CTC supplies, questions, thoughts

[mamanlait]

I'm gearing up and purchasing supplies for CTC and have a question about watercolors. I'm reading in the early pages of CTC that watercolor paints should be purchased (either tube paints or moist cake pans). Honestly, I didn't even realize either existed. I only have used those rectangular-shaped dry cake watercolors you can buy at the grocery store. Can someone who didn't have an inferior art experience help me with what might be the best way to go about my purchase. Specifically, what have you used: moist cakes vs. tubes. Anyone know of a reputable online art supply source (feel free to send that privately)? We don't have an art or craft store close by.

Common Place Book: Does it matter if we just continue in the same book that we started for Preparing or would it make better long-term sense to start a new one?

Copywork: I was reading in the CTC Intro about Copywork and how children are helped along by seeing and emulating properly written cursive. Do you as teachers typically write the Bible Verse or whatever the Copywork material is for your child out to use as a guide? I haven't done this at all in Preparing and have identified that dd is occasionally frustrated by not remembering certain letter forms (especially capitals). Just wondering on that one if I should have been doing this all along. It seems easy enough.

Finally... has anyone compiled a general supply list for CTC? I'm constantly having to substitute...mostly because I don't typically study the day's work until the morning of (the beauty of open and go ). We've moved a zillion times and I didn't even have normal household supplies of yarn, sugar, or cheerios for my youngest's project this week. (btw we substituted dental floss, Splenda, and almonds)... but that was for a different level. I'm looking for CTC help tonight. Hopefully, I'll have accumulated the basics in the next few months but if someone has spent time compiling a list, that would be really helpful for me to look over.

I'm giddy to start this new curriculum. I LOVE the history and have started pre-reading it...soaking in the information with so many ah-ha moments. I just wish so much I would have learned this stuff 25 years ago! I am jealous that those students many generations ago were given this sort of Biblical detail at the elementary level (& frustrated that my college history classes didn't even mention ANY of this stuff--and it was a Christian institution?!). My eyes are being opened more with each chapter, and the holes I have in my own education are being revealed (we are talking about big gaping ones!). I'm ashamed of my ignorance but praising God for this enormous blessing of homeschooling (and HOD!) where I am learning alongside my children this most important (Biblical) history. It is humbling.

With Thanksgiving!

Amy

[pjdobro]

I haven't done CTC so I can't answer using the watercolors specifically for that, but we have used the tube watercolors before with success. I got them from Miller Pad and Paper. I actually bought them when they were at my conference, but you can order directly from them online here: http://www.millerpadsandpaper.com/main. I have the cake ones too, but we haven't gotten around to using them yet. Miller Pad and Paper has a lot to choose from and I think their prices are pretty good. It sounds like you are ready to go. I bet it will be a great year for all of you!

[Tree House Academy]

We used tubes and I bought them at Michaels craft store. I had to buy again after Christmas (so 2 sets of 12 tubes total).

A new common place book for each guide makes more sense, because different guides call for different things to be written in them.

I never wrote out his copywork for him.. He did all of that himself. Being a sixth grader, he had cursive down well enough to write it from print.

Other than a science notebook, dictation notebook, and history notebook - the only thing I needed was a nice portfolio for all of ds's beautiful artwork. I got it at Michaels too.

[birchbark]

We used a set of cake watercolors from Miller Pads and Paper. It was not expensive, lasted all year, and made beautiful pictures.

For handwriting, I slipped a "desk strip" from our handwriting program into the clear cover of the binder that holds DS's notepaper. That way it is available if he needs to refer to it while writing.

[mamanlait]

All of the responses took care of my questions. Thank you! I didn't think Millerpads had more than paper. I should have looked (as this is the company recommended in the manual). Great idea about having an accessible cursive "chart" close by. What an easy fix!

Thanks again!
Amy

[annaz]

As far as a supplies list, there is one on the HOD Yahoo Group if you join.

[my3sons]

CTC is such a wonderful way to study the ancients! I too wish I would have learned about history with God's hand in it right from the start. When I did CTC, I put a thread on the board to help with the paint supplies. In case it may help, here it is...

CTC Paint Supplies:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5608&p=41163#p41163

As far as the Common Place Book, we just continued with the one from PHFHG. He just filled all of the pages of it as he finished RTR, and it is such a keepsake to treasure.

I used to write any cursive capital letters my ds was forgetting on a marker board for him. Watching me make them was like a mini-lesson reminding him how to write them properly, so that worked well. He eventually didn't ask for help anymore, as he learned the few he had forgotten. HTH - enjoy CTC! It's an awesome way to journey through the ancients!

In Christ,
Julie