Back to (Home)school Supplies

"Don't you just love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

I've never even been to New York City, let alone in the fall, but I love this quote from one of my all-time favorite movies, one I seem compelled to watch at this time every year. (Do you recognize the movie? Take a guess!) I especially love the opening scenes in all their fall splendor, as the two main characters rhapsodize about things like coffee, Scotch tape and number two pencils ~ a few of my favorite things.

School supplies - no matter how old we get, no matter how far away from academia we grow - will always seem an integral part of this time of year. Goldenrod and golden pencils. Crisp morning air and crisp packs of college-ruled paper. A landscape that comes alive in every shade of the crayon box. And let's not forget the traditional apple for teacher!

And so fittingly, this Monday, Kim is hosting the Loveliness of Back to School. I must confess, I've really been looking forward to this fair ever since the summer schedule was first announced several weeks ago. I wrote it down in my calendar and as I did I thought: when we get to that day in late August I will be in my happy zone - books will be strewn all about, curriculum orders will be on their way, fall schedules will be coming together, and my lesson planner will be open once again ...

Last month I posted about our plans for the new year; now it's time to talk "shop!"

The back-to-school supplies list for a home-learning family is bound to be different from the ordinary sheet of suggestions one might find at the local Staples superstore. And yet there's going to be overlap, too. What follows, then, is my list as it has shaped up so far. It's really more of a checklist than a shopping list as most of these items we already own. I like seeing the whole list at a glance, though, because it helps me envision possible storage strategies.

As home learners, we are, obviously, home a lot, and yet we also find ourselves out-and- about quite often, too. (Some weeks it feels like we're doing more carschooling than homeschooling, lol.) So I include in my list lots of home comforts and essentials of general family living. It all adds up in our book. :)

• a work bag for each child
• backpacks (for out-and-about)
• a lesson planner for me
• weekly work binders, one each for the older two
• a dedicated workspace and comfortable seating (chair pads, maybe?)
• bins/baskets or buckets for tablework supplies
• crayons
• colored pencils
• a watercolor paint set
• no. 2 pencils (the more the merrier!)
• pens
• rulers
• glue (school glue, glue sticks, craft glue)
• tape (masking, Scotch)
• stapler
• scissors (kids, adult, pinking)
• a hole punch
• stamps
• writing paper and envelopes
• loose leaf paper
• graph paper
• copy paper for the printer
• ink cartridges for the printer
• drawing paper
• construction paper
• watercolor paper
• homemade play dough (and tools)
• homemade finger paints
• smocks
• a clothesline for displaying artwork
• magnetic clips for the fridge
• a bulletin board and thumbtacks
• rubber bands
• paper clips
• brads
• a dictionary and thesaurus
• a globe
• a world atlas
• wall maps (US and world)
• seasonal window clings (fun for the kids, and ok, me)
• a large family calendar
• a classroom clock
• a timer and/or stopwatch
• stickers (of all kinds)
• rubber stamps (alphabet and other)
• cookie cutters
• a children's cookbook
• woolen felt
• yarn
• cotton string
• a sewing kit
• nature journals
• magnifying glasses
• a pair of binoculars
• field guides
• a science encyclopedia
• multiple birdfeeders
• nature puppets
• an outdoor thermometer
• a rain guage
• a microscope
• a telescope
• a tape/CD player/radio
• CD/tape storage
• musical instrument(s) and songbooks
• subscriptions to educational magazines
• a subscription to a local newspaper
• library cards
• museum membership(s)
• local audubon membership
• maps of our local area and nearest big city
• a computer
• educational software
• chore lists for each family member
• allowance agreements ;)
• cleaning tools
• environmental- (and child-) friendly cleaners
• beeswax polish for tables, shelves and chairs
• hand sanitizing wipes
• a first aid kit (for home and car)
• a family Bible
• a prayer corner
• tealights
• holy cards
• a missal
• a camera
• (it goes without saying) BOOKS!
• bookshelves
• book nooks and reading baskets
• a learning/book display area
• multivitamins
• a weekly menu plan
• healthy, help-yourself snacks
• portable snack containers/baggies
• thermal travel mugs for hot drinks on cold car rides
• warm autumn bedding
• new pajamas and slippers
• sneakers/comfortable shoes
• rain and snow gear

Whew, my husband near about fell over when I read him that list! I was quick to remind him (and all my dear readers, too) that this list is comprised mostly of things we already own. I will still be making my annual trek to purchase a few new supplies - because nothing beats a fresh package of construction paper or a shiny new box of Crayolas ...

Except maybe that bouquet of newly sharpened pencils. That would be pretty neat. ;)