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top 10 must have items for homeschooling

May 29 By Kim Sorgius 25 Comments

29 May
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It would be easy for me to write a post here about 10 homeschooling items that you simply can not live without, but I fear that you might leave feeling defeated and inadequate if you were unable to have one or more of these items. Knowing my tendencies toward such thinking, I want to remind you in advance that this list is intended to be a helpful resource. NOT a you-will-fail-at-homeschooling-without-these list.

So with our minds set in the right perspective…these are the TOP TEN things that I simply would {rather not} live without. They are the heartbeat of our homeschool and I am so grateful to have them!

1. Bible

It would seem that this universal tool goes without saying, but I truly could not list my top ten must haves without listing my Bible.  More specifically, my quiet time. About six months ago I changed my nighttime study habits into a morning quiet time as part of the Hello Mornings Challenge. This single action has been a game changer. I have found that if I don’t start my day before my kids, I am constantly playing catch-up and that never goes well.

2. Library card

Books make me smile. I own far too many and simply can never get enough. There is always a topic or new book that we have yet to read about. Our library card is also useful for borrowing audiobooks and educational videos. I’ve learned that if I set a day each week as library day I am far more likely to get those books returned on time!

3. Computer

My computer is like my left arm. It keeps track of everything from planning meals to planning lessons. I can also note appointments, connect with other home schoolers and find awesome printables. While it can be a distraction and should be closely monitored, the resources my computer offers me are almost limitless.

4. ipad

This probably seems a bit redundant, but I promise that the ipad is more than a portable computer. I’m not sure that I would have ever purchased one of my own, but now that I have one…it’s impossible not to put it on my top ten list. Why? Educational apps. The ipad offers free (or very cheap) education for my family in a fun and exciting way. There are games to captivate and teach my 2 year old and games that drill multiplication with my 8 year old. While this is useful anytime, I find educational apps to be extremely useful when I am at the doctor’s office or other appointments. All 4 of my children must come along and with the use of the ipad (and a few ipod touches) our day is no longer lost in the waiting room.

5. Mini white boards

Sometimes the simple things are some of the best. Teachers have been using chalk boards for centuries because they work. While white boards are a little more modern, they are equally useful. They keep little hands busy, which is always a plus. But perhaps their largest benefit is that they save money. There is no need for a worksheet when you have a white board. I save the paper for things that I need to document and use the white board for practice.

6. Pathways readers

We already talked about my crazy love for books. It would be safe to assume that we own several sets of beginning readers, most of which are fantastic. However, Pathways readers win a spot in my favorites. They are simple, wholesome and perfectly leveled. Best of all, my kids can not stop reading them. Even after they have finished the grade level set, they re-read them for FUN.  The story line is simple and they can relate to the everyday lives of Rachel, Peter, Miriam and Andrew. The books do a great job of including rich vocabulary that is still simple enough not to frustrate the reader.

7. Notebooks

I floundered around quite a bit when I began this homeschooling journey.  One of my biggest problems was the organization of “work”.  Before long, I settled into notebooks. Each year my children get a notebook (they are pictured above).  We call it the “first grade notebook” or whatever grade they happen to be in. We document our studies through out the year in our notebook. We can punch holes in just about anything and collect it as “evidence.” To learn more about note booking, check out The Notebooking Fairy.

8. Toddler box

I started the toddler box when my first son was just 2. In the box, I place games, puzzles, play dough and other appropriate activities for him to complete while I am working with his older sisters. The key is that this is his special school box and can only be used during this time. That way, when it’s school time, he is anxious to play in his school box. You can find great ideas for what to put in your box posted at 1+1+1+1.

9. Ticonderoga pencils

I’m picky when it comes to pencils. A few years ago I read a post where a blogger talked about Ticonderoga pencils and how great they were.  I thought she might be a little wacky for spending a little extra on her pencils.  After all, pencils are all the same, no?  I could not have been more wrong. It only took one box of Ticonderoga pencils to change my mind. Why are these pencils better? The eraser stays attached to the pencil (novel idea, I know).  They are almost unbreakable, which includes their led. No more throwing away pencils that won’t sharpen properly because their led keeps falling out or the child has a freakishly strong moment. No lie, a few packs of these pencils will last the whole year and then some. They are worth the extra dollar.  Maybe even a little more.

10. Schedule

It’s not a physical item, but a top ten must haves for homeschooling list would be incomplete without my schedule. While it is rare that any two days look exactly alike, having a regular routine to follow is crucial. It helps everyone to know what is expected, compels us to be more diligent in our work, and always provides an afternoon quiet time. Which brings us right back where I started. We all NEED a quiet time!

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I hope you have enjoyed this post. Each Tuesday, I am teaming up with a wonderful group of homeschool bloggers to bring you 10 weeks of Top Ten Homeschooling Lists. Be sure you stop by ihomeschool network where you will find a list of over 30 other bloggers participating in the series. I wonder how many of the items will be matching?

What are your top ten? Inquiring minds want to know. Share some of your favorites in the comments or write your own blog post and link up at Angie’s by clicking on the link below…

Top Ten Tuesday at Many Little Blessings

 

Linking up with Hip Homeschool, Raising Mighty Arrows, and Growing Home

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Comments

  1. newlifesteward says

    May 29 at 8:46 am

    I’m just beginning to consider homeschooling (my little one is 16 months). These ideas are great to tuck away for later!

    Mary Beth
    newlifesteward.com

    Reply
    • Kim Sorgius says

      May 29 at 8:49 am

      It’s never to early to tuck ideas away.  Sometimes I pull out parenting things that I learned long before children!  I love that God gives us jewels just when we need them.  Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  2. KelLee Gray says

    May 29 at 8:52 am

    I have to add my vote to Ticonderoga pencils. They are so above the quality of any other pencil that my 4 year old will search the house for one and hand me the “ugly” ones (as he puts it) to throw away. LOL! Your list is perfect! Thank you for your insight.

    Reply
  3. Amy says

    May 29 at 9:12 am

    Good Morning Kim!  Thanks so much for sharing your favorite ideas!  I’m going to make myself a “toddler box” asap!  My little boy is almost 2 years old, and so busy!  🙂 What a fantastic idea and way to keep him a little better occupied while I work with my older girls.  ~ blessings today sister, Amy

    Reply
  4. Cheryl Long says

    May 29 at 9:34 am

    What a thorough list! Thank you for including the links. I’m sharing this post on my blog FB page.

    Reply
  5. Mary says

    May 29 at 9:48 am

    My son loves the Pathway Readers 🙂

    Reply
  6. Jessy Gaffen says

    May 29 at 10:03 am

    Oh, I definitely need some pencils like that! It seems the cheaper ones we have last about a whole day and no more! Ugh! We go through them like water from the faucet! Thanks for the tip!

    Reply
  7. Ginny says

    May 29 at 1:56 pm

    Great list. Many of the same items are on mine. I know what you mean about being picky about pencils. We used to use 
    Ticonderoga pencils but I switched to mechanical pencils when the kids got older. I love my Bic pencils because to advance the lead you twist the bottom and don’t have to click the top. I can put a bigger pencil eraser on the top (we tend to erase a lot lol) and they seem to last about a 6 to 8 weeks before we have to replace them (unless we lose them first). I guess we are all a little quirky about some things, aren’t we. 🙂
    Thanks for sharing your ‘must haves’. Be Blessed.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      June 2 at 10:37 pm

      We love mechanical pencils, too. I order a box of 12+ of the Bic Velocity pencils from Amazon when I need to add something to an order to qualify for free shipping. Much cheaper than what I find locally, and I have a stash on hand. No excuses about needing to sharpen pencils before getting to work? Works for me!

      Also, for those of you with lefties who use notebooks for some subjects, I have found that composition notebooks work so much better than spiral for my two left-handed kids. The spiral binding (or 3-ring binders) make it harder to write on the front of the page if you are left-handed.

      Reply
      • Kim Sorgius says

        June 4 at 9:50 am

        Great tips. Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
  8. Rebecca says

    May 29 at 2:24 pm

    Hmmmm…those Pathway readers look interesting!

    Reply
  9. Jennifer says

    May 29 at 2:37 pm

    Kim, I’d love to see a “homeschooling on a budget” post!  We are still on the fence about homeschooling, and a lot of the reason for that is that we’re not sure if we can afford it (and also afford me not going back to work).  Do you think you could write such a post?  Thanks!

    Reply
    • Corrin Simpson says

      August 18 at 10:56 pm

      If you are still thinking about Homeschooling on a Budget, definitely check out some used book sites such as homeschool classifieds. Books being sold by homeschoolers to homeschoolers. Most prices include shipping. Sometimes you can find friends who have already taught that grade, or even a used book store! Depending on the age/grade, you can get workbooks at a dollar store, and there are tons of worksheets online.

      Reply
  10. Amanda Pelser says

    May 29 at 10:42 pm

    Jonathan has done Pathway Readers 1st grade and a little of 2nd grade. They were perfect to teach him how to read. We had to stop because for his age, the 2nd grade reader print was too small and too many words on a page. We’ll pick them back up soon. I <3 Ticonderoga pencils. So worth the little extra money. 

    Reply
  11. Sharla says

    May 30 at 12:31 am

    I’m actually going to look into those pencils because even though pencils may seem like a small thing, we are constantly having pencil issues around here!  Enjoyed your list!

    Reply
  12. Deborah says

    May 30 at 2:26 am

    We have all the pathway readers too~!! 

    Reply
  13. Katie says

    May 30 at 6:57 am

    I am also new to homeschooling and will be starting in the fall with my 5 year old. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  14. Kim Sorgius says

    May 30 at 7:11 am

    For those of you that are new to homeschooling, we are doing a Top 10 things you would tell a new homeschooler list, plus so many more useful lists!  Be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss a single thing.

    Reply
  15. Amber says

    June 2 at 1:32 am

    I keep hearing about these Ticonderoga pencils.. I’m going to have to check these out… 

    Reply
  16. Theres Just One Mommy says

    May 12 at 12:33 pm

    Whiteboards are a must! Planning on using binders this year as well. Have never heard of those pencils, but they definitely sound like a better option than the ones we’ve been using!

    Reply
  17. Dana Irwin says

    August 15 at 9:15 am

    Have you noticed a decline in the quality of Ticonderago pencils? I got the black and neon ones last year and they were terrible— always breaking. I was not impressed. When I mentioned this on a forum someone said they had noticed a difference in quality between the pencils that say T. on them vs. Dixon/T. Mine were the Dixon/T. After looking though for the past several weeks in stores, I cannot find any that just say T. on them. I am wondering if they got bought out and are now a lesser quality than before. Any thoughts on this?

    Reply
    • Kim Sorgius says

      August 16 at 10:48 am

      Oooo…I don’t know! I just bought some for this year and they say Dixon T on them. Boo! I think our previous ones were Just T. I haven’t bought any in a few years because they lasted so long and I didn’t expect that, so I bought so many that first year.

      Reply
  18. Lindsey says

    August 1 at 6:24 pm

    I am going to start homeschooling a 1st and 3rd grader this fall….the parents of these 2 kiddos are turning their playroom into a classroom….she wants me to come up with a list of things that she needs to purchase (furniture, supplies etc…). Could you help me and come up with a Top 10 of these types of materials??? Thanks!!

    Lindsey

    Reply
    • Kim Sorgius says

      August 5 at 9:02 pm

      This might help: http://www.notconsumed.com/simple-homeschool/

      Reply

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I've been following your blog for a couple years and I have enjoyed participating in your free bible studies/devotions as well as those I've purchased from you. I just wanted to let you know that you've made such a positive impact in my spiritual and home school life, as well as support and encouragement for motherhood. Thank you for being such a blessing to so many moms.
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I just wanted you to know that I LOVE your blog. I can’t tell you how much the homeschooling posts have meant to me. It’s like you’re in my head, sister!! Thank you so much for taking the time in your busy life to minister to struggling moms and making me feel as if I’m not alone.
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2018-07-02T17:36:15+00:00

Christi, single homeschooling mom of 7

What an encouragement your words have been to me! The practical tips and realistic systems that you share are so super helpful, but what I have appreciated the most has been your genuine heart for the Lord and for the things of the Lord. What I sense through your words is a heart submitted to the Lord, clinging to Him instead of to bitterness. Walking a path that you never signed up for, painfully aware of your brokenness and inadequacies, but keeping your eyes focused on the only Giver of Life. You have a testimony of victory, of overcoming, Kim. Your life-giving words boast of the faithfulness of a God who hears and sees and knows and provides and comforts. A God who doesn't change.
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Tara, single homeschooling mom

I want to thank you for your transparency and dedication to blessing families with resources. Thank you for the life giving words that I read over and over. I cling to the hope I see in your story. Not only did you help me work through things that had happened, you prepared me for a situation that could have consumed me. God used your encouragement to strengthen me. I was so beaten down, discouraged, and tired from the long and difficult path I had been walking. It was a refreshing rain in the middle of a weary road, and it made me hope for a future that is victorious.
https://www.notconsumed.com/testimonials/brings-courage-to-my-heart/

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2018-07-02T18:04:06+00:00

Laura, homeschooling mom of 6

As far as the other things, I LOVE my brothers keeper and we've done it twice over the past year or two. I recommend it all the time on so many groups online. I type notconsumed.com almost daily somewhere on something. At times I will come across another resource you have created and it's like you are in my head. So much of what you create is exactly what I want but am not techy enough to do! I had googled a checklist for homeschooling recently and yours popped up. It was exactly the simple thing I wanted. I told my husband that you "get me" when I found it. :) I ended up buying it then hearing about the course and did that too. Even as a veteran homeschool mom I learned a few things from your course. I really love how you foster independence in your kids in stages. Again, exactly what I want to do!
https://www.notconsumed.com/testimonials/love-everything-you-do/


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