One thing I tell my parents from the beginning is don't expect your child to come home with something in their hands every day. Know that they will always come home with something new in their head. They will come home with sharper skills. They will come home with something in their heart.

Now that is not to say that we don't do "worksheets" for re-enforcement. (We also do art, scissor skills, collages, projects, etc.) What I have started doing is having the "worksheets" that I use laminated. It costs a little more up front, but saves bundles in the long run (not to mention wear-and-tear on the printer and lots of your time). If you 3 hole punch them, you can save them in a cheap binder or in folders. Otherwise, devise some kind of filing system for them. The kids love using dry erase markers any way. Washable markers usually come off pretty easily as well.

You can get worksheets pretty much anywhere. Books are sold at Walmart, dollar stores, etc. CCVillage has lots of great stuff (wink-wink!) and they do all the thinking and compiling for you. Other sites have stuff if you have a bit to search.

FYI..I take lots of pictures so that I "have proof" that the kids are learning in case I have a parent who thinks they have to do written stuff all the time. ..although I haven't yet.

I will post some of the activities that I use later. But for now, I would like to hear your ideas............................

Laminating the worksheets is a great idea. I have had one or two parents who like to see something coming home with their child every day. And most days there usually is at least something they have done, whether it be a picture or something they have colored, or a large activity.
I have gotten a lot more sleep at night since I started using the monthly activity schedule on ccvillage.com. My favorite way to help kids learn cost effectively, is to do as many outdoor activities as possible. Treasure hunts can be done simply by providing the children with a paper bag and a list (with pictures) of the items they are looking for.
However, when winter comes along, and we are cooped up indoors 90 percent of the time, I will have to get creative.....I love activities involving fruit, as do the kids. For instance, yesterday we cut an apple in half, not from top to bottom, but from side to side and opened it up. I asked the kids what they saw, and they told me they saw a star. Then we used the star imprint from the center of the apple as a stamp. We dipped it in paint and the kids made stars all over their papers.
Stuff like that is usually what excites me and my group the most!

10 things I couldn't do without (well, wouldn't want to do without, anyway)...nothing fancy and definetly affordable:

1.) colored pompons in different sizes: sort, pattern, count, stack, order small to large, etc, graph, endless craft possibilities,

2.) beads of all sizes and colors: pretty much for the same reasons as as above,as well as stringing.

3.) cheerios: in my opinion, the ultimate food to keep on hand...but that's another group...crafts, stringing, estimating, glue on construction paper to trace letters, for example, counting, comparing (more than/less than), dye them and decorate with them, etc

4.) pipe cleaners: use them for stringing, decorate with them, make things out of them, colors, cut them and use to compare sizes, the girls love to make jewelry out of them, etc.

5.) crayons...duh! Ever made your own using muffin tins?

6.) blocks: use as blocks were intended, pretend that your block is something else (car, phone, baby, etc.), count, colors, shapes, size, estimating, gross motor skills (make a balance beam, jump over, make obstacle course, and more), patterning, oh, the possibilities!

7.) Don't underestimate the possiblilites of good 'ol water! WATER DAY!!!!! Sensory tables, taking care of plants/pets, lessons on healthy habits and the environment, observe color combinations, sink or float, measuring, dump and fill, freeze and let melt, use ice blocks and salt to make sculptures, the list could be endless! As a side note, water makes the kids REALLY TIRED TOO! (WINK! WINK!)

8.) Junk mail: you get it anyway, might as well use it! The kids love to play postmaster, order taker, shopping, etc. Use the ads for collages, teachs recycling at the same time. Also, count, size, measure, tear up, etc.

9.) cardboard boxes! again, kid directed, most of the time, but here are some things we do regularly, baby bed, store, dump and fill, packing to move, going on a trip, grocery store, gift giving, sit in and play boat, car, airplane, draw on, hide under, play drive thru or house or whatever (that one involves appliance boxes usually and just cut out a door and some windows)...

10.) family life stuff like dolls, blankets, dishes and food. Dramatic play possibilities are endless. Use the items for classifying, colors, counting, etc. as well.

I know this was lengthy, but I thought it might get us thinking about some of the other things we might already have or can purchase cheaply (or have donated). I know this is not the exact list that everyone will have, why not share some of your must-haves with us?

I've tried to do my own curriculum, found that it kept me on the computer and then findig the supplies. So I like purchasing a curriculum. I was using preschool, then I found Funshine express, they had a christian curriculum,(great too) I've been looking at some different ones for this coming fall,when I start pre school program again. Have looked at Carol's don't really like how she packages her's. Love teaching the children about God too. Finding one that includes Him too, affordable would be great too. This to me saves time and money. They gave me everything I'd needed. No planning, no waste, no want, no finding materials.

I found a website, www.kidscraftweekly.com , that uses a lot of everyday things that we all usually have anyway. You can sign up for a weekly newsletter if you'd like.