The 25 Best Homeschool Supplies of 2021

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Whether this is your first year teaching your kids at home or you’re a veteran homeschooler, one of the most important things you need to do is make sure you, your student, and your "classroom" are stocked up on everything you need to have an organized successful school year. Keeping your learning space filled with essentials will make the teaching and education process smoother for both you and your mini-scholar.

From marker boards to pencils to planners, here are some of the best homeschool supplies you can use to make this year the best school year yet.

Our Top Picks

X-Acto Electric Pencil Sharpener at Amazon

Say goodbye to manual pencil sharpening and loose shavings with X-Acto's heavy-duty, electric sharpener.

Amazon Basics Hanging 6-Pocket File Folders at Amazon

Students and teachers won't lose important papers again with this collapsible file folder that can be hung on a wall or door.

The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas at Amazon

If you need some inspiration on teaching your kid the basics, from math to history, you can find it all in one spot in this book.

Gaiam Stay-N-Play Children's Balance Ball at Amazon

Tailor study sessions to your high-energy kiddo with a balance ball that has built-in legs so they can stay energized but focused.

Crayola Colored Pencils, 120 Count at Amazon

Youngsters who enjoy doodling, arts and crafts, or writing in color will enjoy using various shades in this pre-sharpened set.

Mead 1 Subject Notebooks at Amazon

Designate each subject to one notebook with this set of six, complete with perforated edges so sheets can easily be torn out.

Westcott Kids Blunt Scissors at Amazon

Your child can safely use these blunt blade scissors for crafts, experiments, or developing their fine motor skills.

TSJ OFFICE Foldable Magnetic Whiteboard at Amazon

Kiddos of all ages are sure to get a lot of use out of this whiteboard, which can be used for math practice or freehand drawing.

SHARPIE Liquid Retractable Highlighters at Amazon

Your student's notes will look more exciting with shades of indigo, berry, and orange once they use these non-bleed highlighters.

edxeducation Math Cubes Set of 100 at Amazon

An educational toy your kiddo will enjoy, these vibrant math cubes provide a creative way to learn geometry and colors.

X-Acto School Pro Electric Pencil Sharpener

No matter what grade your kid is in, they (and you) need pencils, which means there needs to be a pencil sharpener in the classroom. This electric pencil sharpener will get the job done (and get it done well). It can fit a variety of pencil sizes, has an automatic stop, is equipped with several safety measures, and is easy to clean out.

Great for teachers and students, this colorful hanging file has 6 folders to make organizing classwork, worksheets, and other important information easy. You can hang the file on the wall or fold it up, accordion style, for a more compact organization system.

Regardless of how many years you’ve been homeschooling, it’s always helpful to have a resource of activities to keep your students occupied and help them learn in the process. This book is packed with activities for kids between 3 and 12 years old, so it has enough content to last you through several years of school.

Kids who have a tough time sitting still will love this balance ball seat that allows them to bounce a little while they’re studying. It’s available in two sizes. The 45-centimeter option is great for kids between 5 and 7 years old, and the 52-centimeter ball is made for kids between 8 and 11 years old. It’s available in a variety of colors and made from durable plastic to keep it strong.

Kids as young as 4 years old can enjoy coloring with basically every color on the spectrum using this 120-count colored pencil set. Each pencil is a unique color and comes pre-sharpened. They’re non-toxic and designed to go on smoothly, creating vibrant works of art.

Middle and high school students will have plenty of room to write using these college ruled single subject spiral notebooks. They come in a set of six, so your kiddo can use one for every subject. Each notebook contains 70 pages of perforated pages to make them easy to pull out with a clean edge.

Younger kids who are still getting the hang of using scissors will do great with these blunt scissors. You get two in a pack, and each can be used by either the left or right hand. The blades are made from stainless steel, so they’re sharp enough to cut through tougher textures, but the blunt blades add a layer of safety.

Kids in all grades can use this double-sided whiteboard that folds up to sit on a tabletop. It measures 16 x 12 inches and comes with three colorful markers and two magnets. Each marker also has an eraser attached to the cap, making for easy cleanup.

Great for kids in late elementary and beyond, these highlighters make studying a little easier. They click open like a pen and have an angled tip for precise highlighting. Each pack comes with eight markers in different colored ink that won’t bleed or fade.

If you’re teaching an elementary student in math, these cubes will come in handy during lessons. You get 100 interlocking cubes in 10 different colors, each of which has different shapes on its sides. You can use these to teach basic addition and subtraction, learn about patterns, color sorting, and shape identification.

Memorizing the periodic table will become second nature with this colorful and easy-to-read the laminated chart. Each element features the name, symbol, atomic weight, and a real-world image to help with association. The lamination keeps it in tip-top shape so that your kiddo can use it from the first day of kindergarten to the last day of high school.

Once you start introducing your student to geometry, this little kit will come in handy. It has all the tools you need for various levels of the subject, including a protractor, compasses, metal divider, pencils and pencil lead, an eraser, a protractor with a swing arm, and two set squares. Your kiddo can keep this high-quality set on hand as they advance through their educational career.

If you or your student is using a tablet, this stand will make it easier to see and use without straining your neck. Available in either white or black, this stand can hold tablets between 4 and 10 inches. It easily adjusts to give you multiple angles and has a rubber pad to avoid slipping and scrapes.

You can keep things organized with this set of three whiteboard calendars. They are magnetic, so they can be hung on the fridge or just tacked to the wall. The set comes with one monthly calendar, one weekly calendar, and one daily calendar. You also get four markers with erasers attached to the caps as well as a larger eraser for bigger jobs.

Elementary and middle school students can get a lot of use out of these broad-stroke markers. Each pack comes with eight non-toxic markers in different colors. If your kid makes a mess, there’s no need to worry, because the ink is washable whether it’s on their hands, the carpet, the walls, or furniture.

Students between kindergarten and 2nd grade can work on reading and writing sight words using this workbook. It has 100 pages of activities to help your kids master handwriting and identifying basic sight words. By consistently incorporating these words into their daily lesson, young children will gain the ability to read and write more fluently.

As technology and education become more and more intertwined, it is natural for screens to be a larger part of learning. Keep your junior learner's eyes protected from headache-inducing blue light with these glasses. Designed for kids from 3 to 9 years old, the flexible material makes these glasses comfortable to wear and helps to reduce eyestrain.

Jelly Comb 2.4G Slim Wireless Mouse with Nano Receiver

You and your kids can make navigating laptops a little easier on the wrists by using this slim wireless mouse. All you do is plug in a little USB which then sends signals to your mouse to connect it to the laptop. The mouse runs on one AA battery and lasts a while thanks to the power-saving automatic shutdown that happens after 8 minutes of non-use.

Kids in all grades can benefit from a pack of colorful construction paper, but especially younger kids in elementary and middle school. This pack comes with 240 9- x 12-inch sheets in 12 different colors. Each sheet is thick and durable while still being foldable, so they can be used to create all kinds of art.

Having visuals can help a lot of students learn, even when it comes to math. This flip chart is great for kids in elementary school who are learning about place values and decimal points. The flip chart is color-coded to help students get a better grasp on the subject.

Teachers and students will get a lot of use out of this desk organizer made out of natural wood. Its design allows for some modification so that it can be set up to meet your needs. There’s plenty of space for books, notebooks, small containers, and other items you need access to on a daily basis.

Kids 8 years old and up can use these shapes as aids for geometry lessons. The set comes with 14 shapes in six colors. Each 3D shape is made with transparent plastic and can be filled up with liquids to help teach volume.

You can help get your 5- to 10-year-old excited about science with one of these fun experiments. The book has more than 100 STEAM activities, all of which include complete instructions and photos as aids in the process. The hands-on experiments will help you teach your tiny scientist how to hypothesize and analyze their results.

Middle and high school students can keep track of assignments and due dates using this academic planner. It has a monthly view so they can have a big-picture reference as well as weekly layouts for more detailed notes. Each month is separated with its own colorful tab, and there’s also a ribbon bookmark to help students keep their place and open right to the current week.

It’s important to learn how to keep track of assignments and due dates, and starting that habit in elementary school can help turn it into a lasting one. This 8.5-inch by 11-inch planner is designed specifically for elementary-aged kids, with a weekly layout, bookmark, resources, and bright colors and stickers. The planner will encourage them to stay on top of their schoolwork while also making it easier for you to help them manage along the way.

Final Verdict

Every student needs something different to thrive in homeschool because everyone learns differently. However, no homeschool classroom is complete without an X-Acto School Pro Electric Pencil Sharpener, Mead 1 Subject Spiral Notebooks (either wide or college ruled), and a TSJ Office Foldable Tabletop Dry Erase Board.

What to Look for When Buying Homeschool Supplies

Useful

When you’ve made the decision to homeschool your children for the first time or for another year, investing in the right supplies is essential. Typically when children enter a classroom, many supplies are already provided by the teacher and school. While it’s okay for your children to pick out fun supplies for homeschooling, ensuring they’re also useful will make their lives (and yours, too) much easier.

Keep in mind the schoolwork your children will be participating in and the supplies they will need. No matter what grade they’re in, buying supplies that fit grades across the board will be useful to as well.

Supplies like pencils, a pencil sharpener, and markers are a great place to start for any age. Aside from the basics, check out supplies that will help them thrive while learning at home like a quality laptop, blue light blocking glasses, and workbooks.

Grade-Appropriate

Get familiar with your children’s lesson plans for the school year and determine if the supplies you have or will be buying are appropriate for their grade level. While it’s great to be prepared for the coming school year, there are usually some supplies that can wait for the next year or two.

Sometimes, homeschooled students learn at different grade levels for their subjects and that’s absolutely fine. You want to ensure the supplies that they have actually help them thrive on the grade level they’re currently at instead of the one they should be at.

Long-Lasting

Supplies that will last you through an entire school year are always worth the money. Some items, like markers, because they dry out easily, will more than likely have to be replaced at some point. Check out supplies that will last them for an extended period.

There’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to reuse all school supplies year after year, but if your child takes good care of them, there’s a good chance they will. For example, durable folders for school work can hold up for the duration of the academic year while a high-quality graphing calculator will last from algebra to geometry lessons.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Ashley Ziegler is a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce content for a variety of platforms. She’s a wife to a public school administrator and mom to 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters. In addition to regularly scouring the internet to find the best things for herself, Ashley spends multiple hours a week researching, comparing, and writing about products specifically for kids and families.

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