If you’re anything like me, prepping for a new homeschool year feels a bit like your reward for homeschooling in the first place! It’s a time for gathering new ideas, organizing, buying fresh school supplies and daydreaming about all the ways in which this year will be different. Plus, I think it’s scientifically proven that we never outgrow our love for a brand new box of crayons. Ever.
While some items on your shopping list will be very specific to your curriculum choices or style of schooling, the following items have proven to be invaluable staples in our schooling, regardless of what books we’re cracking any particular year.
SCHOOL ROOM SUPPLIES
- Printer with fresh ink cartridges
- Printer paper
- Electric pencil sharpener
- Totes/Bins/Baskets for organizing
- Small: writing instruments, glue sticks
- Medium: books, art supplies, manipulatives
- Bookshelf or Cabinet to house it all (Check out this video to see how we make it work in a small space.)
KIDS’ SUPPLIES
General
- Pencils (20/child)
- Large erasers (pkg/child)
- Scissors (1/child)
- Highlighters (2/child)
- Pocket folders
- Notebooks or loose leaf and 3-ring binders
Art/Creative
- Glue sticks (10-20, depending on ages of children)
- Colored pencils (one box for each child, or large assortment of colors if you prefer sharing)
- Crayons (64+ for elementary children)
- Construction paper
Math
- Ruler (1/child)
- Protractor (for older elementary children)
- Counting cubes
MOM’S SUPPLIES
- Pens (various colors)
- Permanent markers
- Post-it notes (I love the little square ones)
- Index cards
- Large scissors
- Stapler and staples
- Handi-Tak
- Envelopes
- Smaller zipper bags (sandwich style)
- Paper clips
- Rubber bands
- Scotch tape
- Masking tape
What are your must-have school supplies to kick off the new year? Drop them in a comment below or on my Facebook page.
