Tips on Supplies
From Melissa Ferguson, Director of Operations
Consider this a cautionary tale. My first year of Alveary I bought “all the things” on the supply list. I suppose this was a mixture of optimism that we would also do “all the things”, and the convenience of not having to remember to buy those things during the school year. Five years later, some of those items have rarely been touched (if at all). Ouch. Lesson learned.
If I were giving advice to my younger (and hopelessly optimistic) self, I would suggest narrowing down the list first. Look at those items such as glue sticks and colored pencils that are used for several subjects. Look at those items that you know for sure you need and will use. (For us, that meant paints, palettes, brushes, and watercolor paper.) Think about which items you could easily pick up or order later, and which might take some time to acquire. Wait for lesson plans to be published and see what science labs seem interesting and doable before gathering those supplies.
Could you share some supplies with other members? (A few years ago, a set of tuning forks for a science lab was mailed among Alveary members and made it all the way from California to Florida!) Plan to 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 Christmas gifts. You might also use a less expensive option until a higher-quality version can be purchased or gifted, especially when the quality won’t have a significant impact on the outcome.
In today’s Fabulous Friday post, share your best supply list tips with our new Alveary members. You can also visit this circle in the Hive for our members’ favorite items that aren’t on Alveary’s supply lists.
Notes
1. Survey: Tomorrow is the deadline for 2022-23 members to complete this survey for a chance to win a new expanded edition of Towards a Philosophy of Education (Smidgen Press). Thank you to everyone who has already responded!
2. Resources: Supply lists and Our Work booklets for the 2023-24 year will be published tomorrow. (Lesson plans are published June 1.) Renew your membership now if you haven’t already!
3. Science Sale (HS): Novare Science texts used for Physics, Biology, and Chemistry in Grades 9-11 are 20% off until April 14th! Shop sale here.
4. Office Hours: Our March 29 Office Hours session featured a recorded interview with Dr. John Walton, author of The Bible Story Handbook (used in 2023-24 Bible: Grades 2-6).
5. Office Hours: On April 12 CMI Board Member Min Jung Hwang will answer questions on motherhood, ministry, homeschooling, habit formation, and equipping children well for life. Please submit your questions here by Monday, April 3rd.
6. Latin: The optional video Latin course will be $179 for the year. (Teacher’s manual listed in Program not needed, a savings of $75.) See sign-up link in Program beginning tomorrow, April 1.
7. Modern Language: Optional French and Spanish video courses (Grades 1-6) will be offered as a beta test this year at no charge. Participants will be asked for feedback throughout the course.
