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Homeschool Smarter Not Harder
47
items General homeschooling needs we found the most helpful. Some are not what you might think of when you think of homeschooling but they worked for us!
*CommissionsEarned
Sections
10
Makes it easier
Organization
Printing
Basic Supplies
Art Supplies
Splurge worthy
Makes it easier
Items we use all the time. They have become necessities to help our homeschool run smoothly.
Hear me out! Approximately one hour times. Kids seem motivated by the novelty of the timer. Even asking to do work just so they can turn it. Less intimidating than other timers.
Decorative Hourglass with Rubber Wood Stand Natural Wood - Threshold™: Indoor Sand Timer Decorative Object
Get a library card at your local library. You’ll need access to lots of books! Many libraries have homeschool events. Use your public library!
Apply for a local library card!
Great for when we are not working at the table. Kids have a spot for a notebook or book or a writing surface.
Christopher Knight Home Darlah Small Firwood Table Antique: Modern Rectangle End Table, Iron Frame
Poster frame. Change out the poster according to what you are studying.
MCS Studio 18x24 Walnut Woodgrain Frame
Organization
So many uses. Each child’s daily work per shelf, art supplies, teaching supplies, reference materials, the ideas are endless
3 Tier Metal Utility Cart Black - Brightroom™: Rolling Storage Trolley with Wheels, Powder-Coated, Rust-Resistant
This table top organizer worked great once the kids were in middle school. We still use it in high school.
Storage Desktop Carousel by Simply Tidy
This organizer works great on the table for younger learners. They are able to remove the section they need.
Learning Resources Create-A-Space Storage Center - Pastel
Keep your current reading books and more in this rotating book shelf. Easy access and you can change out the books as needed. Makes it easy for the kids to get the books they need to be working on.
360 Rotating 4 Tier Solid Wood Bookshelf
A journal a year helps keep a record of the books read and shows the growth of your reader
My Reading Adventures: A Book Journal for Kids|Paperback
Printing
We print out so many things on a regular basis. Having reliable printing capabilities is a must for our family. When the kids go down rabbit trails, I can quickly adapt and print out additional information
This printer has been a work horse for us! Reliable. Doesn’t jam. And comes with 6 months free ink!
HP OfficeJet 8015e All-in-One Printer w/ bonus 6 months Instant Ink through HP+
Homeschooling uses a lot of ink! Have ink automatically shipped to you for a set price each month. We love the print quality of our HP printer.
HP Instant Ink Subscription - HP® Store
Heavier weight paper that feels nice, jams less, and prints great. Watch for it to go on sale!
Hammermill® Premium Color Multi-Use Printer & Copy Paper, 5 Reams, Photo White, Letter (8.5" x 11"), 2500 Sheets Per Case, 28 Lb, 100 Brightness
Paper! Paper! Paper! I found it best to buy a large amount on sale so I didn’t run out in the middle of printing
Office Depot® Multi-Use Printer & Copy Paper, 10 Reams, White, Letter (8.5" x 11"), 5000 Sheets Per Case, 20 Lb, 92 Brightness
A laminator works so well for flash cards, reusable worksheets, and book covers!
Scotch Thermal Laminator Combo Pack, 1 Thermal Laminator, 20 Laminating Sheets, Laminate Business cards, Banners and Essays, Ideal Office or Back to School Supplies
Binding machine to make workbooks. Or to make your child’s creations into a book.
Yaegoo 110V Thermal Binding Machine
Covers for thermal bound workbooks.
Fellowes Thermal Binding Covers, 10-Pack, Black
Basic Supplies
The basics like pencils, crayons, pens…things every homeschooler goes through so many of every year
Best crayons for basic coloring. Start with the big box then refill with smaller boxes.
Crayola 120ct Crayon Set with Crayon Sharpener: Multicolor, Non-Toxic, Ages 3+, Includes Sharpener, Choking Hazard Warning
Great starter markers. Washes off most things very easily.
Crayola 10ct Washable Broad Line Markers - Classic Colors: School Supplies for Kids, Classroom Must Haves, Coloring Markers
Not washable! Basic set of markers for kids.
Crayola Markers Broad Line 10ct Classic: Non-Toxic Artist Markers for Kids, Multicolored School Supplies
Basic fine line markers. Great color. Long lasting.
Crayola 10ct Kids Fine Line Markers Classic Colors: Non-Toxic Skinny Artist Markers, School Supplies for Ages 3+
Reliably sharpen. Lead doesn’t break nonstop. Includes eraser on end.
Ticonderoga 18ct Pencil Yellow
Ink pens that actually erase well. Easy to fix mistakes.
FriXion 12ct Pens Clicker 0.7mm Assorted Colors: Erasable Gel Pens, Multicolored Ink, Art & Stationery Set
Great notebooks or have on hand for journaling, note taking, report writing. Wide rule for younger students
12pk Composition Notebook Wide Ruled (Colors May Vary) - up&up™
College ruled. Great for not taking, journaling, essays, rough draft to final draft.
12pk Composition Notebook College Ruled 70pgs Assorted Colors - up&up™: Multicolor Soft Cover, Tween Stationery
This dictionary is great for kids. Larger print, better includes pics, most essential words included in it. They could look it up online, but this is more hands on, teaches skills, and gets them reading more
Merriam-Webster Children's Dictionary, New Edition - by DK (Hardcover)
Art Supplies
I know it seems expensive but high quality art supplies can make such a difference on what they create, especially as their skills grow
Copic Ciao My First Copic Starter Set
Learn to draw, shade, and highlight with different lead values
Prismacolor Premier 18pk Graphite Drawing Set: Sketch & Drawing Pencils, Presharpened, Blendable, Multicolor
We start off with high quality colored pencils. They are long lasting and produce stunning results. And they can be blended.
Prismacolor Premier 24pk Colored Pencils: Multicolor Art & Sketching Set, Presharpened, 0.7mm, Ages 6+
High quality chalk pastels that produced vivid colors.
Mungyo Non Toxic Soft Pastel Chalk, 64 Pack
Having the correct textured paper makes a big difference
Strathmore 400 Pastel Pad, 9"x12", 24 Sheets
Splurge worthy
As helpful as these items are, they are not really a strict neccessity
More of a luxury item, but it has long term value. Use it as white board, for research, mobile school work, video screen, educational games, fill out worksheets without printing them…
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch Wi-Fi Only 256GB (2021, 3rd Generation) - Silver
Use with the IPad Pro to replace paper & pencils and reduce printing
Apple Pencil Pro
Online Activities
Making online learning easier and safer for your children
Access Libby with your local library card. Great for finding last minute books to reference
Libby
Remove all the ads interrupting the videos you are watching. Many ads are not appropriate for kids
YouTube Premium
Outschool has affordable online classes covering any topic. Secular. Live & pre-recorded. Instructor feedback. Grades.
Get affordable online classes and tutoring for kids at Outschool
White & Chalk boards
We lived this white board. It cleans up well and is magnetic
QUEENLINK 24'' x 18'' Magnetic Whiteboard
Expos dry erase markers clean well and have bright colors
Expo 12ct Dry Erase Markers Colors Fine Point
Everything you need to start with a dry erase board.
Expo 6pk Dry Erase Marker Starter Set with Eraser & Cleaner Multicolored: Bold & Fine Point, Low-Odor, Whiteboard Use
Large variety of colors for use in dry erase boards
Expo 21pk Dry Erase Markers Chisel Tip Multicolored
We have used our IKEA easel forever! Great for writing out even complicated math problems. Saves paper. They’ve redesigned it but still worth it!
MÅLA Easel - softwood
Math Manipulatives
Build a strong understanding of numbers and values with hands on math activities
Makes counting to 100 a more inviting activity! And involving more tactile activities can help kids learn from multiple ways
Montessori 100 Board Toy for 3+ Years
Helps aid with the visualization of basic math operations! You can see how “carryovers” work, how multiplication relates to addition, and it adds in some motor activity for kids who find sitting with just paper and pencil to be challenging.
Elite Montessori Checker Board Beads
Involve their sense of touch as they learn to recognize and write their numbers and the numbers value
Adena Montessori Wooden Math Counting Set
The original calculator! Learn how to do maths with the abacus for a great visualization and an impressive skill!
Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus Toy
Makes learning place value and building numbers easy!
Elite Montessori Wooden Number Cards (1-9000)
Reading, Writing, & Spelling
Save paper and provide hands on opportunities
Small Cursive Moveable Alphabet Montessori
My kids loved this moveable alphabet when learning to spell!
Montessori Wooden Movable Alphabet Set