7 Essential Homeschool Supplies
Essential homeschool supplies can vary from one family to another, but there are a few staples that almost every homeschooling family uses and needs.
I’ve made a list of our favorites, why they’re our favorites, and how we use them. I hope this will help you stock your own homeschool supply closet!
If you’re a new homeschooling mom and you’re trying to figure out where to start with supplying your homeschool, I’ve created this list of the seven items I consider to be essential homeschool supplies. Of course every family is different, but these are the items we use most.
7 Essential Homeschool Supplies
Laminator – When you first get your laminator you will go crazy laminating everything. It’s just fun. Eventually you will slow down but you will still use it regularly. I am continually surprised how much I use it still – daily checklists, to make worksheets reusable, making small wall posters more durable, for playdough mats, etc. You can get by without one . . . but I wouldn’t want to!
Dry Erase/Chalkboard – Either or both. We have an easel that has one on each side that the kids use for everything from art to spelling practice and everything in between. We also have one hanging behind my head where I can write the date, a daily quote or Bible verse, spelling words, and more.
Printer/Copier – Even if you have chosen a boxed curriculum you will find often that you want to print extra worksheets, coloring pages, and other items. It is really more cost effective to print at home than to run to the office supply store every week to print or copy. While I occasionally do print in color, whenever possible I print in black and white in draft mode which conserves a lot of ink. I have also taken advantage of refillable ink cartridges on Amazon, which saves 50% or more than branded ones.
Note: If you need a printer, check out this post that my husband wrote. He’s been a printer/copier tech for 25 years so he knows his stuff. He currently recommends the Epson EcoTank for homeschoolers because it’s SO economical and efficient on ink usage.
Bookshelf – Even a small three shelf is better than none. You will need something to catch the overflow of books and paperwork and in this case bigger is definitely better. Shelved school books are so much easier to find than piles.
Electric Pencil Sharpener – Pencils break in the course of a day, sometimes a lot and it’s not just the kids. An electric pencil sharpener makes quick work of broken pencils and saves time.
3-Hole Punch – The best way to corral loose papers and keep them organized is with a 3-hole punch. At the end of the week I gather up all the papers I have kept in a file folder, hole punch them and place them in a 4” binder that I will thin out at the end of the year and use as part of our portfolio.
Baskets – I have a deep and real love for baskets of all sorts and sizes. They are the quickest way to contain a mess and make your space feel neater. Of course when your space is organized it is so much easier to find whatever you need and it lends a more peaceful feeling to your room when everything is not scattered about. You can keep flashcards, games, art supplies, manipulatives, and other items tucked away in baskets on shelves, on the floor, and around the rest of the house.
What do you consider essential homeschool supplies?
You might also like to read these posts:
10 Things Homeschool Moms Need to Succeed
How to Create a Delightful Learning Atmosphere in your Homeschool
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I think they’re called “binder clips,” but we call them alligator clips. We use those like bookmarks for workbooks. Thanks for the list!
Oh yes, we like those too! Great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Boxes with lids from Dollar Tree. They are great for organizing art supplies.
Yes, definitely! I love those Dollar Tree storage supplies.
I Love your Site Sara, It’s the Best Site Ever!
Thank you, Lilly! I’m glad you like it.