Back to school time brings concern about having the supplies that children will need throughout the school year. This is no different for homeschool families. We all need homeschool supplies and if we have them all at hand and in order it makes the year run much more efficiently.

Here are just a few thoughts on what you may need as far as homeschool supplies go:

– Homeschool Curriculum – This should be a given but if you haven’t shopped for what you need you will become overwhelmed and unmotivated. Make sure you have a game plan and try to be as prepared as possible. If you are new to homeschooling this can be costly. Keep in mind that there are homeschool curriculums that are all inclusive. That means that for science they will send you all the supplies you need for every science experiment that you will be doing for the year. If you don’t have the time or energy to put these things together for yourself, you may want to look into a homeschool curriculum that will give you what you need all at once.

– Paper, paper and more paper – I’m sure that no matter what method of schooling a parent uses, there will always be the need for paper. For homeschooling you will need loose leaf paper, spiral bound notebooks, blank paper in an array of colors as well as white, construction paper, card stock, composition books, poster board, and more. For younger grades be sure to get manuscript paper to help with handwriting needs. The larger spacing with the dotted line down the middle helps the younger children learn the size of letters.

– General Homeschool Supplies – scissors, glue sticks, popsicle sticks, cotton balls, pipe cleaners, markers, colored pencils, protractors, rulers, erasers, pencils, paper clips, brads, folders of every kind, pencil caddies and other organizational helpers, chalk, dry erase markers and boards. These are just a few of the things that you may need. Just look at your curriculum and see what you need. You do not have to buy a full year’s supply at once, you could get what you need monthly if you like. However, at back to school time you can usually get some really great values and it is worth stocking up and storing rather than paying more in four months.

– Extracurricular activity needs – If you have children in dance, music or sports or whatever else, make sure they have the right equipment, clothing, shoes and other items that they will need. This will take the hassle out of having children enrolled in extra activities. Back packs can be wonderful assets for keeping these items all in one space. If kept in a coat closet or a hook by the door, the student can grab the appropriate bag and just have what they need all in one place.

– Homeschool Organizational items – A master calendar is a priceless tool for the homeschooling parent. The more children you have, the more crucial this calendar becomes. Some families have a huge wall calendar, others have a day planner, while other families use a Blackberry or other PDA type of device to keep them all synced and on schedule. It is important for families to talk about what is happening each day so that conflicts can be rearranged and parents can be supportive of kids that may have over lapping events or needs.
It is also very helpful for your homeschool supplies to have as many bookshelves as possible as well as storage places like bins and drawers. Art caddies are a great idea where everything related is kept in one spot. Lucky for all of us there are stores specifically geared toward organizing our lives down to every detail. They offer great solutions, usually for very little money. If you don’t have a lot to spend you can always look at what is offered and get inspired as to how to make things work in your home.

Back to school time is exciting for everyone and homeschool families are no different. It’s great to get things together and get excited for a new year of learning.