Essential Homeschool Supplies: A Simple Guide to What You Really Need + Free Printable Shopping List!
When you’re preparing for your homeschool year (especially if it’s your first time!), it’s easy to get caught up in wanting to buy all the things you see other homeschoolers using—the expensive organizational tools, beautiful stationery items, and so on. When I first started, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to afford or even find everything I needed. That’s why I created this list of homeschool supplies that I believe are essential for homeschooling – all while keeping it simple and affordable.
As you go through this list, remember that each family’s homeschool journey is unique. If you feel an item listed isn’t necessary for your homeschool style, don’t worry about it! Likewise, if you think there are items you need that aren’t on this list, feel free to add them. This list is just a guide to what I consider the basics for starting your homeschooling journey!
Basic Supplies
These are the must-have items that will be used often in your daily homeschool routine. Pencils, paper/notebooks, scissors, and glue are used everyday in our activities and lessons so I like to stock up at the start of the year to make sure we always have the supplies we need handy.
- Pencils
- Pens
- Erasers
- Notebooks
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pencil Sharpener
- Sticky Note Tabs
- Printer Paper
Art Supplies
Always having art supplies on hand is important to help encourage creativity. While this list provides the basics, remember there are many other arts & crafts supplies that can be good to inspire even more creativity, such as pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, glitter, googly eyes, etc. I like to buy these extra supplies based on my children’s interests and also for specific seasonal or holiday activities.
- Crayons
- Colored Pencils
- Markers
- Construction Paper
- Glue (Liquid & Stick)
- Watercolor Paints
- Acrylic Paints
- Paint Brushes
- Tape (Scotch & Masking)
Equipment
Having the right equipment at home can make preparing materials much easier. When I started homeschooling, I didn’t have most of the items listed below and still managed by using stores for printing, laminating, etc. However, having these items at home have made preparation much more efficient and cost-effective.
- Computer
- Printer
- Hole Puncher
- Whiteboard & Markers
- Stapler & Staples
- Tablet
- Laminator
Organizational Supplies
One of the things that keeps our homeschool running smoothly is having our curriculum and supplies organized and easy to access. This list provides a few essentials that I recommend, though this may look different for each family depending on your curriculum and supplies, as well as your homeschool space and teaching style.
- Binders
- Dividers (for binders)
- Pocket Folders
- Pencil & Pen Holders
- Storage Bins
- Paper Tray
- Homeschool Planner (Check out our Free Homeschool Planner!)
Curriculum Supplies
Finally, when purchasing your homeschool supplies, you’ll want to check if there are any supplies that your curriculum requires. Some curriculum supplies might include things like:
- Reading Books
- Microscope
- Math Manipulatives
- Maps & Globes
- Musical Instruments
I hope this guide helps you feel more confident as you prepare for your homeschool year. Remember, homeschooling doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive—focus on the basics and build up from there as you discover what works best for your family.
To make your planning even easier, I’ve created a free downloadable shopping list that includes all the essentials mentioned in this post and a section to add any other items you need.
Happy homeschooling, and don’t forget—you’ve got this!
Download Your Free Printable
Click here to download your free printable Homeschool Supplies Shopping List!
Share Your Experience
We’d love to see your homeschool haul & setup! Share your experiences and photos in the comments below or tag us on Instagram using @mightylittlemindsblog!
Additional Resources
Looking for more information on starting your homeschool journey? Check out our Homeschooling Basics page for more articles and free resources!
[…] Purchase Supplies – Purchase any supplies missing from your inventory. For a list of basic homeschool supplies, check out: Essential Homeschool Supplies: A Simple Guide to What You Really Need + Free Printable Shopping List… […]
Hello!
Good cheer to all on this beautiful day!!!!!
Good luck 🙂