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Homeschool Classroom and Teacher Supplies You Actually Need
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items It can be overwhelming to see all of the homeschool supply hauls online, and figure out what you actually need for a successful school year. While it's easy to be sucked into the shiny-pretties, not all of them are necessary, and some of them are a downright waste of money. Here's a tried-and-true list of things that are actually beneficial and helpful when it comes to homeschooling - without all the fluff. Take it from a veteran homeschool mom of three!
Sections
4
Basics
Parent Teacher Supplies
Arts and Crafts
Classroom Organization
Basics
The Bare Necessities!
It’s easy to get swayed by the cute decorative pencils - but their lead is always breaking and that weird plastic that the design is printed on rips, and clogs the pencil sharpener. Just don’t do it! Stick with the tried and true!
Ticonderoga No. 2
I love these little sharpener and eraser combos! They fit perfectly in a pencil pouch, and they're much more kid-friendly than a loud, electric sharpener.
Ticonderoga Duo Sharpener and Eraser
Just throw those novelty erasers where they belong - straight into the trash. They crumble, they smear, they rip the paper. Do yourself a favor and go straight for the tried and true, our old friend the Pink Pearl!
Pink Pearl Erasers - 3 pack
We've been using these white boards for 6 years now, and I love the quality. They're great for teaching concepts, but also great for kids who are perfectionists - easy to wipe away mistakes.
Double-Sided White Board - Lap Sized
Instead of getting a laminator, use these dry erase pocket sleeves to reuse work over and over again!
Dry Erase Pocket Sleeves
I love the Mondo Llama sketchbooks! They're great for drawing or writing in, or for creating a portfolio of the year's activities, by gluing or stapling in all of your finished worksheets and assignments!
Medium Weight Sketchbook - Acid-Free
Color code your binders by subject or use one as a portfolio for keeping all of your finished work in one place - honestly the uses are endless, I like to buy them at the end of the season when they're on sale, so I can stock up!
3 Ring Binder
Once again, these dividers are great for color coding sections by subject, or by child! These are another one of those items that I didn't think I'd be using very often, but that I reach for repeatedly now.
3 Ring Binder Index Dividers
Splurging for the Five Star notebooks is always worth it! I like to color code our subjects and then let my kids decorate the covers. We use these for notebooking, and keeping track of all of the work we do, but the uses are endless!
Five Star Wide Ruled Notebook
I mean, they're scissors, there's not a whole lot to say here, except scissor skills are important, but so is a blunt tip so they don't hurt themselves
Kids' Blunt Tip Scissors
Eventually your kids are going to lose it if they have to use one more tiny, blunt, pair of scissors, and that means they're ready for this upgrade.
Fiskars Pointed-Tip Big Kids Scissors
Parent Teacher Supplies
Teaching Essentials
I've tried several planners over the years and I always come back to the Plum Paper. The customization ensures you get exactly what you need in order to keep track of all of your homeshool requirements and lessons. The paper quality is impeccable - no bleed through! And the company is great to work with if you want anything extra specific, so don't be afraid to contact them to customize your planner even further.
Plum Paper Planner - Homeschool
These are my favorite pens to use as a parent educator, they don't smear or scratch the paper, and they write smoothly! A good pen is essential, and this one's it!
Sharpie S Gel - Black Ink - No Smear
I love to use erasable pens in my homeschool planner, that way I can adjust lessons and subjects, and move them around, depending on what we get to, or plan ahead for. I recommend getting the colored ink, so you can color code by child, if you're planning for more than one kid!
Pilot FriXon Erasable Pens
We have had this printer since 2020, I have printed over 2000 pages - in color and black and white - and I have only had to refill our ecotank TWICE. This is the only printer I have ever had that has done its job without issue, for years.
Epson EcoTank ET-3760 Cartridge-Free Printer
Look - you're going to need some tape. And a lot of it.
Tape Dispenser with Tape
Everyone needs a good stapler…not a whole lot more to say about that!
20 Sheet Capacity Stapler
I didn't have a three-hole punch when I first started homeschooling, and it's honestly surprising how often I needed one. It's now officially on my “must have” list!
Desktop 3-Hole Punch
Do yourself a favor and get a decent, adult pair of scissors for when you're all annoyed at the kid version.
Fiskars 8" Titanium Scissors
Arts and Crafts
Get Crafty!
You can’t go wrong with a classic set of Crayola markers!
Crayola Markers - Washable, Broad Line, Classic Colors
I much prefer the Super Tips over the regular skinny crayola markers. I feel like they work better, and last longer. The tip shape is less likely to get mashed out of shape from heavy handed kids, as well!
Crayola Super Tips - Washable
I don't know about you, but the joy a brand new, GIANT box of crayons gave me, was unrivaled as a kid. Give the same gift to yours - go big or go home, amirite?
Crayola 120ct Crayon Set with Sharpener
Personally, I've always been more of a fan of colored pencils than crayons, and you can't go wrong with a classic Crayola pack!
Crayola 24ct Colored Pencils
Can't go wrong with a classic glue stick! And the disappearing purple is a great way to teach kids how much to use, and where to put it.
Washable Glue Sticks - Disappearing Purple
All the benefits of liquid glue, combined with the benefits of a glue stick! I much prefer this over the squeeze bottles.
Sargent Art Liquid Glue Dabber
I love these large crayola watercolors because all of the extra colors means less color mixing in each pot…and that makes your paint last so much longer!
Crayola 24ct Washable Watercolor Paints
Extra paint brushes are always a must - you know someone's forgetting to rinse them occasionally and letting them get all hard and crusty! You need a back up!
5ct Paint Brush Variety Pack
Are there better quality paints out there? Yes, but these are tried and true washable paints, and until your kids get the hang of painting on the paper and not on themselves…these are always my go to!
10ct Washable Kids Paint - Classic Colors
If you're asking yourself, “do I really need this much construction paper?” just trust me - you do.
Crayola Construction Paper in 12 Colors
Classroom Organization
Stay Organized
These are semi-viral for a reason, I tell you what. They're amazing for storing all of the manipulatives and supplies - the shape makes them easy to stack or organize, and the fact that they're see-through means you'll never lose anything ever again!
Hard Sided Zipper Pencil Case
If you're wondering whether or not you need these zipper cases in both sizes, the answer is that yes, you do.
Large Hard Sided Zipper Pencil Case
When I tell you that I use these baskets for everything, I mean it. I have them in every room in my house. They fit cube systems, they fit on shelves, they fit in closets. They're perfect for storing library books, homeschool books, school supplies, unit studies, binders, notebooks - EVERYTHING. Buy a million of them, and thank me later.
Large Y-Weave Decorative Storage Basket
I love these for storing books, coloring books, notebooks, and more. I have one set up for each subject and keep all of our workbooks inside!
Y-Weave Narrow Easy Access Decorative Storage Basket