Planning, planning and more planning!

This is a time that I love. Getting to plan our next year and see just how much we did and how much we want to do in the next year. Putting together units, going from subject to subject and finding the most interesting books and manipulatives. My list is getting very long but I am sure you already knew that, lol.

And, turns out that Sonlight will now be charging a shipping fee but they will honor my one year free shipping since I bought a complete core. I plan on buying the books for the next two years before August, which will save me about 100$ of shipping. Sonlight has so many wonderful books that I cannot see myself getting another curriculum somewhere else. Some of the books I got for Pre-K are still read every week. I know that we are all anxious to get the next set of books. William prefers the science books while Catherine wants the art and music books :) Zachary and Alexandra and Mathieu? They prefer the empty boxes to play with, lol.

Aside from Sonlight, I made my list for Veritas Press. Tomorrow, I am getting some book organizers for each levels. That will make it easier for the kids to get to the books they want to read. One book organizer for each level and each separated by language (French & English). And I need a few more plastic bins. After that, my school room will be completely in order... until we move it to where the kitchen is!

I also prepared a list of manipulatives, like math games and such. Those are the kids favorites. Today, they played a math game then they played Monopoly Jr. Because the games are now in an armoire and they have easy access to them, I find that they play a lot more with them. Which is what I wanted. They have asked for a new game for Easter, which I might just get them. I know Zachary wants the pirate Toc game for his birthday so he told grandma about it. He also told her about a treasure chest game that he wants. I am pretty sure he will get both.

What else? I am waiting for the binding machine to go on sale. Yes, still waiting. I am going to wait until the first of April then, if the machine is not on sale (they have one sale that lasts the entire month), I will go talk to the manager and ask him for a special price on it. I also need a thing that cuts the side of the books. Kwim? I need to stock up on binders, laminating sheets, ink cartridge, paper (white and colored) and maybe more coloring pencils. Not much else. I stocked last year when a store decided to no longer keep any of these supplies. I got so much for a few cents each.

I am working hard on the kids' units too. I am almost done with Russia and chocolate (we decided to go with chocolate instead of candy for now). Next, I will get a unit on Africa together (which will combine kangoroos and leopards).

There are a few new dvds that I want to get too. National Geographic has some amazing dvds that the kids love. I plan on getting the one on asteroids for Zachary's unit. There are a few dvds for sign language too. And more on the Americas, space, ...

I am glad I am planning so early because I have a lot of research to get done. And a lot of buying, lol. I am hoping to find a lot in garage sales during the summer. Books, games, puzzles, most are brand new because they were bought by parents that were interested in them but that their kids were not. I am lucky that my kids are interested in just about everything :D