After
years of homeschooling, I’ve discovered that having the right supplies makes
all the difference between chaotic days and smooth learning experiences. Today
I’m sharing our absolute essential homeschool supplies that have become daily
staples in our home – all conveniently available on Amazon!
Organization Supplies That Changed Our Homeschool
Planner –
SO many options for homeschool planners out there. I’ve tried many over the
years…and I’m still trying different ones out. A planner is an essential, it
can cover the record keeping need for many homeschoolers and also provide that
check-off place for the kiddos as they get their work completed. Since my
kiddos are in the middle and high school years I’ve started using a separate
planner for each of them.
It seems
like I’ve tried everything from Erin Condren planners to a good ol’ spiral
notebook. I’m always drawn in to all the planner gals out there and all the
pretty colors and stickers! <3
Baskets – Great for holding book and school
curriculum. I started having a basket for each kiddo. This way I can easily put
the books and materials they are currently using there. They know it’s their
go-to spot for grabbing what they need…and also putting it away 😉
Cube Storage Shelves – Something about these
little cubes. Everybody loves ‘em! They fit curriculum well, hold just about
all the things. Super versatile and available in many colors and sizes. Y’all
know they’re available almost everywhere.
Pen & Pencil Holder – Those pens and
pencils all need a spot to live, right? This type of holder is a good one…spins,
sectioned, clear.
Pencil Boxes – these are great for keeping
small items in check. So many things we reach for can fit in…glue sticks, mini
erasers, note cards, supplies for STEM projects (wood craft sticks, toothpicks,
chenille pipe cleaners, etc)
Art and Craft Supplies We Use Almost Daily
Sketch book – We’ve filled many a sketch
book and consider them a must have for our creative endeavors.
Markers –
We dived in and tried alcohol ink markers a number of years back. We’ve tried
both COPIC and Ohuhu alcohol ink markers,
and honestly love both. There are pros and cons to each. The COPIC are
definitely gold standard, high quality…and with the price tag to match. The
Ohuhu have a better pricetag, while still holding to good quality. Our only
beef with the Ohuhus are that the cap color and ink color do not often match.
Colored pencils
– This is another supply where we lean towards the ‘level up’ mindset. Crayola colored pencils are great, no doubt.
But sometimes we artsy people want all the colors. I lean towards the
Prismacolor brand and the Faber Castell
Polychromos brand, but with so many more brands popping up I wonder if they
won’t be just as good or better than some of our go to’s. This one caught my eye…
Paint pens
– Another must have! We love our paint pens around here. From POSCA to all the other ones, we’re willing
to adopt most all paint pens. I’ve found that it’s good to shop amongst the
different brands, as that way you can get a broader range of colors and shades.
This is
a good starter set if you want a whole
bunch of colors in one go. Another brand I’ve heard good things about is Sharpie Creative Markers.
White Cardstock – Worth the extra cost over
regular paper for so many projects. We use it for manipulatives, flashcards,
game pieces, and any art project that needs more durability. If you do any printing
of digital curriculum or materials, a good study cardstock is essential! Takes
that printable manipulative set from a one-time use w/regular paper to
something that can be used for the long term (Bonus: If you laminate it, takes
it to near indestructible!) I buy it in multiples because we go through it so
quickly.
Fiskars Scissors – You know how there are
just some things where it clearly makes a difference in quality when you spend
a bit more?! Fiskars is one of those things. I’ve used countless cheap-o pairs
from the dollar store, and while they last a while, they are just never going
to perform at the level a pair of Fiskars will.
Paper
Cutter – Okay, my papercrafter side is going to show here, lol. I have a love
for all my paper cutters, different ones serve different purposes! I’ll link some
of my favs here. This one by Fiskars is
your good ole standby paper cutter, good for light weight use. Remember those
paper cutters at school when we were growing up? The ones they cautioned you to
watch your fingers on…this is like your at-home
version, but safer! My most recent paper cutter purchase is this rotary paper cutter, it’s a biggie, but it
cuts true and straight(it’s held-up well so far, I purchased it in 2021!).
Elmers Disappearing Purple Glue Sticks – Take
the guesswork out of applying adhesive. The purple color shows exactly where
the glue has been applied but dries clear. This simple feature has eliminated
the “I didn’t see where I already put glue!” frustrations during projects.
Of course, there are a zillion other glue sticks out there, we just really like
being able to see where you put it 😊
Study Aids That Boost Productivity
Highlighters – The go-to tool for making
notes and reference points while reading. Love that highlighters come in so
many color options compared to growing up…everyone remember just having
highlighter yellow?
Calculator – A basic item for every
homeschool, right?!
Stickers – My youngest insisted this get
added. But who doesn’t love stickers?! Great for motivation, chore charts,
zhuzhing up the planner. This sticker pack
is really cute & fun too.
Paperclips – Another item in constant use in
our house. Paperclips, need no more explanation 😉
Erasable Pens – These pens are the best!
Whoever invented erasable ink…much love. We love all the colors available. You’ll
find these pens especially useful for planners. So handy to be able to erase an
oops!
Mechanical
Pencils – We are a mechanical pencil family. About a year ago, my girls came
and had to have a talk about how it was mechanical pencils or bust. They had
solid points and here we are…no more traditional pencils in our shopping carts.
I used these ones when the girls were
younger…the triangular shape is great for pencil grip. Now, I look for
something fun or colorful when possible, like these
ones.
Washi
tape
Page Flags and Sticky Notes – in various sizes and colors
are constantly in use for marking textbook pages, reading material thoughts, and
breaking down projects into manageable steps. I’ve been known to use them when
I will be gone by leaving a sticky on the cover of a book with page numbers to
read. We go through these faster than almost any other supply. I love all the
colors available!
Adjustable Book Stand – Now, I haven’t tried
this one out yet, but I can see so many uses! For recipe books in the kitchen (I’m
still old school and have some!) to holding text books while taking notes. Heck
this could even be good for holding a tablet or laptop.
Tech Supplies That Support Digital Learning
Samsung Galaxy Tablet – my youngest was
given one for Christmas and it has become a much used tool. She uses this tablet
for digital art, math apps, reading
Multi-Port USB Charging Station keeps all
our devices charged and organized in one central location. This has helped to eliminate
the “my tablet is dead” comments and the constant search for chargers
around the house.
Protective Tablet Cases – with built-in
stands have saved us from replacing devices multiple times over. The durable
cases protect against inevitable drops, while the stands make it easier to
watch instructional videos or participate in virtual classes. And of course, so
useful for those non-scholastic YouTube binge watching sessions!
Science and Math Specific Supplies
Globe/Maps
– We’ve had a globe as part of our supplies for years. While it doesn’t get
used daily, it is a great tool to have when those conversations come up and a
globe is handy. I couldn’t find our exact globe, but it’s similar to this one here, and has a handy pen/stylus like tool that
lets one touch a point on the globe and have information like population,
capital and more given. A couple more that look interesting here and here.
Base 10 Blocks – These are an absolute must
have in my opinion. If you could choose just one math manipulative this may be
it for me. A close second would be mini erasers (make the best counter for
littles!)
Digital Kitchen Scale – has become essential
for both science experiments and teaching measurements. The ability to switch
between grams and ounces has been invaluable for understanding different
measurement systems. This has come in handy when we’ve made bath & body
products. Bonus: It’s a great tool to have in your kitchen…so helpful for
baking!
Safety Glasses – turn your kitchen table into a proper
laboratory! These inexpensive safety items have protected eyes through
countless chemical reactions and messy experiments.
Comfort and Practical Items
Cozy Blanket – How many times do we end up
on the sofa…lots. A great place to read and relax. Throw blankets are a staple
around here and you’ll often see a body cuddled up with one and a good book.
Quality Electric Pencil Sharpener – might
seem like a small thing, but after replacing countless cheap sharpeners,
investing in a durable model saves both money and frustration. Nothing disrupts
a writing flow like a pencil that keeps breaking or a sharpener that jams! *not
linking our pencil sharpener because, well…it stinks, lol! This one has great
reviews and looks like my next pencil sharpener purchase 😊
Insulated
Water Bottles – keep drinks cold all day without condensation that could damage
books and papers…we all know what a water bottle does 😉
We are on the go often and having a water bottle for the car is SO helpful. I
can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked them up from dance or we’re in the
car after coop and this hits…”Mom, do you have water in here?! I’m SOOO thirsty!!!”
We’re
not too picky on our water bottles. Color and style tends to be a bigger factor,
than say material and name brand, at least for this fam. Here’s some we like: here, here,
and here.
Final Thoughts
The
right supplies won’t replace good teaching or engaging curriculum, but they
certainly make the homeschool day run more smoothly. And with a bit more color
and fun! These finds have earned their place in our homeschool…we’re happy
campers.
What are
your must-have homeschool supplies? Share your essentials in the comments
below!
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