The 2017 Back to Homeschool Blog Hop: Supplies I Can't Live Without

Supplies I Can't Live Without

Welcome to the second day of the Homeschool Review Crew 2017 Back to Homeschool Blog Hop. Today my fellow Crew Mates and I are going to focus on School Supplies. I actually wrote a post about our essential school supplies 3 1/2 years ago. Not surprisingly, a lot of the items are the same, though there are some differences. So, let's take a look at what I can't live without when it comes to making sure my children have a great education.

One of the most important items we need in our home for homeschooling is the computer with internet connection, plus the printer. We continue to use various educational websites to supplement the children's learning. I also use the internet to look up information and pictures, though I don't use the images to quite the extent now that I am not putting together preschool activities. And if I didn't have the computer, I wouldn't have a blog, which means I couldn't be on the Homeschool Review Crew, which means we wouldn't have a lot of our wonderful supplemental products that help expand our learning opportunities. 

In addition to the computer, there are basic supplies that each of the children need to have to work on their lessons. Supplies that I make sure to grab up when they go on sale this time of year, though I never can get enough to last the full school year. 

On the first day of school the children always start out with the following:

• 1 or 2 one-subject, wide lined, spiral notebooks
• a binder (though this year there may end up being two each)
• a prong paper folder
• watercolor paints
• markers
• glue
• ruler
• a pencil box, into which goes the following:
• a pair of scissor
• colored pencils
• crayons
• a glue stick
• a couple of sharpened pencil 
• and an eraser (not pictured)

They keep these in their drawer box in our cubbies. 

However, there are also other necessary supplies:

We use a lot of printer paper and card stock. The card stock will be used again this year to make a timeline, as we did while going through Adventures a couple of years ago. But there are lots of other uses for the card stock.

Construction paper is needed for many projects as well. 

The paper cutter is used an awful lot, especially now that the children are always wanting paper squares to work on origami. 

The 3-hole paper punch is essential for making sure the children's work gets into their binders. 

Of course, I couldn't use the printer without the printer ink. 

There are so many uses for the stapler, rubber bands, tape and even the hot glue gun. 

And we use the index cards for various assignments. I actually think I am going to have to buy some of the bigger cards this year. 

The zippy bags and the envelopes are both used for storing cards or pieces for crafts, or other uses. 

The Velcro probably won't get the same amount of use as it did when I had preschoolers, but I'm sure I will find uses for it, so I am keeping it as an essential for this year.

And that contact paper is so important for laminating things and for crafts (whether here at home or at co-op)

In addition to the above materials, we also have a nice supply of paint:

And I love being able to use these crates with the hanging folders to keep our papers organized. 

 

Last, but not least, but almost forgotten, is our easel, along with our calendar time materials. 

I'm not sure how much longer we will be doing calendar/weather time, but these materials I found a few years ago are still getting used. Though, as you can see, we may have lost a couple of the pieces. The poster on the bottom may or may not get used this year. I used it for letter of the week in the past, and all of the children are beyond that. However, I may find a use for it this year. 

So, what are the supplies you can't live without?

Tomorrow I will be sharing about planning/record keeping. I admit, I'm still not quite sure what direction I will be going in. Hope you can stop by tomorrow so you can see what I decided to talk about.

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