Explore what you need to start homeschooling. This is a general list that goes over the very basics needed to start homeschooling.
Also check out: How to Start Homeschooling
Also check out: Homeschool Amazon Must-Haves!
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Basic Supplies
You truly don’t need much to start homeschooling. Here is a list of supplies you will need to start, everything else is extra and totally at the parents discretion.
- Paper
- Pencils
- Access to the internet for resources and information
^That is literally all you need in terms of supplies.
Here are some extras that we use often in our homeschool:
- personal whiteboards
- dry erase markers
- coloring pencils
- watercolors
- laptop/iPad/phone
- library card
There are tons more manipulative and supplies out there, but this is pretty much it for the basics.
Curriculum or Education Plan
I personally like to buy a curriculum for Kindergarten and higher grades. If you believe you can create a strong education plan on your own, I say go for it! Some people even choose to “unschool” where they don’t use a curriculum at all and learn through life experiences.
Since I now have multiple kids homeschooling I do not have the time or energy to create education plans for each of my children and so I only make my own preschool plans.
I choose a curriculum I’ve vetted and trust to teach my kids everything they need to learn, and we just work through it lesson by lesson. This has worked great for my kids and I’ve finally found a routine where we are always finished with school before lunch and can follow my children interests during the afternoon.
Check out our curriculum picks
Check out a breakdown of how we homeschool
Place to do School
Having a place to do school may not always look like what you had imagined. When we first started homeschooling I dedicated an entire room to do our structured learning in. It didn’t take long to realize that we were actually much happier to just do school at the kitchen table.
Quick note:
When I mention structured learning I’m talking mainly about things you sit to work on like Language arts and Math. However, there are so many opportunities to learn through unstructured learning through experiences, experiments, and conversations.
Here are different ideas on where you could conduct your more structured learning:
- Homeschool room
- Dining Table
- Living room couch
- On the lawn
- On a porch
- At the park
- Sitting in bed
The options are limitless. We usually do school at the kitchen table, but sometimes we just hang out in my bed and work through our lessons. Whatever works for your family is all that matters!
Positive Attitude
Having a positive attitude when teaching your children is of utmost importance. Your children will mirror your attitude, so if you are being negative during a lesson they will also likely be negative.
Now, I’m not saying that you have to be the happiest more excitable person ever, just try to keep your tone and words uplifting.
I know there are hard days where being positive is easier said than done, but try to remember that you are your child’s main influence and example of how to behave. Remember that this is homeschooling and you have the freedom to take a break if you find it necessary!
Don’t forget to tell your child that they’re doing a great job, and it’s okay if they come across something that they might struggle with. Learning takes time and patience and isn’t always easy. Reassuring you child of their progress is beneficial to their self confidence and self motivation.
Stable and Safe Home Environment
A stable and safe home environment is especially important for a homeschooling family. Homeschooled children spend most of their time at home with their family. Things like physical, emotional, and verbal abuse have extreme negative impacts on children. If there is a tendency of any kind of abuse in the household then homeschooling may not be feasible for your family.
*If you are experiencing abuse here is a link to a website for help https://www.thehotline.org
Other homeschooling related articles:
Curriculum picks for 2023-2024
Breakdown on how we homeschool
Watercolor Letter Recognition Activity
Join our brand new Facebook group!
Help build and become part of a community of homeschoolers where you can share resources, ideas, and advice!
