First day of school is just around the corner and if you’ve decided to homeschool this year, I am here to help you get started with all the basics you need to have a smooth sailing year.
I have compiled for you a comprehensive list of tools, apps, and workbooks that I have been using for years to make homeschooling easy peasy.
I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. By using these affiliate links, I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
Tablets for Access to Learning Content and Applications
I believe tablets are the number one tool for homeschooling. This doesn't mean that we rely 100% but we do rely on them a lot. There are various reasons why I consider them to be essentials for learning.
- Makes learning easy as children can access all learning materials.
- Many educational apps are tablet intuitive making them easy to use and navigate.
- Help learning on the go, if you are traveling or simply having coffee shop learning time.
The two tablets we rely on are the Amazon Kids Tablet and the Samsung A8 tablet.
The Amazon Kids tablet has wonderful learning applications that can help along your children's learning journey. It is also a solid tablet that will resist falls and accidents which are inevitable with children.
Samsung A8 tablet is fast, reliable, and overall more suitable for my children as they are growing. Some of the free apps that they had access on the Amazon Kids tablet now must be purchased but we still rely on them for reading, learning apps and more. Khan Academy which is a big part our curriculum in Math works wonderful on this tablet as well as the occasional IXL, and their reading apps such as Libby and Kindle. The tablet runs very smoothly and holds the battery for a long time. I highly recommend.
Educational Workbooks to Teach Children Fundamentals
Since the time I started homeschooling, over 10 years ago, I have been relying on educational workbooks. They have been staples as they guide us in the learning common core required for each of my children's grades. I have used these workbooks to tailor a curriculum for each grade. The workbooks I use are by subject and grade. I highly suggest them for any homeschooling family if you have just started or have been homeschooling for years. They will elevate the heavy load for you so can focus with your children on subjects or concepts that require more attention. I have been using the Kindle version and printing them as I go so I can keep track of what we've accomplished and so we can learn wherever we are.
So which ones you may ask? This answer will be long and tedious. For that reason, I broke it down using these links to help you navigate the workbooks you will need for your children. In the meantime I will suggest any Spectrum books. There are hands down the best out there. You will notice that these workbooks do not go past the 6th grade since it is the highest grade my child has ever been in.
French Graph Notebooks to Improve Handwriting
In our homeschooling home, we use several kind of notebooks based on our needs. We definitely take advantage of the sale on composition books when they have them. You can't beat those $0.20 notebooks and they are so useful when the children need to write. We also make sure to stock on white printing paper which are ideal for drawing.
However, based on my experience, I find that French Graph notebooks are the best options. This is what I used in school and when we took the children to Tunisia, we absolutely loved using them during our Worldschooling sessions.
What makes french graph notebooks special special is the fact they have squares instead of just lines like the composition books ones. The French Graph was created to teach children handwriting in the French school system and was adopted by the Tunisian system. This allows children to write neatly as they try to keep words in a box. I highly recommend them. Sometimes, I also find myself printing french graph papers when I need them immediately and I don't want to wait for delivery of the notebooks.
Noise Cancelling Earmuffs to Create a Quiet Space
I remember reading one of my daughter's favorite comic book about an elementary school teacher called Mr Wolf Class. In one of the book series, Mr Wolf encourage his students to put on noise cancelling earmuffs to study for a test. I had no idea that it was even a thing since I never used them growing up. After that, my daughter began requesting the noise cancelling headphones at the library when she wanted peace and quiet for reading. Eventually we bought her a pair and now, they are a staple in our home when for our focus study. I highly recommend them to keep cancel all distractions to help your children learn.
Sony Headphones to Focus on Learning Materials
I can't believe how long these headphones have lasted despite the fact that we are using them every single day. They are just a fantastic, solid and reliable headphones for everyday use. I know they are higher end headphones in the market, some wireless too, but I want to keep it as simple as possible. Also, we mostly utilize headphones when we are out and about and the children can't hear their content on their electronic devices. For 10$, you can't beat quality headphones that will last a long time. I highly recommend them.
Magnetic Letters To Engage Children in Learning
Back to school means back to essentials learning such as letter recognition, CVC words, phonics, vocabulary, and everything literacy. There are many ways of practicing those essential reading and spelling skills and we never miss on the traditional sitting and writing down. However, early learners enjoy playing with letters, using their developing motor skills, as they spell words and sound the phonics. But older learners, even in middle school, can have fun too! Playing with words during vocabulary and spelling time is highly rewarding. Sometimes I like to play games with them where we pretend to be in a game show, and the one that spells the most words correctly earns a prize. It is fun and rewarding and it is far more engaging than any other literacy learning activities.
Laminator to Create Reusable Educational Content
Boy do I love my laminator. It is my baby, and I have no shame in admitting that. It is such a vital tool in our homeschool class. With my laminator, I can do so much such as laminate my own schedules, practicing writing sheets, learning cards, create some fun crafts and so much more. I bought the most affordable one on my Amazon, not knowing what I was getting myself into and it was love at first sight. I purchased the Scotch Laminating Pouches along with it and I have not ran out of them yet, even after creating all those learning materials for the kiddos. I highly recommend it. It makes everything much easier to use in the children learning journey and it makes everything reusable. Big Win!
Electric Pencil Sharpener to Ease the Load
I didn't know how much we relied on our electric pencil sharpener until we left for our worldschooling journey in 2024. Although I did pack pencil sharpeners, I didn't realize how often the children sharpened their pencils and colored pencils. I mean it is mind-blowing! I can't be mad at that! This is only but the result of the children constantly drawing, creating, inventing, and brainstorming which makes them use pencils continually. It was much easier at home when they can run to their electric pencil sharpener, handle their business and run back to their crafts. While traveling, I had to purchase so many of those pencil sharpeners because, surprise, those suckers break so easily! And the children couldn't get that neat sharp they enjoyed so much. My electric pencil sharpener makes everything so much easier and I will make sure to pack a USB, battery-operated one next time we are on our worldschooling journey.
Magnetic Board To Practice Words and Math
We have been using our boards for years. From drawing shapes and letters as toddlers, to spelling words as older children, our board makes our homeschooling class groovy and I love it. When I homeschool, sometimes I find myself having to remove the children from their notebooks, their tablets or the couch they've been hiding in for the past two hours. It brings a new perspective, a new challenge, a fun way to look at their math equation or like I mentioned before, spell words with their magnetic letters. The magnetic board can be moved from one corner to another room which is helpful to follow the children around the house. It also have two sides, one for chalk and one for markers and magnetic letters.
File Storage Box To keep Worksheets Organized
When I homeschool, I need to turn on the OCD part of my brain to keep up with the children curriculum. Homeschooling three children in three different grades demands some organization and planning. I print worksheet every week and every month to keep up with the children learning materials and the different topics they are studying. It helps me keep track of what they've learned and helps me when it comes time to submit those sheets for the end of the year review that the State of Ohio required up until October 2023. I keep a portable file organizer when I take the children to study at the library and I rely on a big box one at home. This box does require files to help keep all files separated, so if you decide to purchase the box, do not forget about those files!
These are my essentials as an experienced homeschool mom. All of these tools are affordable and help the children learn no matter what grade they are in. If you are new to this homeschool life, then you will find these to be helpful without overwhelming you. If you are a veteran one, I would love to hear more about your essentials below.