Whether you’re starting your first or tenth year of homeschooling, you know you’re going to need lots of homeschool supplies. In fact, you may have already compiled a homeschool supply list of essentials such as paper, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, and notebooks. But there may be some items you’re not sure you really need for homeschooling. Or you may not know where to find all your homeschool supplies or how much you should spend on them. To reduce your school shopping stress, we’ve made a list of 25 supplies that are most helpful for any homeschool.
Homeschool Supply List
Printer
A reliable color printer is a must-have for homeschooling. Laser printers will cost more upfront but will save money on ink in the long run. A popular ink printer that works well and won’t break the bank is the HP DeskJet 2755e Wireless Color All-in-One Printer on Amazon.
Rolling organizer cart
To save you countless trips around your house in search of books or homeschooling supplies, consider rolling organizer carts. They provide convenient access to everyday homeschool items and help save storage space. You can find these carts in-store or online at most large retail stores, such as Walmart, Target, and Michael’s. You can also order them online from Amazon.
Easy-to-grip pencils
Writing and drawing are easier with a pencil that’s easy to grip. Ticonderoga #2 pencils have been a trusted favorite of students, teachers, and parents for years because of their grip and durability. Keep plenty of #2 pencils on hand for writing exercises and standardized testing.
Crayons
No school is complete without crayons, right? But not all crayons are the same, especially when it comes to breakability, smoothness of color, and flaking on paper. The variety of colors, minimal messiness, and strong break resistance can make all the difference. BIC crayons still fit the homeschool supply budget and great to use.
Markers
Since my kids always preferred markers to crayons when they were little, I always had a stash on hand for school. For coloring quality and washability, Crayola washable markers are the best.
Colored pencils
Colored pencils are a great alternative to crayons and come in a fun array of colors. Crayola colored pencils can’t be beat when it comes to function, and they are easy to sharpen without breaking the tip.
School glue and glue sticks
You’ll use lots of glue for school assignments and art projects. Glue sticks are ideal for keeping little hands mess-free while they’re learning and creating. Off-brand glues work relatively well, but Elmer’s is the standard for consistent usability and quality.
Tape
Along with glue, you’ll want to keep plenty of scotch tape on hand, both double-sided and regular. For putting together crafts or hanging up artwork.
Learning scissors and cutting books
Cutting with scissors is an important skill for children to learn. Along with a good pair of safety scissors, add Kumon’s My First Book of Cutting to your list. It provides fun and clear instruction for kids learning to cut with scissors.
Construction paper
As with pencils and crayons, you’ll always need to keep construction paper on hand for school and art projects. Name-brand construction paper is a little thicker and works well for projects requiring sturdier materials. But for most projects, store brands work just fine.
Handwriting paper, wide ruled paper, and notebooks
You will be amazed at how much paper you’ll need for school, so be sure to stock up on these three homeschooling supplies. For notebooks, keep an assortment of both spiral-bound and composition.
Laptop
If you are homeschooling online, you will need a high-quality laptop for your child. Besides curriculum, this will probably be your biggest investment, so a good laptop is worth the cost. You can find reliable, easy-to-use laptops for less than $600, so take the time to shop around for the best buy.
Headphones
Headphones are another must-have for homeschooling, especially if you’re homeschooling more than one child. ELECDER i39 Headphones can be a good choice and can be found on Amazon. They help block out surrounding noise and provide clear sound. However, since they do not extend, these headphones work best for kids, not for teens or adults.
Desk
It’s extremely helpful for children to have their own desks. Not only will a desk keep their materials organized and handy, but it will also help keep them from being distracted during school. Many desk options exist, from standard writing desks to credenza desks, and from corner to floating types. You can browse for the perfect size and style to fit your space and storage needs. Along with Amazon, other great websites to peruse are Ikea, Wayfair, and Overstock.
Paint, paintbrushes, watercolors, craft sticks, googly eyes, pom-poms, and pipe cleaners
These items can be used for all sorts of school, art, and craft projects. They are also inexpensive. Storing each kind in a clear mason jar will keep these homeschool supplies organized and easy to find.
Cardstock and printer paper
As with handwriting paper, you’ll be surprised how much cardstock and printer paper you’ll go through during the school year. It’s worth paying a little extra for a high-quality kind, especially for bigger projects and assignments.
Folders and file folders
Designate a folder for each subject so your child can store daily papers in them. File folders are great tools for keeping and organizing your child’s schoolwork assignments, handouts, worksheets, and assessments on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.
Electric pencil sharpener
It may seem cheaper and easier to buy small handheld pencil sharpeners. You will save yourself lots of time, frustration, and broken pencil tips by purchasing an electric one. They don’t cost much, don’t take up much room, and will last the entire school year. The X-ACTO Mighty Mite pencil sharpener on Amazon is highly rated and a good option.
Clear plastic totes, cube storage units, and fabric baskets
Storage tools are invaluable for organizing textbooks, teacher manuals, workbooks, reading books, folders, and binders. You can get as creative as you like with different colors, sizes, and labels. Besides Walmart and Target, you can find a wide variety of these homeschool supplies at Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Ikea, Office Depot, or Amazon.
Three-ring binders
You will find three-ring binders to be some of your best friends for homeschooling! Purchase an assortment of 1”, 2”, and 3” for corralling papers according to subject and grade. Designate a different color for each child, or get creative with labels and stickers.
Dry erase board and dry erase markers
Your child will use this homeschool supply almost daily to write out math problems, practice writing, draw charts and graphs, jot down ideas, or play games. A popular choice on Amazon is the Mr. Pen Dry Erase Board. Only 14” × 11”, it won’t take up much space, and it is not too expensive.
Hole punch
Hole punches are a great alternative to punching your own holes in papers using pencils or other substandard tools. Bostitch Office sells a reliable 3-hole punch that can hold up to 12 sheets at a time.
Post-it notes and page markers
Use these homeschool supplies as bookmarks in your child’s textbooks, workbooks, and reading books so they don’t lose their place. You can use different colors for each subject.
Homeschool planner
Online organizational tools can be helpful, but having a physical homeschool planner offers a host of benefits.
- All your lesson, assignment, and project plans are consolidated in one location.
- Long-term planning is easier.
- You can get a comprehensive overview of your school year.
- Writing things down will help you better retain information.
- A plan keeps you motivated throughout the school year.
- Some planners include sections for a printed curriculum and resources list, field trip tracker, reading log, and weekly meal planner.
Stapler
With all the papers to keep track of, a heavy-duty stapler will prove a trusty asset. The Bostitch Office Heavy-Duty Stapler is a bestseller on Amazon.
Most if not all the homeschool supplies listed here go on sale toward the beginning of the school year. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for ads in stores, magazines, catalogs, and online.
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Jennifer is a pastor’s wife and mom of two young girls and loves homeschooling them. During her own twelve years of being homeschooled, Jennifer developed a passion for reading and writing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and relishes writing during her free time.
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