-size laminated ones are great to have, too, for nature adventures
- first aid kit
- a quality backpack so i can tote the majority of the stuff (i love mine from topo designs), and backpacks for the kids
- a small plastic tackle box for taking watercolor supplies with us, along with portable watercolor kits (we have this one and this one), a jar for water, and brushes
- baskets (the kids use these bolga baskets, purchased at a local store) and containers for collecting
- large plastic ziplock for used wipes if we have to pee in the woods! ;)
FAVORITE TOYS :
(these come out when shepherd plays with per, while i do math with heron...)
- a large bin full of beans for play with our collection of animals
- blocks and playmobil guys (affectionately known as "jimmies" in our family--long story!); i try to find some of the historical characters on amazon.
- lincoln logs
- marble run (wooden)
- tree blocks (i'm not sure if this is the actual set we have, but something like it). i lay them out on a large green piece of felt, with some little ponds & rivers that i cut out of blue felt. and we have some of these types of houses & critters to add to the scene)
FONTS :
schoolhouse fonts (d'nealian, zaner-bloser, etc, with and without lines)
VARIOUS :
- a quality paper cutter. (we have the Ingento 1152, 18-inch)
- a copy/printer, not photo-quality, or the ink is too expensive. (we have an Epson WF-3640)