Supply Lists
From The Alveary Team:
A Charlotte Mason education is, as the quote goes, an education of “books and things”. As supply lists are released on April 1st, we want to share a few tried and true tips from our members and the Alveary team that can save you money on “all the things”.
- First, make sure you have room in your schedule for a course before you buy the supplies for it. Creating a schedule should come before purchasing books or supplies.
- Next, carefully read through the supply list before buying. This year, based on member feedback, we’ve streamlined supplies and added more detailed rationale to help members make decisions that fit their budget. Read to see how each item will be used, and note how many students can share that item. The rationale will also help you decide if you already have a reasonable substitute on hand.
- Then, make a note on your calendar a few weeks before each term starts to buy supplies used in the upcoming term, such as handicraft supplies.
Other ways to save money:
- Is there another Alveary family nearby that would like to do handicrafts or science labs together and share supplies? Or if your school year schedules are different, can you pass some supplies on from one family to another? (A pair of tuning forks for a science lab were once passed from one Alveary family to another all the way from California to Florida!)
- Budget a few supplies each month over the course of the year, and consider what handicraft supplies or art supplies could be “disguised” as birthday or holiday gifts. (Art supplies are great for upcoming Easter baskets!)
- Many families choose to use the same notebook for many subjects: written narrations, dictation, Bible notes, and composition can all go in the same notebook.
- Many of the art and handicraft supplies can be purchased at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby, both of which have frequent sales.
Please share your best supply list tips with our new Alveary members over on the Hive. You can also view this past week’s Office Hours for more tips.
Notes:
- Spring Survey: 2024-25 members, we want to hear from you! Please take our survey by April 7 for a chance to win one of five $25 Amazon gift cards — perfect for stocking up on books or supplies for next school year. Your feedback helps us make improvements. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
- Book recommendations: Looking for an Easter read? Check out this list of favorite Easter books.
- Immersion Masterclass (April 26th) & Summer Courses: If you’ve registered for next year, don’t forget to use your $50 discount coupon on the upcoming Immersion Masterclass and watch for registration for our summer courses to open April 11th!
- Pre-conference Events at this summer’s conference are now available (including a FREE pre-conference session on Narration with Dr. Carroll Smith and several other exciting opportunities!) Will we see you at Guiding with Grace?
- Virtual Tickets now live! Not able to make it to the CMI conference this summer? Mark off August 23rd instead, and get your virtual ticket!
- Purple House Press is running a birthday sale with 40-60% off select titles.
- Living Book Press is running a sale with 20% all books and 50% off all audiobooks, including the audiobooks of Charlotte Mason’s six volumes. The sale includes the recently released Liberal Education for All by CMI Founder Dr. Carroll Smith and John Thorley, as well as the recently republished Neta about PNEU leader Henrietta Franklin.
- Volunteer Opportunity: Help at the Alveary Booth! Are you planning to attend Teach Them Diligently in Pigeon Forge, or do you live in the area? We’re looking for volunteers to help us run the Alveary booth from May 8-10! Learn more here.
- Open House: Know a friend interested in Alveary? Send them this link to sign up for our online Open House.
- Last call! Celebrating a decade of Alveary. Renew by March 31st (Monday!) to receive exclusive freebies, including conference recordings, Natural History Club membership, digital monographs, and $50 off our Virtual Immersion Masterclass. Don’t miss out—renew now!
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Mason Quote:
“Give your child a single valuable idea, and you have done more for his education than if you had laid upon his mind the burden of bushels of information.” - Charlotte Mason, Home Education.
