A Homeschool Supply List: Six Considerations to Help You Get Started

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will earn a commission (at no extra cost for you!). Read my full disclosure here.

If you’re preparing for a season of homeschooling, there are some unique considerations. It might look a little different than shopping the back-to-school aisles at Walmart. That annual frenzy is optional (I do a little happy dance as I walk on by). As you create your homeschool supply list, you may have questions such as:

“What is absolutely necessary to get started?”

“Does my homeschooler need a desk?”

“What does a homeschool space look like?”  

This article offers six considerations for what homeschool supplies to purchase, and how to organize your space. A handy homeschool supply checklist is also provided. I hope this helps you to confidently move forward.

1. Consider the basic homeschool supplies you should have on hand (including my #1 go-to item).

Basic Homeschool Supplies

Basic school supplies, such as a stapler and a pencil sharpener, can often be found around the house. After more than a decade of homeschooling, we stockpile just a few items: paper, pencils, and sticky index tabs (page markers). My son has transitioned to typing most of his assignments, but sometimes it’s easier to just jot things down. So I occasionally pick up a pack of loose-leaf paper and a few notebooks. Our kids often took notes in a notebook—when their curriculum didn’t include a “student notebook.” If we were listening to an audio CD for history, for example, note-taking helped them to stay focused.

If you have a younger student, you may want to buy a pack of writing paper that has age-appropriate spacing. Handwriting curriculum usually includes practice pages. But having extra paper on hand is helpful when children want to make their own grocery list, or write a letter to Grandma.

I also stock up on mechanical pencils. They seem to disappear with the socks. And I sometimes pick up a box of #2 pencils. If your child will be taking an annual assessment, this is one less thing to worry about on testing day. If you’re picky about your pencils, Ticonderoga is of good quality and our favorite #2 pencil. (“It’s the little things in life!”)

We have sticky little index tabs (page markers) coming out of our ears. We use these to mark where we stop in our many textbooks. Then we aren’t wasting time trying to remember which lesson we’re on. They are a sanity-saver!  (Again—“it’s the little things in life!”)

My #1 go-to item

Okay. Here’s a hint for my #1 go-to homeschool supply: it’s dry, it can be erased, and it’s a board. (That’s right!) Dry-erase boards have been a staple item at our house for kindergarten through twelfth grade. The boards may have worn a spot in the floor where we’ve put them away day after day. My oldest continued to use them all through college.

It’s good to write things down. The physical act of writing imprints information on our brains in a way that typing doesn’t. Plus, there’s no paper wasted and you’re not scrambling to find a hard surface while working on the couch. It’s also more fun (colored markers)! We use them so often that my son is particular about his dry-erase markers. He will scoff at anything thicker than an extra-fine tip.

2. Consider the homeschool supplies required to use your specific curriculum.

This is even more important than purchasing those few “school supplies.” It’s discouraging to have your science lesson come to a halt because you didn’t know you needed Epsom salt for an experiment. Science curriculum often requires the additional purchase of an experiment kit. Our grammar curriculum has a test booklet (which I’ve forgotten to order more than once). Literature studies will have a book list. These books are usually offered in a package. However, you can sometimes find what you need at your local library. We’ve also bought books through Kindle. If you’re using a math curriculum for younger ages, you’ll probably need a set of manipulatives (e.g., pattern blocks, play money, a little clock). Usually, you can order everything you need in a kit. But the individual items, such as the teacher’s manual, student workbook, and manipulates, can also be purchased separately. So this can cause confusion.

Online companies such as Christianbook.com will often list “companion products.” Be sure you check what else is offered as part of a curriculum. If you think you might piecemeal a kit together on your own in order to save money, remember that your time is valuable as well. Our art curriculum required items that I thought would be easy to find at our local Michaels store. After multiple shopping trips looking for what we needed, I wished I had bought the bundle (instead of only the textbook). There will be more shipping costs for the forgotten test booklet, missing chemicals, and particular drawing pencils. If you can get everything in one shipment, give yourself kudos!

And don’t forget . . .

Also, contemplate what you might need in addition to the companion products. Upper-level math typically requires a graphing calculator. Our son watches his math lessons from a CD, but he doesn’t have a CD player on his laptop. We had run into this hiccup before, so I was glad to have an external CD/DVD drive for him to use. Your needs will be unique to your curriculum. Try to get a hold of all your curriculum at least a month before you start school. That will give you time to do a thorough review and purchase any additional supplies. And you can make any needed copies (see #4 below). This extra hustle ahead of time will help your school days to run more smoothly.

3. Consider how you might use technology and what your needs might be: a Chromebook or laptop and good lighting.

How you might use technology

I still remember when we got high-speed internet, and how that changed the way we homeschooled. We had so many new resources available to us online! When used carefully, technology can add value to a student’s study. Watching a video about the Sistine Chapel creates a stronger impression than a picture in a book. It’s one step closer to seeing the real thing. When my son didn’t understand how to measure the volume of a sphere, a video from Khan Academy saved the day. (I wonder if Sal Khan knows how many homeschool moms he’s helped!) Investing in good technology lets you take advantage of online resources, even if you aren’t doing “online school.”

Consider upgrading your internet speed if it’s crawling at a snail’s pace. Although a strong internet connection isn’t always available in rural areas, our governor has recently made this a priority. With so many schools moved online due to the Covid pandemic, this issue has been pushed to the forefront. Consider checking into your options if it’s been a while. A few years ago, we canceled our landline, picked up a cell-phone package (for four), and increased our internet speed without too much extra cost.

When your child might need a laptop or Chromebook

You may be wondering when to invest in a laptop or Chromebook for your student. We didn’t see a need for this prior to high school. When we needed to be online, we used our old family desktop or my laptop. The kids didn’t have a laptop that was exclusively theirs until ninth or tenth grade. I know students in public schools get Chromebooks much sooner, but I don’t think this is necessarily good for them. The benefits of a young child having a Chromebook are not always outweighed by the potential pitfalls (even with parameters in place).

As a sophomore, our son now relies heavily on technology to complete his coursework. He watches pre-recorded online videos for Chemistry class—on his laptop. He watches advanced mathematics lessons from a DVD—on his laptop. And he attends an aviation class (through dual-enrollment) three days a week—on his laptop. The teacher requires that he log in to class every school day. He also types all his assignments. Our girls relied on their laptops for college courses they took while in high school. They accessed and turned in all their assignments online. One of our daughters completed a college class but never set foot on the campus. This is so different from my university days. I handed in all my papers (with my social security number typed out next to my name)!

Your child’s specific coursework will dictate when they need the technology. It’s good practice to start typing assignments as they approach high school. But I don’t think there’s a need for children to have an exclusive device until their coursework requires it. Be thinking ahead to when it might be the right time to add this to your homeschool supply list.

Laptop vs. Chromebook

Once you’ve established there’s a need, you might wonder which to purchase: a laptop or a Chromebook? With our family of five, we’ve gone through more than a half-dozen laptops (not to mention iPads and the good ol’ desktops). We have always opted for laptops over Chromebooks. While Chromebooks seem to offer more than they used to, laptops are still more powerful. They have the capabilities required to meet the coursework needs of a college student. We bought laptops for our kids with the hope that they could take them to college (plan to spend more for one that offers longevity). My husband does most of the tech research for us. Over the years he’s often referred to articles from pcmag.com. They address the question of laptops vs. Chromebooks here.

Adequate lighting for online classes

With the increase in online meetings, another consideration is lighting. When I taught ESL0 online for VIPKid, I learned how important this is. I had to strategically position three lamps to get adequate lighting at five in the morning. There are inherently unique challenges to communicating online. Poor lighting further hinders communication by making it difficult to read facial expressions. It can even affect the “mood” of a meeting (much like a gloomy day affects our mood).

When the Covid pandemic hit, my husband began working from home and his meetings moved online. For lighting, he attached an old $10 clip-light to his monitor. The plastic has aged and yellowed, and there are scratches from years of using it in the garage. The light bulb was sort of blinding, but it brightened the room. We had decided to find better lighting for him when our son convinced us he needed something too. I couldn’t argue. He attends his online class in our basement which only offers a few hours of sunlight.

So we did a little research and landed on this LED desk lamp. It’s not fancy-schmancy, but the price is reasonable and the guys have been happy with it. There are a lot more options than I realized. Your space and specific needs dictate what kind you might need. If new lighting isn’t a priority for your homeschool supply list, you can take what you have and make it work (as we did for a long time). There’s no shame in being frugal!  

4. Consider three (more costly) items that are nice but not necessary: a printer, a copier, and a designated homeschool bookshelf.

Do you need a printer?

I use our printer (almost daily) for many random things (weekly meal plans, teaching children’s church, shopping lists). We occasionally print pages from a curriculum on CD, but more often, my son uses it to print his assignments. As a high school student, he types most everything. I know college professors note their corrections online, but that hasn’t captured my interest yet. Just hand me the assignment on paper and a red pen! As a side note, our (“Generation Z”) daughter moved into her first apartment, and she doesn’t have a printer. I am interested to see if she’ll find the need for one! She starts her master’s degree program in a few months. She is a minimalist when it comes to buying things—we shall see!  It’s hard for me to imagine not having one!

For many years, we had a color inkjet printer. We had to frequently replace the ink cartridges, and that got expensive. About five years ago, we switched to a Brother laser printer. We chose a monochrome printer because the color printers were outside our budget. The toner only needs replaced about once a year. It just keeps plugging away—we’ve been really happy with it. Our current model is old enough that it’s been discontinued. When it spits out its last piece of paper, we’ll likely just order the recommended Brother replacement model. Consider if a printer should be on your homeschool supply list. 

Do you need a copier?

In addition to a laser printer, we also acquired a used copier years ago. A local business was upgrading their office equipment, and they had listed it for sale. This has been super convenient, and it has saved us money in the long run. We maybe should have shopped for an all-in-one printer and copier, but who knew. I don’t actually use our copier as much. It gets a workout in late summer as I’m preparing for the school year, but not much else.

If you’re only using your curriculum once, you might not need to make many copies. But if you want to keep workbooks or other pages clean so that a younger sibling can use them later, or if you plan to sell your books, you will make more copies. I haven’t priced new copiers, but our used one has been a blessing. Don’t forget—if you need a printer or copier, you need copy paper. This is on our homeschool supply list about once a year. We stock up by purchasing a carton when Staples runs a good sale.

Do you need a bookshelf?

Another big consideration is a bookshelf. As with any storage space, you want to contemplate the specifics of your need before buying. If you’re homeschooling more than one child, you’ll set back more books to use for younger siblings. These pile up quickly. Older students can keep track of their own textbooks, and they may use more online resources. Then you might just need one shelf to organize your teacher’s manuals.

During the peak of our homeschool years (with three children), our schoolbooks filled many shelves. We bought a used bookcase that had to be moved out through a patio door because it was so large. It was outdated oak furniture, but it was solid and inexpensive. It gave me enough shelving to sort all our books by subject. (I’m in my happy place when I have books to organize.) This was a huge help for me. I could find what I needed and there was less chance that I would order something unnecessarily.

We had some major room modifications last summer, and because my bookshelf was inaccessible, I ended up with two sets of advanced mathematics. I had purchased a used set and forgotten about it. The set that I purchased new ($$$) included a DVD which couldn’t be returned – ugh. A bookshelf (that’s accessible of course) can save you money as it helps you to keep things organized.

5. Consider why your child might need a desk.

One of my favorite homeschool memories is of my son reading a book, while hanging upside down over the edge of our couch. It was the simple delight of reading a good book in a silly position. While couches and beds can work well for reading, they generally don’t work well for writing. Your kitchen table can suffice, but there are a couple of exceptions to this. The first is a “small” exception. If you have little ones practicing penmanship, keep in mind that proper posture is important. An appropriately sized desk will keep their feet flat on the floor. They won’t have to sit on their knees to reach their workbook. So consider the need for proper posture with writing activities.

The other exception to using the kitchen table is if it feels like Grand Central Station. Distractions can come in the form of “stuff” on the table, or in the form of noise that makes it hard to concentrate. There was a season when we tried starting our homeschool day at the kitchen table. It was so discouraging to have to first clear it off! Our busy family of five used the kitchen table as a landing place for anything and everything. We needed to develop a habit of clearing the table each night, or we needed an alternative study space!

As the kids got older, we settled on loft-beds with built-in desks beneath them. These are awesome space savers for small homes. The desks are long, with plenty of room to work. Plastic storage carts worked well for keeping paper, pencils, and calculators handy. A plastic tote organized the kids’ textbooks. Any distraction-free space, with an appropriately sized desk or table (and a place for supplies to be stored)—can suffice.

6. Consider what your homeschool space requires.

Our homeschooling space with three younger students

When we first started homeschooling, we designated a classroom area in our basement. Posters, school projects, and an American flag decorated the walls. This space had some advantages. There were fewer distractions for everyone. It was easier for me to ignore the dishes in the sink upstairs, and I was more available when the kids needed help. I was better prepared for teaching three children because I spent the day focused on school. (It was a full-time job!)

Our homeschooling space with one high school student

After twelve years of homeschooling, I only have one student, and our homeschool space looks a lot different. When I’m teaching, the two of us are usually sitting on the couch. We go over his lesson, and then he heads to the kitchen table or to his desk (in his room) to complete his assignments. I check on him occasionally. If he has work that he needs to do on his computer, he does that on the main level—usually on the couch. His laptop does not have the same parental controls on it as his phone, so the laptop stays on our main level. He also has one class online, which he attends in the quiet of his room. So he does schoolwork in the living room, the kitchen, and in his room.

I have one small bookcase on the main level with the books we are currently using. My son stores some of his books on this shelf, and the rest in his room. The curriculum that we don’t currently use sits on that trusty old bookshelf in our master bedroom, out of the way.

As you create your checklist, you’ll realize how big or little of a space you’ll need to educate your children. For us, it’s no longer a separate area in our home. With only one child being homeschooled, that works. When I was teaching three children, there was a lot more to keep track of. So it was best to do everything in a separate, designated space. Wherever you land, your homeschool space doesn’t need to be Pinterest-worthy. For most of us, it’s not. We just need an area that helps us to stay focused.

Creating Your Homeschool Supply List

The checklist below can help you to get started. I can’t tell you exactly what you need because everyone’s homeschool is unique (which is the beauty of homeschooling!). But I hope this article helps you to think through some potential needs. Then you can get started with confidence. Do your best to prepare for your season of homeschooling, but also give yourself grace. You’ll learn as you go. Before long you’ll have your homeschool supplies prepared and in order, and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in a school day!

Homeschool Supply List Considerations:

• mechanical pencils
• a pack of age-appropriate handwriting paper (younger students)
• a pack of loose-leaf paper and a few notebooks (older students)
• #2 pencils for testing (Ticonderoga if you’re picky about your pencils)
• dry-erase boards
• sticky tabs/page markers
• specific items required to use your curriculum
• an upgrade to your internet
• laptop or Chromebook
• CD/DVD drive
• desk lamp
• laser printer
• copier
• bookshelf
• desk or another workspace
• grace

I would love to hear your thoughts on a homeschool supply list and a homeschool space! Comment below (please and thank you)!