Homeschool Essential Supplies

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Homeschool Essential Supplies

Honestly, there’s very little on the true “essentials” list. You can do a lot with a little, especially if you are creative! However, these are the things that I would recommend to even those on tight budgets.

• Bibles (Personal Bible, YouVersion for my iPhone, and a Child Training Bible). Trust me. Don’t homeschool without liberal Bible use.

• Coffee. Lots of it.

• Library card

• Computer, printer, and paper. I know homeschoolers who go without, but I don’t know how.

• All things dry erase: A big magnetic dry-erase board and dry erase pens

• Page protectors and wet-erase pens (for re-using workbooks, although be sure to email and ask permission from the publisher first)

• A good pencil sharpener. We have this one, but I covet this X-Acto.

• Maps. Maps on placemats, taped to the walls, laminated, and as puzzles. We have them everywhere. At a minimum, have a printed U.S. map and a world map you can easily pull out and refer to when needed.

• Basic office supplies: file folders, pocket folders, 3-ring binders of various sizes, sorting baskets (dollar store), pens, pencils, erasers, tape, stapler, 3-hole puncher, single hole punch, spiral notebooks, composition books, paper clips, etc.

• Art supplies: glue, construction paper, markers, colored pencils, washable paints, paint brushes, card stock, etc. We also love having chalk pastels, watercolor crayons, stamps, and a basic easel like this one at our disposal, although I wouldn’t call them necessities.

• Games: I couldn’t possibly list all our games, but right now Skip-Bo, Uno, and similar card games are the house favorites.

• Mavalus Tape. Repeat after me: “I will buy Mavalus Tape.” It tapes anything to the wall and can be easily removed from the wall and from the thing being taped. I ruined too many things before discovering it.

Nice-To-Haves

Now that the basics are listed, here are the bonus buys that really do enhance our own homeschool experience.

• Homeschool planner. I LOVE the Ultimate Homeschool Planner by Debrah Bell, but find one that works for you or make your own. Here’s a roundup of planners and tips for choosing one.

• Laminator. I don’t print a ton of things that need laminated, but when I do, I’m glad to have mine at home. They’re always on sale this time of year, and can also buy the laminating pouches pretty cheap on Amazon.

• Book binder. This is on my wish list. It’s great for binding simple notebooks for various unit studies or subjects. Plus then the grandparents think you’re some kind of pro. 😉

• iPad. We use the iPad for phonics review, math games, fun science apps, and when Mommy needs a moment to collect herself before she bursts into flames.

• Globe. Having a globe in addition to flat maps is wonderful. The kids and I are always using it to point out locations during history lessons, missionary stories, fiction read-alouds, or conversations about where friends and family live.

• Netflix or a similar service. We have found some great educational movies on Netflix, both for the kids and ourselves. And of course there’s Dr. Who.

• Amazon Prime. Also on my wish list. You can get free 2-day shipping, streaming movies, a Kindle owners lending library, and more.

• Zoo or museum memberships. We have a membership to our local zoo as well as the science museum and love them!

How about you? What’s on your homeschool essentials list?

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Back to Homeschool Blog Hop

Here’s what you’ll find at Proverbial Homemaker during the Back to Homeschool Blog Hop:

• A Vision for Your Homeschool: How to Write Your Mission Statement
• Setting Your Homeschool Goals
• Choosing the perfect homeschool planner (with a roundup of free and paid planners)
• Essential Homeschool Supplies (today’s post)
• Homeschooling with Little Ones in Tow

Check out more great Crew posts too! 

• Nikki @ Angels of Heart
• Laura @ Day by Day in Our World
• Melanie @ finchnwren
• Sarah @ Delivering Grace
• Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
• Linda @ Linda’s Lunacy
• Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road
• Hillary @ Our Homeschool Studio