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After homeschooling now for almost 6 years, here is a list of supplies & equipment that I can say have helped me in my journey of teaching at home. We’re exploring a range of essential homeschool supplies and equipment that we highly recommend for fellow homeschoolers. Whether you’re new to homeschooling or a seasoned veteran, having the right tools at your disposal can significantly enhance the learning experience for both you and your children. From innovative technology to traditional stationery, we’ve got you covered with our carefully curated list of homeschooling essentials that will inspire creativity, foster engagement, and empower your children to thrive in their educational journey. Let’s dive in and discover the must-have supplies and equipment that will make homeschooling a breeze!
Shopping Tips
- It’s difficult to beat Amazon prices, but sometimes the best time to purchase some of these in bulk is AFTER back-to-school sales at places like Walmart, Target, etc.
- To save more money on some bigger items, I would also check out thrift stores or online yard sale for some good deals.
COMMAND CENTER EQUIPMENT
1. LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER
A laptop computer is an essential tool for homeschoolers, providing access to a wide range of educational resources, online courses, research materials, and interactive learning platforms. It allows students to explore various subjects, access digital textbooks, and engage in multimedia-rich lessons. A laptop also enables homeschoolers to practice essential computer skills, learn coding, create digital presentations or projects, and collaborate with others online. Additionally, it offers the flexibility of learning anywhere, making it a portable and versatile tool for homeschooling on the go.
Suggestion: I would buy a laptop that interfaces with your phones and tablets, so files can translate easily on all your equipment.
2. printer
I had the same Epson Workforce cartridge printer for a decade then it finally slowed down on me. I didn’t realize what I was missing out on with the new technology out there that allows for you to printer directly from your phone, and scan things directly into your computer all via Bluetooth. My friend suggested on the Ecotanks, and with lots of research, I settled on the Epson EcoTank ET-4850. It was a total game changer! Even though you pay a little bit more upfront, the ink lasts A LONG TIME! I’ve been printing almost 1000s of pages from home, including really fine quality pictures for events I host. It’s been a year, and I have about 1/3 ink left in the printer.
epson ecotank et-4850… BEST HOME PRINTEr IMO!
3. paper cutter
Scissors are great, but a paper cutter allows for precise and efficient cutting of paper, cardboard, or other materials. It helps in creating neat and professional-looking projects, arts and crafts, or visual aids for presentations. Save time and make all your paper files look pretty!
SAFER OPTION: Note, the cutter will dull overtime, so you will have to replace it but not expensive to do so.
12-INCH PAPER CUTTER: SAFER OPTION with kids. Note, the sliding clutter will dull overtime, so you will have to replace it but not expensive to do so. These cut maybe 2-3 regular sheets at a time; 1 cardstock at a time.
HEAVY DUTY, HIGH CAPACITY CUTTER: NICE TO HAVE BUT NOT NECESSARY unless you’re doing lots of paper cutting, and using heavy duty type paper. Also, before you buy, check if your local library has this!
4. laminator
A laminator is a total game-changer. It makes your educational materials like flashcards, charts, and reference sheets last longer by adding a protective layer. No more tears or spills ruining your hard work! Plus, laminated items can handle all the love and use they’ll get in our homeschooling adventures. You can even use dry-erase markers on them for interactive learning and reusable activities. Preserve important documents, certificates, and artwork while making learning more fun and durable.
13-inch LAMINATOR with sheets: This is nice to have for easy access. However, most libraries have this available for you to borrow. You normally just have to bring in the clear sheets. Check your libraries first or borrow a friends!
5. MAGNETIC DRY ERASE BOARD
As much as I love a good old chalkboard (no sarcasm here! I genuinely love drawing with chalk), whiteboards are much easier to clean and don’t leave dusty residue on your carpet or wood floors (I lived this for a short period). I was able to find two white magnetic boards on Facebook Marketplace, so check online yard sale sites first. For those living in the United States, I’ve seen them at Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, and Home Depot (don’t forget your coupons!).
WOODEN FRAME I LOVE this look, and this is the style we have (the specific one I have I got at Michaels). However, since we move it around quite a bit, the edges have been knicked. Something to consider if you are not planning to mount it on a wall. Maybe consider the metal edge style for durability purposes.
SIDENOTE: I love using chalkboards, and seeing all the beautiful pictures other homeschool moms do to add a personal touch to their homeschool room! But one of the challenges of it is that the chalk gets all over your floors and takes a little bit more time to clean off than simple dry erase board. If you’re okay with it, then by all means use a chalkfboard!
6. SPLURGE: SPIRAL BINDING machine
Before you buy, check and see if your local library has this machine! Most do, so save money buy just buying the the required coils. For me, I do a lot of binding and it’s just easier to do it at home on my own time.
Consider the pros and cons of doing this yourself versus going to Office Depot to print and bind them. By going to an office depot, it’s less work for you. But a cost to drive to the location, drop off (if you’re not getting them printed there), and then picking them up. And if there’s a problem (since you didn’t get the change to do another quality inspection on the material), then you would have to go back and get the redone. Doing it yourself take a little bit of time since you have to manually punch the holes, and then insert the spines. However, it’s actually a very easy process! So for me, I like being able to immediately bind items rather than waiting for someone else to do it. If you are willing to DIY, and have the extra funds, I highly recommend it! I have the exact one linked below. There are different kinds (comb, spiral) so consider which style you like best! I prefer spiral just because it looks more profesional 🙂
7. PENCIL SHARPENER
If you have pencils, you’re going to need something to sharpen them. We bought the older model of this same brand more than five years ago (discontinued now) and have five kids who use it plus myself, and it continues to sharpen perfectly!
I know the price might deter some people from buying a good quality pencil sharpener like this. But I highly recommend you invest in something similar because you 1) will be using it daily and 2) want to have something reliable versus one that constantly breaks down or doesn’t sharpen well. And unless you’re traveling to austere places, I highly recommend purchasing a good-quality pencil sharpener that plugs in versus ones that require batteries.
WRITING ESSENTIALS
1. QUALITY, DURABLE PENCILS
The main tool you will be using are pencils, so take time to find ones that don’t break easily. No matter what grade your student is in, I personally think wooden pencils are much more durable, less frustrating, and will go further than mechanical pencils. But to each is own!
2. the trifecta of coloring supplies
Crayons, colored pencils, and markers offer a variety of ways for students to express their thoughts and ideas on paper. There are many great brands and even better quality, but Crayola crayons outperform many other brands we’ve purchased in the past for the price and how long they last.
Note on markers: don’t try to buy too many at one time. They do dry out over time! But I learned a trick, if you have a dried-out marker, dip the tip in water for a few seconds, and then it will recover its ink and you’ll get a little bit more life.
For younger students, I recommend buying jumbo crayons and jumbo pencils to help build fine motor skills.
Magnetic boards are als