Sometimes people ask us how much it costs to homeschool. That question is a lot like “How much does it cost to buy a capsule wardrobe?” It depends entirely on how much you want to spend and how lavish your tastes are. So today we’re offering a simple supply list for homeschool: the things you really need to have in the house before you begin.
You don’t want to get started on a lesson and then have to stop and run out shopping because you have no paper in the house. On the other hand, you don’t actually need to have a microscope and a sand table on your first day.
A list of everything you need would be different for each family, not only because tastes vary, but also because it depends on ages, grades, and homeschooling style. Our lessons include specific supplies needed for specific plans. This list is for the things that just about every homeschool will need, no matter what grades and subjects you’re working on.
Make it easy on yourself
A school supplies bundle kit like the one shown below lets you put one item in your cart, add paper for your kids’ grades and some books, and be done. This can be a big help if you are not sure what approach you’re going to take. On the other hand, if you have favorite brands or feel strongly about the best color choices, this is not for you.
You will probably choose to study reading and math, no matter what curriculum or approach you choose. This means that you will need age-appropriate books to read and, unless you’re doing advanced math, things to count or arrange or for, with. You may have books and various objects around the house already. Â These are not school supplies, exactly, but they are certainly essential.
Make it easy on yourself by starting off with Kindle for Kids. Add Kids+ or Kindle Unlimited for lots of kids’ books at no additional cost. We love physical books, but with Kindle and a library card, you’ll have plenty of reading options. You can also access videos and audiobooks, with parental controls. Like the supplies bundle above, it lets you put one thing in the cart and be done. The cover shown below is just one of several designs. Gotta say, the text is not top quality, but that’s not an indication of what’s available. Plenty of new and classic kids’ books are on Kindle now.
Depending on your kids’ ages and how you organize your homeschooling, headphones could also be a necessity. We’d certainly want a computer. If you don’t have one for the schoolroom, a Chromebook is a safe and practical choice.
Click all those links, make sure you have paper around, and you’ve done your basic set up in 15 minutes max.
The essentials
If you have a little more shopping time, here’s our simple supply list including all the basic school tools. You’ll still need books, but these things cover the essential supplies:
- Paper
- lined paper: Zaner-Bloser for K-1, wide rule, or college rule depending on grade and your student’s dexterity
- composition notebooks or spiral notebooks
- sentence strips are handy for so many things — you can do without them, but you won’t want to once you’ve tried them.
- To organize papers
- folders with pockets
- 3-ring binders
- tubs for storage, paper sized and stackable
- Writing implements — and let’s be honest, this is not the place to skimp. Cheap crayons, pencils, and pens make writing frustrating.
- Essential tools
Now you’re ready for that first day. When your curriculum says to use a ruler, you won’t be saying, “A ruler?! Who has a ruler just sitting around?!”
Special stuff
You may not want the economical, utilitarian things. We’ve listed choices that are good quality but not expensive. There’s no point to spending a little bit on a binder that breaks and falls apart so you have to replace it. But it’s also worth knowing that there are also highly decorative choices. If having something pretty to work with elevates your day, cool school supplies are a fairly affordable way to do that.
The one place where we think it’s very important to get as close to perfect as possible is with your homeschool planner. You’re going to spend a lot of time with it, and choosing one you’ll love will help you make the effort to keep up with planning and recording your lessons. This is very personal, but we have a few for you to check out. Look at these and you may get a sense of what qualities and details matter to you:
