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(Not) Back to School Supplies: Items to Organize Your Homeschool

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In our family, keeping our homeschool materials organized is a must. I hope these “school” supplies help other homeschoolers keep papers, books, and students organized. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to y...
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Organizing Paper in Your Homeschool

Keeping paperwork organized is a must for the home educator's sanity. It's also essential if your state requires you to keep a portfolio of your student's work. #commissionearned

 
Angela Weaver profile picture
We use these sheet protectors because they're non-glare. We put papers that aren't 3 hole punched into sheet protectors if we want to keep them for a portfolio or future study.
Amazon Basics Polypropylene Sheet Protector, 200 Pack
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Angela Weaver profile picture
What's nice about these binders is you put your child's name and school year on the outside. I give each child a 3 ring binder for the school year. We divide samples of student work by subject to serve as that year's student portfolio.
Cardinal Economy 3 Ring Binder 2 Inch Black 4 Pack
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Angela Weaver profile picture
These are the dividers we use to separate subjects in our portfolios.
Avery 5-Tab Multicolor Binder Dividers
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Keeping Books Organized

We homeschoolers tend to love books. If you have multiple students, use lots of library books, or both, you probably need a way to organize books. #commissionearned

 
Angela Weaver profile picture
Plastic crates are great as book bins. Each child can have a bin for his or her books. We sometimes keep a special library crate to keep library separate from other books.
Sterilite Stackable Storage Crate White
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Angela Weaver profile picture
If plastic isn't your style, here's a wood storage bin.
KIRIGEN Stackable Wood Storage Cube Organizer
 
Angela Weaver profile picture
Or just go old school (pun intended) and use a bookcase
Furinno Luder 2-Tier Cube Bookcase Pink
 
Angela Weaver profile picture
An alternative to the pink bookcase that's also on this list
Furinno Luder 2-Tier Bookcase Light Blue

Keeping Multiple Students Organized

If you're teaching more than one child at home, keeping everyone's work separate is important. #commissionearned

 
Angela Weaver profile picture
We use a 10 drawer cart similar to this one. We label the drawers. Each students gets a drawer. The other drawers are for supplies like math manipulatives, sheet protectors, etc.
COSTWAY 10-Drawer Rolling Storage Cart Clear
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Angela Weaver profile picture
A five drawer cart might be better for smaller families or those who don't have a lot of stuff to store.
Honey-Can-Do 5-Drawer Rolling Storage Cart
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Angela Weaver profile picture
I like to give each student a daily agenda in their own composition book. Since the paper isn't loose leaf, the agenda never goes missing.
Mead Composition Wide Ruled Notebook, 100 Sheets
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Angela Weaver profile picture
We keep extra pencils in a pencil case.
Amazon Basics 4-Pack Large Multi-Color Pencil Cases
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Angela Weaver profile picture
I like each kid to have his own pencil pouch. He can keep his pencils and a manual pencil sharpener in it.
6 Pack Pencil Pouch for 3 Ring Binder, Zipper
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Keeping Yourself Organized

As home educators, it's important to keep ourselves organized. While there are many ways to plan lessons and keep track of course research, these are tools I find practical. 

 
Angela Weaver profile picture
I use Google sheets to record course research. I make columns for the course name, cost, source, notes, etc.
Google Sheets: Online Spreadsheets & Templates | Google Workspace
 
Angela Weaver profile picture
I use Google Docs to create record keeping logs for our portfolios. Think reading logs, field trip logs, subject activity logs…
Google Docs: Online Document & PDF Editor | Google Workspace
 
Angela Weaver profile picture
I use a simple spiral notebook to do my weekly planning.
Five Star 5-Subject Spiral Notebook, 200 Sheets
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