If you are currently a homeschool mom or are planning to homeschool, check out these homeschool supplies that are some of my must haves.
Growing up, I always loved going back to school shopping. Picking everything out brand new for my own personal use was such a good feeling, especially growing up in a large family. That same feeling has followed me into adulthood, and I absolutely love setting up and organizing our homeschool room. It gives me a feeling of satisfaction and helps me to operate in a feeling of peace and not stress.
There are so many small and simple ways to create that feeling of peace. You don’t have to buy all the expensive wicker baskets or bookshelves. You don’t have to put labels on everything or have beautiful ABC prints hanging on your walls. Your homeschool room doesn’t have to be all neutral colors to feel inviting and encourage learning.
For me, I find peace in organization. I function better and feel more prepared when our homeschool room is set up in a way that is organized but inviting at the same time. That doesn’t mean that it is completely spotless at all times. I have four kids running around. My house is never spotless. But there is a place for everything and a flow that creates that sense of peace.
Must Have Homeschool Supplies
Everyone has their own list of homeschool supplies that are must haves. I love to see other homeschool moms’ suggestions because I am constantly finding new things that are super helpful for us too. So here are my categories of homeschool supplies to help you simplify your homeschool life. I hope you find something new that becomes a must have in your homeschool supplies!
Homeschool Supplies for Organization
I love my rolling cart for organization. It provides easy access to the books we are currently working through. Instead of having them placed high up on a shelf where the kids can’t reach, they are low enough for them to run and grab when I say it is time to start school, or when the older ones can do independent work.
Another favorite homeschool supply is magazine racks. I use them on the top shelf of the rolling cart to separate each kid’s books into its own section. I also use them on my shelves to hold any books and magazines that are flimsier and can’t stay up on their own. Things like magazines we subscribe too, thinner activity books and sticker books. They can act as bookends when they are full also!
My final must have supplies for organization deal with all of the coloring stuff. My kids are non-stop coloring and I always have things available for them to get creative, but the paper spread all over the dining room table drives me a little crazy. I grabbed an empty basket I had laying around so when they are done coloring, all of the paper goes in the basket. Once the basket is full, we go through it together and throw away the trash and post their favorites on the fridge.
I have a spinning holder for all of the markers that the kids can grab down when they want to color. Each kid also has their own plastic pencil case full of colored pencils. When you have four kids, this really helps keep a more peaceful environment by reducing the number of arguments!
Homeschool Supplies for Lessons
My absolute favorite purchase I’ve ever made for my kids is their drawing boards. They have used them so often and for so many different things. When I read aloud to the kids, they draw to keep themselves quiet and busy. It’s a great way to have them draw pictures outside so there isn’t paper blowing all over the yard (and if you really want to reduce the use of paper too). When we are practicing spelling, I say the word out loud, and my daughter writes them down on her board. We use them practically every day, both for school and fun. I highly recommend!
Another thing we use a lot in our school lessons are dry erase pouches. They are great to use for homeschooling lessons because of the pouch. You can stick blank pieces of paper in the pouch or paper with things added on for learning. My younger kids love to trace their names really large for practice. Calendar time, putting hands on a clock for the time, tracing lines for handwriting practice, connect the dots, you name it. So many activities can be done using these pouches and they cost so little!
Homeschool Supplies to Simplify
There are so many small supplies that can help simplify the homeschool process. I love having extra 3-ring binders and page protectors around just in case. I use them to organize our science unit studies. To keep my daughter’s short stories. A monthly newsletter subscription that teaches my kids about a new animal each month. Wild explorer’s club that we just signed up for the next year. It makes it really easy to throw something together really quick if you always have a couple on hand.
Magnetic bookmarks are so helpful! Now that I have two kids officially in grades and one in pre-k, I have so many workbooks currently in use. I bought a large pack of magnetic bookmarks to mark the page in every book we are working in. It makes it so much easier to keep track and remember where we are in each one.
Mini erasers are a must for easy math manipulatives and sorting. Who knew that a pile of erasers would entertain the kids for an hour!? You can find them in all sorts of cute designs and use them for sorting, counting, adding, subtracting, erasing, covering words after they have been read, etc. Obviously, you can grab other small items to use as manipulatives. The Target dollar spot just always has great deals on the mini erasers when its back-to-school season.
Homeschool Supplies for Focus
My top tip for helping your kids to focus is to allow them to wiggle and get their energy out. Take lots of breaks and let them run around, do jump and jacks, bounce on the trampoline, or ride a bike. Anything to get them moving. Also, it’s normal for people to move around a lot while working or listening. Even adults do it! It actually helps our brain focus better on listening and absorbing information, so let them wiggle.
I also love to use essential oils to create a peaceful environment and promote focus. If we are doing our school inside for the day, I like to set up our diffuser with a blend of essential oils that help wake up the brain and help it to focus. My house smells great too! I also roll Geneyus on the older two kids who need to complete schoolwork and roll KidPower on the younger two kids who I need to cooperate and be peaceful.
Now, I would love to hear from you. Let me know in the COMMENTS some of your must have homeschool supplies. It might be something I need!
Check Out More Helpful Posts:
- Kids in Nature to help get the wiggles out
- Quiet Time for Kids to help everyone take a break and recharge
- Best Homeschool Planner for Moms
- How to Focus on Reading
- Daily Rhythm
- 5 First Day of Homeschool Ideas
- How to Use a Homeschool Loop Schedule
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure HERE.
Shop this Post:
- Rolling cart
- Magazine racks
- Rotating marker holder
- Pencil case
- Small drawing boards
- Large drawing boards
- Dry erase pouches
- 3-ring binders
- Page protectors
- Magnetic bookmarks
- Essential oils for focus
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