Getting Ready For School!!

So, I don't know about you all, but I am trying my best to get ready for school.  We are a homeschool family, as most of you know, and this year I will be working with four children!!  I know this may not sound like a lot to some folks, but it is a pretty big task for me.  Last year, I was only working with one child, so this year will be an adjustment.

So, how do we school so many kids on a budget??  Well, around this time of year, most stores run back to school specials.  Grocery stores, drug stores, big box stores, you name the store, and they probably have some type of back to school special.  The trick that I have found most useful is to look each week for the specials at different stores.  Even if you usually only shop at one store for groceries and such, during the back to school season, it is worth it to shop around. 

Most places will run weekly specials for pennies.  I found some one subject notebooks for $0.15 this past week.  Some stores have certain items for $0.01, you just have to look around.  I try really hard to stock up when the prices are low like this, because we all know that stuff runs out.  Halfway through the year, you are sure to need more glue sticks and pencils, things like that.

If you stocked up last year, and have all of your items need to start school, be sure to check the clearance sales, after the back to school season has ended and stock up for next year.

It is possible to purchase school supplies without breaking the bank, even if you are schooling several children!!

What are your favorite back to school saving strategies??

photo source: andrei 122

Great Homeschool tools for younger students!!

My daughter is in the first grade, and I have recently (with-in the past two weeks) found the need to add something extra to our math program. She is doing a great job, but I felt like our curriculum was not offering enough practice on certain areas, so I started looking for other options.

I was really happy with what I found on File Folder Fun. This site is packed with file folder games that you can print out and assemble. I was a little skeptical about the whole concept of the file folder game to start with, but I have to say that my daughter loves it, and is doing very well.

So far I have made the Chick-N-Place, and another one for number recognition, but can not find it on there right now. However, there are tons to pick from.

Once I print out my sheets, I grab my scissors and cut everything out. Then I grab my file folder and glue stick and attach the proper pieces to the folder. Next, I grab my contact paper, and do a little DIY lamination. (I do not have my own laminating machine yet). Once I am done with that, I grab a regular envelope, and seal the flap down. Then I cut off the end of the envelope, and use it to hold my other pieces to the game. When I am storing the game, I place the envelope inside of the file folder, and use a binder clip to keep everything together.

This has been working for us so far, and I look forward to making more. My daughter really thinks they are fun.

Do you have any great tips on making school fun for your children?

My Workboxes!!

Lately, I have been reading a lot about the "Work Box" system. It is a system used for organizing homeschool work. I can not say that I am a big fan of the original version, but I have seen a few that I really like, and think will work for us.

I have been looking for some type of organization system, as I will be homeschooling three children next year. Confessions of a Homeschooler has a great post all about her work box system, and I really like the way it is set up.

I plan to purchase some of those tall carts for our area, but for now I am using smaller containers/tubs. I wanted to see if it would actually help us to stay on track throughout the day, before I invested in all of the carts and things. Guess what, we have been using it for almost two weeks now and it is working wonderfully.
My bins are lined up along one of my bookshelves in our office/school room. 

My daughter loves being able to walk over to her box and get all of the supplies that she needs for that assignment out along with the assignment. Once she is finished with that assignment, she places her work in the correct spot and puts away the rest of her materials. She then moves to the next box.

I have found that it also helps me to be more organized as a teacher. I am less likely to forget that really fun idea that I wanted to try with her when I organize our day this way.

So, what are your thoughts? How do you organize your school area if you are a homeschooler??

I am linking to these great parties:
Works For Me Wednesday

How we decorated our pumpkin!!

We finally decorated a pumpkin today, I know, it is super late but we did it. Rather than carving the pumpkin, while I was looking through my Halloween stash, I found this little kit.

It has the pieces that you just stick into the pumpkin. Kind of like a Mr. Potato head, I guess you could call it a Mr.Pumpkin Head, haha.

Three different sets were in this one box, and we only had one big pumpkin so We made a three faced Mr. Pumpkin head!!

                                   Yes, all of those faces are on the same pumpkin.
The kids had a blast, and so did I. I really loved not having to clean up all of that pumpkin mush!! Since my children are still young, they did not mind not actually carving it, but I am sure sometime in the near future we will have to start actually carving them.

I incorporated this activity into our homeschool. We are doing a unit study on pumpkins right now, and this was the perfect hands on activity that everyone could get involved in.

I am linking to these great sites:
Feature Yourself Friday
Flaunt it Friday

Learning Tools (low cost)!!

If you have ever had the need to purchase any type of learning tool, you know how expensive it can be. Especially when you are looking for something specific.

I recently found the need for flash cards, but I needed the type that had pictures of common things like a cup, or bread on them. I needed these for my youngest daughter who is currently having communication delays.

I was shocked to see how much a set of cards like this costs, anywhere from $10.00 to $60.00. I found several places that you could order them online, but I just could not bring myself to do it. So, I set out on a mission to find a more cost effective solution.

I have tons of magazines around the house, so I started scanning them for pictures that I could use. I found several in a matter of minutes that would be perfect for my flash cards. So, I cut out the pictures and grabbed a stack of index cards and my glue stick.

Next, I simply glued my picture onto the card and used a little contact paper to make it water proof.

So for basically no money, because I had everything that I used just laying around the house, I made my own set of communication flash cards that are customized to my daughters exact needs.

My next step is to purchase some of the magnet strips and turn my cards into magnets that can be placed on the fridge, to further help with our communication process.

Another school shopping tip!!

I posted my strategy to save on school supplies here. I wanted to add something to that. Make sure you keep an eye on the clearance sales that take place after all of the back to school sales are over.

Most of the time you can stock up on paper, pencils, markers, crayons, and all of the other school necessites for super cheap. This is a great time to stock up if you can fit it in the budget, because you child will most likely run out of supplies at some point during the school year.

By shopping the clearance, you can simply visit your stash and grab what you need.

photo source: iprole

How to fill your child's back pack on the cheap!!

Well, that time is quickly approaching, school time!! Along with "school time" comes the incredibly long list of school supplies. So, the question is, how do fill up your child's back pack and not blow the budget??

My strategy is simple, shop the sales, and get the freebies!! Even though we homeschool, we still have to stock up on the normal school supplies. With five children, that means lots of pencils, paper, and crayons!!

The first places that I look for school supplies are CVS and Walgreens. Each week they offer items that are free (or really cheap) after Extra Care Bucks and Register Rewards, for the back to school season!! For instance, this week at Walgreens, you can get a 2 pack of Pilot G2 pens for $0.19 after RR's. Rulers, 2 pocket folders, and highlighters are on sale for $0.09 each. One Subject notebooks, 2 pack erasers, and 10 pack sheet protectors are on sale for $0.29 each. There are several other great sales this week as well.

The next place I look is at office stores. Even if you do not normally shop there, these stores offer some really great deals at school time. This week at Office Depot, you can get Dry Erase markers, hand sanitizer, staplers, and stacking crates for free after rebate. They also have 2 pocket folders on sale for $0.05, and notebook filler paper on sale for only $0.25!! You can get washable school glue for $0.01 at Staples this week, and several things for just $0.25.

It really pays to shop the deals, and check them every week. By the time school starts back your child should be well stocked in everything school related!!

photo source: iprole

Check out other great tips at WFMW.

90% off at Christianbook.com!!

Christianbook.com is having a super sale.  Several items are 90% off!!  Stop by and check it out, there are some great titles on the sale list.

Thanks Money Saving Mom!!

Back to School on a Budget: DIY Back-To-School Supplies

School supplies cost less with these fun projects.

Back-To-School doesn’t have to break the bank. Kim Danger offers fun tips that will help you make the most of your budget when the kids head back to school. Tips include money-saving craft projects and shopping advice.




Disclosure: This is a sponsored Post.