If you had $500 to spend on homeschooling materials, what would you buy?

Question

Let's say that in addition to your usual homeschooling budget, you had an additional $500, would you buy some fancy program, videos, LOTS of books? What would you do with an extra $500 in your homeschooling budget?

P.S. The homeschooling wiki at http://knowhomeschooling.com is running a drawing for homeschoolers where you can win $500.

Answer 1

Some good games.

Live performances are good.

Maybe some music.

Depends on your students a little bit (but everyone likes games)

Answer 2

I would buy a good used microscope and/or telescope. Also good would be membership at the YMCA or other health club for exercise as this sometimes is lacking in homeschooled families. If the kids are readers, get each one some specialized books in subjects that really hold their interest. If your kids like music, how about some music lessons or renting some intstruments to try out? Membership at the local museums/parks/nature habitats would be good for unlimited visits. Another possibility would be a weekend away for mom and dad when mom starts feeling like she really needs a break-a chance to recharge and give a little attention to the marriage. Also, could be used for tutors or supplementary classes at the local homeschooling group. Or if your kids are not too small, use the money to start up a little family business venture that the whole family can be involved with.

Answer 3

This would need to be spent on what was most lacking, of course. Do you already have a good computer and printer? How large is your library? I would invest in some affordable "big" books thru Dover Thrift Editions, so you can easily buy 50 books and still have several hundred dollars left.
Buy a really good dictionary. A good Wall map of the US and the World. Buy a subscription to National Georaphic, maybe a subscription to some other magazine of interest. Purchase each child a class outside the home, like art, or music, or a membership to a decent gym. Maybe stick it all into their college fund! Or make a rewards program for your children to get a good yearly report card, and that can be $100 per child if they get B's or better on their report cards (no cheating!).
What about 3 trips to the museum, art gallery or other water park? The possibilities are endless. Have everyone brainstorm and then discuss pros and cons of each, and all of you vote! Do this when you have actually have the money!

Answer 4

Homeschooling Wiki

Answer 5

I would purchase 2 more expensive items that haven't yet fit in our homeschool budget, but are highly rated by all of the experts:

Rosetta Stone Foreign Language ... probably spanish
http://www.RosettaStone.com
they have a homeschool special now .. level 1 & 2 set for $299

and
Teaching Writing: Structure & Style along with the Student Writing Intensive (price for combo is $229)
from Andrew Pudewa of the Institute for Excellence in Writing
http://www.writing-edu.com

Their course on 'Teaching the Classics' by Andrew Adams, which is also available on their website for $89, is excellent as well. It teaches you the basics of walking your students through classics in fiction so that you don't have to purchase a study guide for each book that you are studying. It begins with children's literature, so it would be appropriate from grades 1-12 (just use more difficult reading material as skills improve & kids get older)

In both of these areas -- foreign language and writing -- the above items are the BEST of the best.

This is my answer primarily because we already have LOTS of books, and also have acess to a phenomenal library where we live. Also, we rarely watch the TV, and for us videos would just lead to too much TV watching.


HTH

Answer 6

Hmmm. $500 you say? I think I'd put the deposit & part of first month's rent down on the apartment next to us so that we could have the extra space for a workshop and discovery center for the kids to unschool in while I work from the home office. *laugh* Space IS a homeschooling material, especially when one is an unschooler! *grin*

Answer 7

I'd plan some interesting trips if those were allowed -
Science museums, history museums, places which are important in historical context, hands on activities somewhere outside the house.
Generally, the Internet is great for computer programs and the library is great for books. Try to find something that you can't get anywhere else.
There are science kits to do experiements with...

Answer 8

This year my granddaughter is being homeschooled. Besides her books I would think any videos that would be beneficial and additional workbooks that would make her studies interesting and exciting.

Answer 9

I would probably split the money between great books and performing arts tickets.

Our children are really into creating their own movies, so if we needed it, I might spend that money on software for flash or other movie making.

Answer 10

I'd put it toward a new computer for the kids to use with school. Ours is getting a few glitches because of age.