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This homeschool supply list contains all the basic school supplies you need to get started learning at home. Of course, there are endless supplies, manipulatives, and extras that are fun and useful. But if you are just getting started with homeschool and looking for a basic “what do I need for homeschooling right now” list, this is the list for you!
There are a few things more exciting that going shopping for new school supplies. Even as an adult, I get excited to buy new pens or pencils for myself. And don’t even get me started on picking out a new planner every year.
As we get ready to head into back-to-school season this year, I realize that “back-to-school” might be looking very different than it usually does for many of us. And so I thought it might be helpful to put together a list of back to school supplies that will set your kids up for success this school year!
Whether you’ve decided to take the plunge into homeschooling this year, or you are navigating remote learning or a hybrid learning model, here are some of our favorite school supplies for learning at home.
Homeschooling Supplies to Get Started
While schools normally send out a school supply list for students in the classroom, they do not send out a list of supplies for at home learning.
This list is specifically for preschool and elementary students, but is a good place to start for anyone thinking about their homeschool supply list.
I’ve broken our list down into supplies for students and parents as well as organization tools that we’ve found helpful in keeping it all together around here.
(and while there are many “extras” that we use around here, I’ve tried to keep this list to the basics and things that we use most often, because let’s face it. Everyone will have a different learning style, space, and budget.)
This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click through and make purchases through those links, I may earn a commission. For more information, feel free to see disclosure.
School Supplies for Students
Paper
All the paper. We use basic copy paper for printing, coloring and drawing, and lots of other things.
We keep colored construction paper on hand for crafts and any creative projects.
And if you have little ones that are learning to write and/or practicing handwriting, lined, manuscript paper is really helpful to have on hand.
This paper is GREAT for writing stories and being able to also draw pictures.
Pencils
Just go ahead and get the good pencils. The good, old-fashioned Ticonderoga pencils are our favorites. They sharpen easily, they write well. They last.
Erasers
You can buy eraser caps for pencils, or just get these classic pink erasers. Personally, we like the big pink erasers, but it’s total preference. I keep one in the boys’ pencil boxes with their pencils and then they always have an eraser.
Funny story about this one, before we had kids, we actually got rid of the electric pencil sharpener in our office. I prefer to use mechanical pencils or pens and the pencil sharpener was just collecting dust.
Now that the boys are using their own pencils and coloring pencils, we just bought a new electric pencil sharpener that gets used almost daily.
We use loose leaf paper more, but these are helpful for journaling, or keeping subjects separate depending on how old your kids are.
Folders
Always always have folders on hand to keep loose things together, for weekly or daily work, and extras because they come in so handy.
These are so handy for worksheets or activities that you want to be able to do again and again.
Dry Erase Markers
We love these thin Expo dry-erase markers because they come in so many fun colors.
One pack will go far and they are perfect for making flashcards.
Art Supplies
Even if you are not the most crafty mom in the world, having a few basic art supplies are important for learning.
One day, I’ll do a full post on what’s in our craft cabinet, but today is not that day. We’re sticking to the basics today, remember?
- Construction paper, as mentioned above
- Glue
- We like to keep glue sticks and liquid school glue on hand.
- The disappearing purple glue sticks are REALLY fun for younger kids and helps them actually SEE where they are putting glue.
- Markers
- Colored Pencils
- Crayons
- Scissors – make sure they are kid-friendly! I like these for learning and these next once kids have a good handle on using scissors.
- Washable paint – tempera paint is really kid friendly.
- If you’re looking for less mess and easier set up/clean up, we LOVE our Kwik Stix painting sticks. The colors are so bright, they are easy to use, and the paint dries REALLY quickly (like in 90 seconds or something like that).
- Watercolors
- Foam paint brushes
- You can also get “real” paint brushes – my kids like both, but if you have younger kids, I think the foam brushes are great!
Homeschool Supplies for Teachers
Because parents definitely need their own supplies when teaching from home.
Laminator and laminating pockets
I thought this was an “extra” when we first started, but we use it SO MUCH. I laminate almost all of our printable activities and use it to protect lots of activities that I make for the boys.
We have this one from Amazon and I haven’t had any trouble with it. That said, I often wish that I had purchased this one that is a little bigger and not much different in cost.
Printer
I print a lot of things. If you plan on homeschooling for the long run, or if you find yourself printing lots of things for remote learning, you’ll want to be sure that you have a good printer.
Stapler
Post-it notes
Your own pens and pencils
Because I’ll just say it. I prefer my own writing utensils. These are my favorite pens to use.
Highlighters
The kids don’t tend to use highlighters very much (not because they don’t want to, but because they have enough markers.) BUT, beyond just highlighting, these can be useful to help teach handwriting.
You can write letters/words in highlighter and your kids can go back and trace over your writing easily with a pencil.
Planner
This is total preference. But I strongly prefer a paper planner to keep things organized in our home – including homeschool. I’ve used lots of planners and definitely have favorites, but any standard planner will do. (This is the planner I’m currently using.)
If you want to get a planner specifically for homeschooling, you can find lots of printable ones on Pinterest.
Or, you can grab one of these popular and well-reviewed homeschool planners on Amazon.
The Best Organization Tools for Homeschool Supplies
There are lots of ways to keep your supplies organized, but here are some of our favorites. Hopefully this will give you some ideas to keep your things organized well.
These can double as activity trays, which make them doubly useful. I can limit how much paper is available, and they can easily get to what they need.
A great way to keep papers, books, etc. organized and separated. Use one per subject, per child, or however best suites your family.
Desktop Organizer/Supply Caddy
These are really helpful at keeping writing and drawing utensils organized.
To be fair, we don’t have a rolling cart, but it’s on my list. Would this even be a homeschool supply list without the rolling cart?
Rolling carts are a GREAT way to keep school things organized and able to be moved from place to place easily (or stored out of the way when you aren’t doing school.)
And that’s about it for what we’d call “essential homeschool supplies” to get you started with your learning at home. Of course, it all gets kind of muddled around here between toys, craft cabinet, specifically “school” things.
The truth is that it’s all learning for kids. I had a wise friend encourage me once about teaching young children, particularly at home. She said, “it all counts.” And she was right. Our kids are always watching and always learning.
So, grab some supplies, use what you have, and don’t be intimidated at the thought of schooling at home.
You’ve got this.
What are some of your must have school supplies? I’d love to know what we’re missing over here!
