planning help:-)please

First of all, I agree with you on owning books. We used to borrow a lot from the library, but I much prefer to own the books and not be bound by someone else’s deadline or lack of having what I need.

Second, my personal opinion is that you have perhaps overscheduled your little 2nd grader. She doesn’t need All About Spelling plus English for the Thoughtful Child. In fact, I’d just use EFTTC and wait until next year for AAS. Also, if you’re using SCM Module 1, they have made a less expensive replacement for Oxford First Ancient History, which is an expensive book to buy anyway. We opted to just do a simple map study/drill rather than using Then and Now Bible Maps. It has worked well for us.

I would absolutely take advantage of the library for the extra books to go along with 106 Days. You don’t need any of the extras (Yellow and Pink, for example) for more than a couple of lessons, so you should be able to have them back to the library in plenty of time to avoid late fees. The only caveat to this is if your library doesn’t have a book you need. In this case, you can try inter-library loan or buy the book. Check with your library before you start the year to see what they have that you need.

Also, I don’t know what source you’re using for all these books, but have you looked at http://www.abebooks.com? We get many of our books from here. They are all used, but you can find a Like New or Good Condition book for $3.95 with free shipping if you watch out for it. 

For two children and buying all of our books/resources every year, I rarely spend over $400, and that’s with buying Math-U-See, Apologia Notebooks, SCM materials, literature books, and more. I get a sort of high off finding stuff for really cheap. It’s like a game to me.

Don’t be afraid to subsitute books.  If your library doesn’t have the exact book for 106 Days of Creation, just find something similar.  For example, you might need the book Footprints on the Moon….if your library doesn’t have it find another book about the moon.  Will it be the same?  No.  But will it work?  Yes.  (If you look at the sample of 106 Days you’ll see a list of books and resources needed.)

You can often find more expensive items such as math programs for sale used at eBay, Homeschool Classifieds or Vegsource, to name a few.

I, too, am a book buyer over a book borrower, but sometimes the cost just isn’t worth it, especially for books you are only going to use for one or two lessons.  I buy a lot from Amazon and half.com.  This is also a cool search engine for finding books:  http://used.addall.com

For 106 Days, there is a list of books on the sample pages.  I’ve been collecting many of these used through Amazon.  I picked up the Moody videos inexpensively from Library and Ed, but I did find a couple of them available free online (I googled the titles).  You could even just skip these I’m sure.  Also, you can substitute the picture books for similar library books.  

For literature, if you have an e-reader, most of these are available for free or $1-2!  The Exodus/Numbers commentaries are available as e-books on CBD’s website for a few dollars.  Ancient Egypt and Her Neighbors is the replacement of the Oxford book and a fraction of the cost.  Instead of the Bible maps, I imagine you could find similar maps online for free.

Instead of EFTTC, you could use Primary Language Lessons (free at Google Books).  They are very similar books and many moms on here use it instead.  

I like to buy our books a little at a time.  You do have to be cautious with shipping though!  

Shannon, I love your happy-ish word. I think that’s how I always feel when I need to change something, change it, and then realize it’s the subject that’s the challenge, not the curriculum. Readiness, patience, and contentment are words I have to continually study while homeschooling. 🙂

Buy curriculum on the cheap as much as possible. I like Shannon’s reminder to be a minimalist. I forget this at times. It’s completely off my radar in regard to living books. I’m an admitted hoarder, so I concocted a camouflage of sorts and hope to open our Homeschool library in September. 🙂

If you aren’t set on 106 Days, you might consider only doing nature study for this year and make journals. You can refer to field guides online, or at the library and accomplish lots of learning that way.

Ease your way into things. Begin good habits in a few areas and add to it along the way. That will spread costs out a bit, too.

Paperbackswap may have some titles you’re looking for too.  You do have to have books to swap but you can always purchase credits to buy their books.  Just an idea.  I think I got most of my books for 106 days at thrift stores/PBS/library/amazon and I use my kindle. If you don’t have a kindle, you can download the kindle app and just use your computer. 

@sklong – I didn’t think that I would like a Kindle for school, but I love it so much that I bought one for each of my older kiddos. We use it for scripture study, composer study, poetry, science, history, literature, and more. LOVE it.

@DustyandKassey-

Here’s what I am seeing in your plan:

Math – RightStart Math

Science – 106 Days of Creation

The list of resources you need for the 106 Days is in here, but you will have to download the sample and click on the Resources Needed page:

http://simplycharlottemason.com/store/106-days-creation-studies/

It’s a great choice. We had fun with it.

History – Ancient Egypt using the Oxford First Ancient History

If you are going to use the older version of Module 1, there are substitution lessons using the Ancient Egypt and Her Neighbors book, and I have a list of all the lesson that use the Oxford with the topics taught so you could get library books for that and not even purchase the Oxford. That alone will save a pretty chunk of cash! Here is the link to the substitution list for the Oxford…

http://simplycharlottemason.com/product-links-tips-info/ancient-egypt-and-her-neighbors-links-and-tips/

I have to say that you will get better value for your money if you use the Acient Egypt and Her Neighbors. We only used 20 pages out of the Oxford for Module 1, although it was much more used in the other ancient modules for the older kids.

Geography – Geography Then and Now Bible maps – Actually this is not really a map drill book or learning about other cultures…it simply shows where the Bible towns are in relation to towns today. You can choose to study whatever continent you want and get books about the countries from the library. Google blank outline maps and use those for your map drill.

Handwriting: recommended Copywork Reader

Spelling: All About Spelling (CM recommended waiting until 3rd grade for this, so it might save money to buy later)

Grammar: English for the Thoughtful Child

If you use English for the Thoughtful Child, there is some pretty good overlaps in your plan and you could easily simplify…it has picture study, copywork, and more in it. I really think that you could wait on the spelling until next year. I know that it is hard, esp. coming from PS, but you could sort of ease into the methods before you start overloading both of you.

Reading: the suggested a Childs copybook reader, with Busy Times, and More Busy.

Bible Exodus a commentary for children. You could read the Bible stories straight from the Bible yourself and retell it to your kiddos, unless you are more secure having the book.

Scripture memory/Personal Development  –  per dev A childs book of character building, – You can also use the free SCM verses here:

http://simplycharlottemason.com/store/scripture-memory-verse-cards/

Literature (this is one section I plan to borrow library books), – You can also listen to a lot of it free if you use http://librivox.org/  We listen during lunch. 😉

Poetry A Childs garden of verses – you can also just check out poetry from the library.  There is a great series called Poetry for Young Children if you can find it. You can also find tons of free poetry on Kindle and from the free sites – just download a Kindle app to your computer.

Nature – Natures notes.

Music and picture study I plan to borrow books from library. – You can also get some great resources free online. Here is my Pinterest board with a tiny fraction of things available…I also have lots of ideas for some on my blog if you are interested.

http://pinterest.com/sheraz2011/cm-picture-study/

http://mysouldothdelight.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/picture-study-part-1-what-is-picture-study/ – I am in the middle of getting a custom design for my blog, please excuse the mess. =)

I buy used books all the time. I have discovered that I can buy a lot of ex-library ones that are recommended here for less than $1-$3 usually, plus shipping. I use all the recommended places too. Those were just my thoughts when I looked at your schedule and the cost. 😉

You know your child and your legal requirements best, so take them for what they are worth.