My Top Picks For Essential Supplies For Homeschooling

Today, I have handpicked some essential homeschool supplies for your family. I based this on my experience homeschooling my son briefly last year and also some detective work online.

While 2020 has seen a rise in homeschooling, it might grow even more prominent in 2021. Despite schools reopening in many places, some choose to homeschool their children now for fear of being exposed to the virus. Of course, there are also those parents who have voluntarily selected the homeschooling path for their kids as they feel that the homeschooling method is more effective for their children’s learning than traditional schooling.

No matter which category of parents you fall within, if you have opted for the homeschooling path, you will need to stock your homeschool with some essential supplies so that it can run smoothly.

Whether you are new to homeschooling or practicing it for years, by now, you should know homeschooling is different from traditional schooling. For one, you have to make your school curriculum.  Besides, homeschooling can turn out to be more expensive than public school. Managing curriculum, books, and supplies can cost you a good deal.

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My Top Picks For Essential Homeschool Supplies

I have come up with a list to help you figure out what homeschool supplies you need for a new homeschooling academic year. Give it a read and manage your supplies carefully, please.

A Reasonably Priced Laptop and Printer

In this digital age, homeschooling without a laptop is unthinkable. The good thing is, while gadgets are pricey, you don’t need a high-end laptop with the best specs just for regular schoolwork. You can get something of moderate level at an affordable price. Besides, various manufactures have great collections of student laptops that will be more than enough to get the job done.

Be sure to pick something with a large screen and a good audio output. To run your homeschooling process smoothly, you also need to buy a printer. You can print out free study materials and resources any time you want with the printer. If you have a tight budget, you can always go for used items in good condition.

Handwriting Paper and Notebooks

If your children are still developing their handwriting and cursives, you need to have some handwriting paper in your homeschool supplies. Notebooks and sketch pads are essential for older kids to note down coursework or even just for journaling. Make sure you stock up on these so the kids don’t have to run out of supplies halfway through the school year.

Audiobooks

As a busy parent, you might not always have the chance to read to your kids. To ensure that they are not falling behind on their reading schedule, you need audiobooks. Besides, audiobooks can be listened to anywhere, anytime, while doing other chores. While you are getting some tasks done around the house, your children can be engaged with some audiobooks.

You can either buy or visit your local library to collect audiobooks. Invest in a newer version of kindle that supports audiobooks. That way you can use it both for reading and listening.

Markers and Dry Erase Board

Markers and erase boards are necessary homeschool supplies for drawing up figures, understanding equations, and just brainstorming ideas. Drawing on an erase board usually allows you to portray your message in a large font and scale, which will undoubtedly help your children keep things in mind. Besides, it saves you from making a mess with paper.

Study Desk

It would be best if you had a designated study desk for homeschooling. Before buying a desk, consider how many people are going to use it, their age and how much space you have available for the desk. Some desks come with a built-in storage system that can turn out to be handy when you want to keep your supplies nearby. If your budget allows, invest in some adjustable desk that you can adjust as your child grows.

Clipboards

Some children wander all over the house with their books and notebooks. And sometimes it is impossible to make them sit at their desk for more than a few minutes. You set them up on the study desk with some crayons and paper, and a few minutes later, they wind being curled up on the couch, still drawing. If your child is such an active one, you need to buy a clipboard for them to write and draw on even if they are not at their desk.

Pencils and Sharpener

Have enough supplies of pencils for younger kids and ballpoint and mechanical pens for older kids. You can buy them in bulk to get some discount. You can always use the leftover ones in the next year.

It would help if you also bought a pencil sharpener for keeping the pencils sharp. You can either buy a manual one or an electrical one. If your kids are pros at making stubs within minutes of sharpening a pencil, you might need the electric one to keep up with them.

Reasonably Priced Headphones

Headphones can come out handy when you have few kids working in the same space. And sometimes, even the slightest noise can be enough to break concentration. Invest in some moderate-level headphones to avoid such conditions.

Crayons

Crayons are useful for drawing and keeping the younger kids busy. Art projects and crafts are unimaginable without the help of crayons. Besides, when you are studying complex ideas or concepts, just making a little infographic with all the factors in distinctive colors will make it easier to grasp the concept.

Staplers and Paper Clips

Once you lose the arrangement of the worksheets, you will have a hard time getting them back in order. To stack this paper in order, you need a good stapler. For smaller stacks of paper, buy some paper clips to hold them together. If you have younger kids, make sure you keep the staplers and the pins out of your child’s reach. Just keep them with you, and store them properly after use.

A Rolling Organizer

Think of how many times you had to look for your kid’s eraser that keeps vanishing out of nowhere? And that’s why you need a rolling organizer by your side.

A rolling organizer might not be the first thing on your homeschool supplies list. Regardless, it is pretty useful in organizing and thus saving your time. Put away all the crayons, pencils, pens, markers, rulers, scissors, and you never have to waste your time searching for them; they will be right there when you need them.

The Bottom Line

Depending on your teaching style, the requirement of your homeschool items may vary. For instance, if you are more into hands-on experiments, you might need additional supplies like construction paper, glue, popsicle sticks, scissors, food coloring, slimes, and so on. However, if you want to start with just the basics, this comprehensive list mentioned above might be enough to cover all the bases. All the best for the new school year!

Shopping for and stocking your homeschool with the essential homeschool supplies can be very exciting but addictive. Do be careful not to go over your budget or buy things that you do not need for your homeschool.

Ashley Yeo