After eight years of homeschooling three kids, I've bought a lot of things that ended up in a donation box — and a few things that have earned a permanent spot in our homeschool room. This list is the latter. These are the items I reach for every single day, tested and approved by a real homeschool family who has tried just about everything.
Note: Some links below are affiliate links. I recommend products I personally use and love.
1. The Best Pencil Sharpener I've Ever Used
I have tested dozens of pencil sharpeners over the years. Dozens. This one is the best — full stop. It sharpens quickly, doesn't eat your pencils, and actually lasts. If you've been frustrated by sharpeners that chew through pencils or leave a dull tip, this is the one to get.
2. A Dry Erase Eraser That Stays Put
My dry erase marker eraser was always missing. Always. I'd be mid-lesson and have to use my sleeve (we've all been there). This solution solved that problem completely — now I never need to go hunting for it. Game changer for daily lessons.
3. A Dry Erase Board
I cannot do this homeschool thing without my dry erase board. It's where we work through math problems, diagram sentences, map geography, and brainstorm ideas together. If you only buy one thing from this list, make it this.
4. The Best Pencils Money Can Buy
Good pencils are hard to come by. I've tested so many brands over the years and tried to save money buying generic — but they would always break when sharpening, which meant wasted time and frustrated kids. These pencils are worth every penny. They sharpen cleanly, write smoothly, and last.
5. A Filing System for Everything Important
Homeschool families accumulate a lot of paper — art projects, science reports, assessment tests, keepsakes. And if you're in a state that requires records, you need a system. I use this for storing papers by subject and by child, so if the state ever comes knocking, I'm ready. Peace of mind is priceless.
6. A Great Kids' Desk
A dedicated workspace makes a real difference for kids. This desk is sturdy, the right size, and has held up beautifully. Having their own spot signals to kids that learning time is intentional — it's not just sitting on the couch with a worksheet.
7. Bookshelves (You'll Need More Than One)
Bookshelves are a necessity in a homeschool home. We use ours for curriculum books, read-aloud books, student independent reading, and nature journals. If your family loves books the way ours does, you'll fill them faster than you think.
8. A Big Joe for Reading Time
What kid wouldn't want to curl up with a good book in a cozy Big Joe? We are a read-aloud family, and having a comfortable, inviting spot makes kids actually want to sit down with a book. This is one of those purchases that pays for itself in reading hours.
9. A Bookshelf with Hidden Storage
This one is a little nicer, but it earns its place because of the hideaway area at the bottom — perfect for art supplies, markers, math manipulatives, and all the small things that tend to take over a homeschool room. Beautiful on top, functional underneath.
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10. A Way to Play Music
Every homeschool needs a way for kids to listen to memory work songs, classical music during independent work, or study music during reading time. Music is woven into our school day, and having a reliable, easy-to-use speaker the kids can operate themselves has been wonderful.
One More Thing
A well-equipped homeschool room deserves a well-organized homeschool planner. If you're managing multiple kids at different grade levels, our Complete Homeschool Planner was designed for exactly that — with individual lesson plan pages, chore charts, reading lists, meal planning, and more, all in one place.
Here's to a beautiful school year. You've got this. 📚
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