Homeschool Must-Haves Your Essential Shopping List

Introduction

Are you a homeschool parent looking for the best tools and resources to help your child succeed in their education?

Look no further!

As a homeschooling expert, I have compiled a comprehensive list of must-haves that every homeschool parent needs in their arsenal.

This post has got you covered, from essential supplies and books to engaging subscription boxes and cutting-edge apps.

Whether you're a seasoned homeschooling veteran or just starting, these resources will help you take your child's education to the next level.

So, get ready to revolutionize your homeschooling experience with these top-notch resources and discounts!

P.S. I make no money from any of the links in this post. I just want to help you find the best resources for your homeschooling journey.

Supplies

Must Haves

Printing & Laminating

• Printer - Epson EcoTank is tried and true Homeschool Parent Favorite for printing. It's a great way to save money on ink and paper.
  • Printer Paper - Amazon Basics Multipurpose Copy Printer Paper, 8.5 x 11 Inches, 1 Ream, 500 Sheets, 92 Brightness, 20lb, White.
  • Printer Ink - Compatible with Epson EcoTank printers... Great For DIY And On Demand Printing
• Laminator - The Scotch Thermal Laminator is a great tool for laminating documents, photos, and more. It's a great way to protect your documents from spills, tears, and other damage.
  • Laminating Sheets - Amazon Basics Letter Size Sheets Laminating Pouches 9 Inches x 11.5 Inches, 100-pack.

Classroom Items

• Large Dry Erase Board - Amazon Basics Magnetic Dry Erase Board, 24-Inch x 36-Inch, White
  • Dry Erase Markers - Expo Low Odor Dry Erase Markers, Fine Tip, Assorted Colors, 7-Count
  • Whiteboard Cleaner - Non-Toxic Whiteboard Cleaner w/ Cloth. Low-Oder Whiteboard cleaning spray.
• Desk - Calico Designs Homeroom Desk, Graphite/Ashwood... There are a lot of options here and it depends on your budget and space.
• Chair - Another desk and chair combo.

Organization

• Organizers - These can definitely be costly, but if you have the funds and need, they are a great way to organize your homeschooling supplies.
• Storage Bins - For a most cost effective option, storage bins are a great way to organize your homeschooling supplies.
• Folder Containers - Really Good Stuff. Durable Magazine, Book, Folder, File Holders. Neon set of 5.
  • Folders - Amazon Basics Plastic Pocket Folders, Multicolor, 6-Pack
  • Binders - Yoobi 3 Ring Binder, Multicolor Variety, 1.5 Inch, 3 Pack
• Planners - Undated Planner Academic Weekly & Monthly. Thick paper.

Optional

Craft Items

• Adult Scissors - Westcott 13901 Titanium Bonded Straight Scissors, 8-Inch, Yellow-Gray
• Yout Scissors - IBayam 8" Multipurpose Scissors, Titanium Coated, Comfort-Grip Handles, Multipurpose Scissors for Office, Home, School, Sewing, Crafts, Scrapbooking, and More
• Learning Scissors - Preschool training scissors are designed to help kids learn to cut with ease and confidence.
• Glue Sticks - Elmer's Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks, Washable, 0.24 Ounce, 30 Count
• Colored Paper - Astrobrights Color Paper, 8.5 x 11 Inches, 24 lb/89 gsm, 500 Sheets, Classic Assortment (91623)
• Construction Paper - 240 Count Crayola Construction Paper, Assorted Colors, 9" x 12" (Pack of 2)
• Stickers - Positive Words, Scented Scratch 'N Sniff Stinky Stickers... Kids love these! 🙂
• Kids Wooden Stamps - Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Stamp Set - Kids Projects w/ Washable Ink - 4+ Years
• Staplers - Amazon Basics Stapler, Includes 1000 Staples (3 pack)
• Staples - Swingline Staples, Standard Length, 1/4", 1000/Box, 5 Boxes (5000 Staples Total)

Art & Writing

• Pencils - Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Graphite Pencils, Pre-Sharpened, Yellow, 30-Count
• Pencil Sharpener - AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener, Pencil Sharpener for Colored Pencils, Electric Pencil Sharpener for No.2/Colored Pencils, Battery Operated (6-8mm), USB or Battery Powered
• Mechanical Pencils - BIC Mechanical Pencil Variety Pack, Assorted Colors, 0.5mm, 40-Count
• Crayons - Crayola 240 Count Crayons Bulk, Large Crayon Size, 24 Assorted Colors, 10 Packs of 24 Crayons
• Colored Pencils - COVACURE Premier Color Pencil Set (36 colors) for Adults and Kids
• Markers -
• Pens - Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens, Medium Point (0.7mm), Assorted Colors, 12 Count
• Highlighters - SHARPIE Highlighters, Chisel Tip, Assorted Colors, 12 Count
• Erasers - Pentel Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, 10 Pack, Assorted Colors, ZEH10PC10
• Rulers - Color Transparent Ruler - 12 Inch Plastic Rulers for Kids, Students, Teachers, Office, School Supplies, 7 Pack
• Dry Erase Pocket Sleeves - Pocket Pro Dry Erase pocket sleeves (pack of 6) - Save on repetitive printing! Use these sleeves to write on and reuse over and over again. They are great for writing notes, math problems, and more.

Painting

• Watercolors - Blick Liquid Watercolors - Set of 10 assorted colors - 8 oz. bottles
• Paint Brushes - Blick Essentials Craft Value Brush Set
• Paint Palette - Paint Palettes, Plastic Professional Painting Palette, 12 Wells, 6.5 x 4.5 Inch, 2 Pack
• Paint Cups - No-Spill Paint Cups for Classroom, 12 Pack, 4 oz

Technology

• Laptop Budget - HP Chromebook 14a-na0021nr 14" HD Laptop, Intel Celeron N4000, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB eMMC, Chrome (14a-na0021nr, Mineral Silver)
• Laptop Mid Range - HP 14" HD Touchscreen Laptop, Intel i5-1155G7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Windows 10 Home, 14-dq1030nr, Silver
• Laptop High End - MacBook Pro... Classic.
• Simple Calculator - Casio MS-80B Standard Function Calculator
• Graphing Calculator - Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Graphing Calculator, Black

Mathmatics

• Add & Subtract Abacus - This abacus is a great tool for teaching your child how to add and subtract. It's a great way to help your child learn basic math skills with 55 colorful beads and sturdy wooden construction.
• Classic Wooden Abacus - Counting Toy with 100 Beads upright abacus
• Base Ten Unit Cubes - This set of 100 base ten unit cubes is a great way to help your child learn basic math skills. It's a great way to help your child learn basic math skills with 55 colorful beads and sturdy wooden construction.
• Base Ten Manipulatives Set - 121 Pieces Hands-on Math Manipulative for Kids
• MathLink Cubes - Learning Resources MathLink Cubes, 100 Pieces, Educational Counting Toy, Ages 5+
• Electronics Exploration Kit - Snap Circuits SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit (STEM) 8+

Language Arts

• Dry Erase Alphabet Board - Handwriting Practice for Preschool Kids - Educational Montessori Alphabet Board - Magnetic Dry Erase Board for Kids - 26 Letters and 10 Numbers
• Word Wall - 128 Pieces Alphabet Word Wall Letters for Classroom Decoration, 2.5 x 2.5 Inches
• Sight Word Cards - Gamenote 220 Sight Words Flash Cards with Pictures and Sentences for Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Grade
• Sight Word Flash Cards - 520 Sight Words Flash Cards for Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Grade to 9th Grade
• Montessori Wooden Movable Alphabet - Montessori Small Wooden Movable Alphabet

Geography & Time

• World Map & USA Map - Laminated World Map & US Map Poster Set - 2 Pack - 24x36 - Educational Wall Maps for Kids - Political Map of the World & USA - Laminated World Map for Classroom
• World Globe - Illuminated World Globe with Stand
• Time Activity Clock Set - Learning Resources Time Activity Clock Set, 41 Pieces

Sticky Items

• Sticky Notes - 5400 Sheets - 3" x 3" - 6 Bright Colors - Sticky Notes - Self-Stick Notes - Assorted Colors - Sticky Notes for Home, Office, School, and More
• Sticky Tabs - Best Post-it tabs - cheap and easy to use. They are great for organizing your notes and documents.
• Sticky Labels - 1000 Labels, 1/2" x 1-3/4", Removable, Waterproof, Oil Resistant, Perforation, for Containers, Organization, and More
• Sticky Velcro - Art3d Sticky Back Double Sided Command Adhesive Hook and Loop Tape, 1/2" x 15 Feet, White
• Sticky Magnets - Flexible Magnet Round Adhesive House Numbers, 1/2" x 1/16" x 1/16", 100 Pack, White
• Magnetic Letters - Alphabet Magnets for Fridge or whiteboard - 240 Piece Set - Uppercase and Lowercase Letters - Magnetic Letters and Numbers for Kids - Educational Toys for Toddlers - Fridge Magnets for Kids

Household Items

• Measuring Cups & Spoons - Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons Set, 10-Piece Kitchen Gadgets for Dry and Liquid Ingredients
• Timer - aGIOGIO Mechanical Kitchen Timer, 60 Minutes, Batteries Required
• Magnifying Glass - Handheld Magnifying Glass, 3X Magnification, Shatterproof Magnifier with Non-Slip Handle, Ideal for Reading, Inspection, Hobbies, Crafts, and More
• Flashlight - EverBrite 6 Pack LED Flashlight, Handheld Flashlight with 3 Modes, Assorted Colors, Perfect for Camping, Hiking, Emergency, and More
• Compass - INMAKER Compass, 2 Pack Survival Compass, Luminous Compass, Military Compass, Hiking Compass, Navigation Compass, for Camping, Hiking, Backpacking, and More
• Food Coloring - Food Coloring Set, Cherrysea 12 Colors Liquid Food Coloring, Food Coloring for Baking, Decorating, Cooking, Slime, Crafts, DIY, Easter Eggs, and More
• Masking Tape - STIKK Painters Tape, 1.88 in x 60 yd, 1 Roll, Blue, 14 Day Clean Removal, Easy Clean Release, Multi-Surface, No Residue, No Staining, 1 Roll

Books

Must Haves

• Kindle Library Card - This is a great way to get access to thousands of books for free. You can use it to read books on your Kindle or any other device.
• Children's Dictionary - Merriam-Webster's Children's Dictionary, New Edition - 3,000 Photographs & Illustrations
• Illustrated Thesaurus - Children's Illustrated Thesaurus (DK Children's Dictionaries)
• School Dictionary - Merriam-Webster's School Dictionary, New Edition

Optional

• Bookshelf Budget - Humble Crew, 4 Tier Natural White Kids Book Rack w/ Deep Sleeves
• Bookshelf Mid Range - ECR4Kids 3-Shelf Hardwood Book Display, Natural
• Bookcase - AmazonBasics Kids Bookcase for Reading and Display, Espresso

Subscription Boxes

Must Haves

• Knowledge Crates - Knowledge crates is the "everything-is-done-for-me" crate that makes enriching your child's learning easy peasy!
• Little Passports - Little Passports is a monthly subscription box that teaches kids about the world through fun, hands-on activities.
• Kiwi Crate - Kiwi Crate is a monthly subscription box that delivers fun, hands-on projects for kids ages 5-8.

Optional

• Mystery Science - Mystery Science is a monthly subscription box that delivers fun, hands-on projects for kids ages 9-16.
• Homeschool Subscription Boxes - Cratejoy has a list of the best subscription boxes for homeschoolers.

Games & Toys

Must Haves

• Legos - LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696 Building Kit, Kids Creative Play Toy, New 2020 (484 Pieces)
• Magna-Tiles - 100-Piece Clear Colors Set, The Original Magnetic Building Tiles For Creative Open-Ended Play, Educational Toys For Children Ages 3 Years +
• Dice - Polyhedral Dice set of 6
• Playing Cards - Bicycle Poker Size Standard Index Playing Cards (Pack of 2)
• Jenga - Jenga Classic Game - ages 6+
• Uno - UNO Sturdy Storage Tin with 112 Cards and Travel-Friendly Case, Family Card Game for Kids and Adults, Ages 7 and Up
• Classic Card Games - Regal Games Classic Card Games Set - 6 Games in 1 Box - 2 Decks of Cards, 2 Dice, 1 Score Pad, 1 Rules Booklet
• Puzzles - Melissa & Doug Underwater Ocean Jumbo Jigsaw Floor Puzzle (24 pcs)
• Scrabble - Put letters together, build words, add up your points and win! This classic game features the classic Scrabble equipment for a big-time word-on-word showdown.

Optional

• US Map Puzzle - 44 Pieces, Ages 4+ Fun Puzzles for Kids, US Map, Geography for Kids, Kindergartner Learning Toys
• Play-Doh - Play-Doh Modeling Compound 42-Pack Case of Colors, Non-Toxic, Assorted Colors, 2-Ounce Cans, Ages 2 and up, Classroom Pack, (Amazon Exclusive)
• Magnetic Kids Chess Board - QuadPro Magnetic Travel Folding Chess Set - 2 in 1 Chess and Checkers Board Game - Educational Toys for Kids and Adults - Portable Chess Set with Storage Bag
• Oragami Bonanza for Kids - Origami Bonanza for Kids: 150+ Easy Origami Projects for Beginners
• Beads - 1000 Pcs Multi-Colored Bracelet Braids Plastic Pony Beads for Kids DIY Jewelry Making Crafts
• Sight Word Bingo -
• Apples to Apples -
• Money Bags Counting Game - tudents learn valuable money skills as they try to be the first to cross the finish line.
• PicassoTiles - 60 Piece Set 60pcs Magnet Building Tiles Clear Magnetic 3D Building Blocks Construction Playboards

Apps

Must Haves

• Khan Academy - Khan Academy is a nonprofit with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.
• Duolingo - Duolingo is the world's most popular way to learn a language. It's 100% free, fun and science-based. Practice online on duolingo.com or on the apps!

Optional

• Brain Pop - BrainPOP Featured educational videos and quizzes
• Typing Club - Typing Club is a free typing program for kids that teaches typing skills using a game-based approach. It is designed to be fun and engaging for kids, while at the same time teaching them proper typing technique and keyboarding skills.

Discounts

• Apple Education Store - Apple offers special pricing for students, parents, faculty, and staff. You can save up to $200 on a Mac, up to $100 on an iPad, and up to $30 on an iPod.

• Books-A-Million Educators Card - 20% discount on all items in the store

• Michaels Teacher Discount - 15% off your entire purchase including sale items

• Jo Ann Teacher Discount - Save 15% on your entire purchase

• Tutor.com - Use code: "homeschoolmom" to get 50 minutes free online tutoring and 10% off any purchases for the first 3 months

• Target Back to School Savings - 15% off school supplies, 10% off apparel, 5% off everything else

• Adobe Academic Super Store - 80% off Adobe Creative Cloud and other Adobe for Students and Teachers

• Microsoft Store for Students - Big discounts on Microsoft products for students and teachers

Conclusion

In conclusion, homeschooling has become increasingly popular over the years, and it's easy to see why.

Parents can tailor their children's education to their specific needs, interests, and learning styles, providing them with a personalized and comprehensive education.

However, to ensure that homeschooling is successful, there are certain must-haves that parents need to have in place.

From a well-organized curriculum to a designated learning space to hands-on materials and educational technology, these essentials will help parents provide their children with a quality education while making the homeschooling experience enjoyable and engaging for both parents and children.

With the right tools and resources, homeschooling can be a fulfilling and enriching experience that sets children up for success in their academic and personal lives.