Homeschool Supplies--Ultimate List

It’s that time…Local stores are rolling out the school supplies! Which kinda makes me cringe (didn’t summer just start??)–but also...I couldn’t pass up the $.97 markers! In a few weeks–the panic will be palpable…Aisles filled with moms and kids clutching supply lists from all the local schools. No thanks to all that mania (another reason I love the homeschool life)! BUT–I do try and take advantage of some great back-to-school sales! It’s the perfect time to stock up! I’m pretty much a homeschool minimalist (no laminator or fancy desks over here)…However, there are items I keep using year after year–Here’s my list of Must-Have-Homeschool Supplies:

**I’ve created a list with many of these items in my Amazon Shop.

General Homeschool Supplies to Have on Hand:

Pencils (I like to buy them already sharpened!)
Mini Pencil Sharpeners
Black Pens
Colored Pens
Regular Markers
Skin Color Markers
Skinny Markers
Permanent Markers (Black Sharpie–but other colors come in handy too!)
Dry Erase Markers
Small White Board
Crayons
Colored Pencils
Watercolors
Printer Paper (My kids color and create on regular white printer paper a lot!)
Watercolor Paper
Construction Paper
Notebook Paper
Lined Index Cards
Blank Index Cards
Post-It-Notes
Rubber Bands
Paper Clips
String/Yarn (We just keep one or two colors on hand.)
Tape
Stapler
Elmer’s Glue
Glue Sticks
Kid Scissors
Mom Scissors
12 inch ruler
3 Ring Hole Punch
Blank Sketch Book (My kids love blank books for nature journaling or creating their own stories.)
Folders–Check your curriculum for specific needs. I use them for organizing student work or weekly assignments.
Spiral Notebooks–According to your curriculum needs/requirements–you may need one for each subject. OR–The curriculum I’m using this year doesn’t call for individual notebooks, but I like to have at least 1 for each child. I have my kids do any work that needs to be written in that one place. Your child may also enjoy keeping one for journaling.
3 Ring Binders–Again, some curriculums will utilize these more than others. Often I’ve kept a yearly binder for each child’s completed work (or art/stories/projects) that I want to save.

Helpful Bonus Items:

*Large Calendar
*Judy Clock
*Base Ten Blocks
*Erasers
*Unifix Cubes
*Pattern Blocks & Puzzles
*Teddy Bear Counters
*100 Chart (Some math curriculum come with these–but worth grabbing a heavy duty one.)
*Plastic/Play Money
Meter Stick
Yard Stick
Globe
Laminated Maps
Large Whiteboard
Magnetic Letters (I currently use the All About Reading Set.)
Play-Doh and/or Clay
Chart Paper (I really love the Post-It Sticky Easel Pad!)
Grid Paper
Sentence Strips (These can be found in stores like Walmart & Target during back-to-school season and teacher supply stores! Ideas for use: Cut them up for vocabulary cards. Practice sentence writing. Cut up a sentence and have your child put it back together…Lots of possibilities!)

*These items are part of my Top 10 Math Manipulatives for elementary ages–you can learn more about them here!

Storage Supplies:

I don’t have a formal school room, and I keep things pretty simple in the storage department…

Plastic Baggies
Plastic Caddy (We keep all the art/general supplies in a couple of these!)
Large Tote Bag (I carry curriculum around the house wherever we are doing school.)
Bins/Boxes/Baskets

I use empty drawers and cabinets in areas we do school (our kitchen and dining areas). I keep most of my folders, binders, and curriculum books in old armoire in my living room.

We have a variety of book shelves throughout our house that help keep the book situation under control(ish)…

Helpful Technology/Bigger Ticket Items:

Printer (Right now we mainly use a black and white laser printer–much more affordable and fits our needs. We also have a color printer that I use as needed…It goes through ink pretty quick!!)
iPad
Laptop (My husband and I share our personal laptop–the little kids use it with us occasionally. Our big kids got their own laptops in late high school.)

Where to Buy Homeschool Supplies:

I love, love, Rainbow Resource for all things homeschool! (Heck–I even buy toys from them at Christmas! They have such good stuff!!)

If I’m buying homeschool curriculum or supplies, I almost always open a couple tabs on my computer and compare Rainbow Resource with Amazon or the individual curriculum company. 9 times out of 10 Rainbow Resource has the best deal!

**Side note I’m not connected or an affiliate of Rainbow–I just love sharing a good deal!! 🙂