If you’re like me, there are those favorite homeschool items you just can’t live without. Well, I can live without them but I definitely don’t want to homeschool without them. These things make my life easier as a homeschooling mother and make school more fun for my little people.
Here are my top 10 favorite homeschool must-haves in no particular order:
Ticonderoga Pencils
All pencils are not the same and you will get you what you pay for when it comes to pencils. I prefer Ticonderoga pencils, preferably in black. They sharpen so easily that it just makes my heart sing. I know that’s dorky, but I really do love them.
Which leads me to my next favorite item…
Our Electric Pencil Sharpener
You know how you have those small kitchen appliances that make you so happy to use (crockpot!)? In the schoolroom, one of my favorite “appliances” is our electric pencil sharpener.
After many sharpenings of my beloved Ticonderogas, our sharpener is still going strong after 2 years of moderate use. I researched electric pencil sharpeners fairly well before buying one, and this one got fairly good reviews. I’ve been most pleased with it thus far.
Our 8-Foot White Board
Yes, you read correctly in that it is 8 feet long. I know that makes some of your cringe and thrills others of you! Purchasing that big board was one of our first homeschool decisions and in my opinion, it’s been one of our best.
If you’re going to splurge on a white board, make sure you get one that is also magnetized. I thought that wouldn’t be an important feature for me, but we’ve used magnets on it countless times.
Laminating Machine
My laminating machine and I are bosom buddies. I love that thing! I purchased our machine at Wal-mart for about $28 and it has held up remarkably well, despite my moderate-heavy use.
Just FYI – the cheapest place to find 8.5 x 11” laminating pouches is at BJ’s. They offer 50 pouches for only $6.99. That’s a steal compared to Wal-Mart’s price of 50 pouches for $13.99.
Our Plethora of Construction Paper
Construction paper, like pencils (see above), is another item where you get what you pay for. While I’m okay with the cheap-y, cheap construction paper at Wal-Mart for some projects, there are some crafts that deserve a higher quality of paper. I found a wonderful vendor last year at our NC homeschool conference that sold various colored construction paper in bundles.
Cheap bundles.
And I bought a lot.
If you really knew how much I had purchased, you’d be surprised at the amount I bought from the same vendor at Teach Them Diligently this past March. I literally jumped for joy when I saw that they were at the conference and I could score some more of their top-quality construction paper. It’s the little things, right?
I wish I knew the vendor so I could link to them!
Do-A-Dots
I know that Do-A-Dot Markers seem like an odd must-have homeschool item. But it would make perfect sense if you could see the Crazy Town that is our homeschool some days. A 3 year old and 18 month old tend to keep things lively around here. Do-A-Dots are one of those activities that quieten them down and will keep them entertained for about 30 minutes. And that 30 minutes is precious time to this Mama!
My Laptop
I’m not sure I could homeschool without my laptop. It’s how I research curriculum, purchase and then download curriculum, buy books, keep track of our lesson plans, find new-to-me ideas, organize my homeschool ideas and thoughts (in OneNote), and create printables for my little people.
I could homeschool without it, but it would be tough!
Our Amazon Prime Membership
Yes, I did mention Amazon Prime in my last Top 10 post, but I thought it should be mentioned again since this is my Top 10 List of Favorite Homeschooling Items. I order something from Amazon Prime every couple of weeks, so it’s an integral part of obtaining the materials we use in our daily school.
My Coffee Pot
Yes, my coffee pot. Just keepin’ it real.
What are your must-have homeschooling items? Do tell!
I’m pleased to link this post to iHomeschool Network’s 10 in 10 Blog Hop Series and to Top Ten Tuesday at Many Little Blessings.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Making a purchase through Mama’s affiliate links helps keep those free worksheets and printables coming.
Love your list! I don’t why I didn’t include my Amazon Prime membership on my list today! It’s probably my favorite resource for homeschooling. Your white board sounds heavenly!!
Yes, love our Amazon Prime! I consider it to be a valuable resource for our family. 🙂
I suspect, but could be wrong, that your paper supplier may be Miller Pads and Paper. I know because I spent about $15 on the paper mystery stacks at convention for the past two years. Then do stacks of paper that are 100 sheets in 5 colors that are randomly picked, and cost less than $2. Is that them??
Ooh! That rings a bell! Off to Google them. Thanks! 🙂
Totally get what you are saying with Ticonderoga pencils! I have the same feeling when they are sharpened…so easy…the pencil seem to sing! I may be going overboard here, but they really are the best brand out there.
As for my “must haves” for homeschooling: Crayola markers, colored pencils and crayons and Expo dry erase markers.
Yes, yes, and yes to the others you mentioned – especially the Crayola brand markers and crayons. They definitely seem to last the longest around here and don’t smudge.
OH, our pencil sharpener….and our laminator…I had to leave those off….ten….maybe too short to really list, but the coffee pot…YES, that is one I should have listed, for sure!
I must add Amazon Prime to my school expenses for the new year. I don’t know why I didn’t sign up for it after a free trial I received.
Yes! You’ll love it! So convenient!
I don’t think I ever have enough construction paper. We do so many projects with it. I love the back to school sales!
Oooooh, so many of yours would be on my list too! Laminator, Ticonderogas, Amazon prime…etc. You’re speaking my language! LOL
Love your list!
I have been complaining about pencils (and our sharpener) for the longest time!!! I will *have* to try these!
And I have to say that my chin dropped and my mind wandered to a state of bliss when I thought about your 8 foot whiteboard.. 8 feet!! I sooooooo need one of those!
Yes, our Amazon Prime membership is well used also — as is our coffee pot. =)
You DO need an 8-ft white board! It might be one of my favorite things in our house even. We use it for a million things!
I had to chuckle at your last item, coffee pot! That is totally something I can’t live without either! My homeschool day would not run smooth (or at all!) without my morning cup. 🙂
Haha! Yes – you know it! 😉