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When it comes to homeschooling, you really don’t need a whole lot. There’s no reason to run out and spend hundreds of dollars on various homeschool supplies when there is so much available for free online these days.
With that said though, there are a few supplies that I like to have on hand.
Just like those in our home preschool supply list, our homeschool would operate just fine without them, but they make my job of teaching my children easier on everyone.
Unlike the homeschool supplies in our preschool list however, these are more for mom and dad (the homeschool parent).
Homeschool Planner
A good homeschool planner can make your entire school year easier. With a plan in place at the beginning of the year, even if just a rough outline, staying organized and on track will end up being a much smoother process.
Finding the right homeschool planner however, can be a little tricky. There are tons of free printable planners available online, you’ll just need to find the one that works best for you and your family.
File Folders
File folders are not only fantastic for helping you organize your homeschool lessons, they are perfect for making lapbooks and file folder games, storing your children’s artwork, and so many other projects!
Post-Its
Post-It notes, in all shapes, colors, and sizes. I personally have a bit of an obsession with these colorful little memo pads and would be lost without them.
Whether you need to leave yourself reminders, mark a spot in a textbook, or write down an assignment for your children, these little beauties are perfect and don’t take up a lot of space.
All-In-One Printer
This is one of those products that, while not a necessity, is really nice to your homeschool supplies list.
There are literally thousands of free printable homeschool resources available online nowadays and having the ability to quickly print those off or make copies of a page that I would like to use multiple times, right in my own home is such a huge time saver.
Baskets
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, getting and staying organized throughout the school year is one of the best things you can do to ensure a smooth year. It is so easy to let things slide, stuff things where they don’t belong, or just stack papers in a pile or books on tables and shelves.
It doesn’t take long before you can’t find what you’re looking for or assignments started getting missed or misplaced.
Finding a few inexpensive baskets at your local dollar store can make a huge difference!
Designate a few smaller baskets for school supplies or even just grab a basket or two for printables and completed assignments.
Paper Trimmer
This is another homeschool supply that, although you can get along without it, is really nice to have. Homeschooling already takes a considerable amount of time, which means that you don’t have a lot to waste.
A simple paper trimmer can easily cut down on the time it takes you to prepare materials for your homeschoolers (especially the younger ones) since you won’t have to cut things out by hand.
This has been my sanity saver when making memory/matching games for my preschooler!
3 Ring Binders
They just make organizing so much easier! Whether you use them to keep your curriculum and lesson plans neat and organized or as a portfolio for holding your children’s work throughout the year, they’re perfect for making sure those endless stacks of paper don’t wind up taking over your home.
Electric Pencil Sharpener
This clever little invention is huge time and sanity saver! They are just so much faster and easier than the manual kind and if you’re trying to homeschool multiple children, having one can save you a ton of time!
Cleaning Wipes
Need to wipe up glue or spilled paint from an art project? Clean marker off the table?
Cleaning wipes are one of those homeschool supplies that you’ll thank yourself for buying. They save a ton of time and the kids can even help you with a quick clean up!
Caffeine
I think this one pretty much goes without saying, but I thought I’d include it anyway :) For the homeschool parent, especially those that are trying to homeschool multiple children, there just never seems to be enough caffeine in the world. However you take it, coffee, tea, soda, whatever, make sure you have plenty available.
