Buying guide for Best homeschooling kit supplies
Are you considering homeschooling or distance learning for your kids? If you are, you’re probably wondering how to set up a productive learning environment. A great starting point is assembling a well-rounded homeschooling kit.
Seeing planners, whiteboards, manipulatives, visual aids, and organizational tools in classrooms is common. These simple yet essential items help kids and parents stay on track with learning goals. They invite kids to be fully hands-on when it comes to personal organization and time management. Furthermore, they set the tone of the learning space. By seeing familiar tools and items from the classroom, kids are more inclined to get in the right headspace for learning.
We cover popular product categories and share plenty of tips to help you maximize the benefits of these products.
Your child’s learning space
Before you begin assembling a homeschooling kit, it’s important to think about the learning space itself.
Distinguish the space
It’s recommended that you distinguish the learning space from other areas of your home as best you can. By compartmentalizing learning, kids are more inclined to embrace a learning mindset within the space.
It’s helpful to set up a dedicated learning nook or alcove that looks different from your child’s sleeping, eating, and play areas. This can be done using visual aids or by setting up school-themed decor.
Eliminate distractions
The most successful learning spaces are distraction-free. If possible, choose an area where learners won’t be distracted by noise and other interruptions.
For homes with multiple students, it is sometimes beneficial to set up learning spaces apart from one another. This helps keep noise to a minimum, especially when one or more students are participating in class via video.
Make it comfortable and productive
The at-home learning space should have furniture that is accommodating enough for kids to sit comfortably for a few hours at a time. With that said, overly comfortable furniture might not be conducive to learning because it’s too casual.
Focus on furnishing the space with desks and chairs that strike a balance between functionality and comfort. Some kids also benefit from ergonomic setups that alleviate stress and tension caused by poor posture or uncomfortable sitting positions.
Choose the right accessories and tools
A well-rounded homeschooling kit includes a diverse assortment of accessories and tools, but how do you know which ones are best? To narrow your search, round up age-appropriate and grade-appropriate options. Some visual aids may be too childish for older students, whereas some manipulatives may be too advanced for younger students.
Next, focus on what is functional to keep clutter to a minimum. If you’re not sure how a tool or accessory would benefit the learning situation, eliminate it. If you can immediately identify how it would help your child, keep it.
Another consideration is versatility. While it’s helpful to have accessories and tools with a variety of applications, such as pocket charts, singular focus items, like manipulatives, serve an important purpose as well. With these, kids can clearly see how and when to use them in lessons.
Did you know?
Even though the terms are often used interchangeably, homeschooling and remote learning are two different types of schooling. However, both can benefit from homeschooling kit supplies.
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Popular homeschool accessories and tools
There are countless accessories and tools you can incorporate into your homeschooling kit. We’ve chosen some of the most popular ones that cover the needs of most students. By assembling a kit with these foundational items, it will be invariably easier to select accessories and tools that complement them.
Planners and schedulers
The first item to add to your homeschooling kit is a planner of some kind. Use it to record grades, progress, and assignments so kids stay on track with learning objectives. More than anything, it helps keep day-to-day work organized so it’s smooth sailing through each marking period.
Some parents invest in a teacher planner for detailed tracking. Scheduling charts are popular to hang in learning spaces, as kids can track their progress on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Whiteboards
The classic whiteboard is a staple classroom tool that earns a place in a homeschooling kit. Not only do they provide an interactive element for learning, they’re especially helpful for developing math, handwriting, and art skills.
Of course, not every learning space is large enough for a mounted or wheeled whiteboard. Some parents choose smaller whiteboards that can be placed on the floor or leaned against a wall for writing. There are also dry-erase lap boards, which are ideal if space is limited.
Manipulatives
Manipulatives are materials or objects that invite students to explore mathematical concepts or ideas with their own hands. They add a physical dimension to learning and have a universal and fun appeal.
Popular manipulatives include interlocking blocks, 2D and 3D geometric tiles, play money, interactive clocks, and pegboards. Many of these come with activity guides that explain how to properly utilize the manipulatives. Extended resources with other games, activities, and projects that involve manipulatives can be found online or in your child’s math textbook.
Visual aids
Visual aids can boost the aesthetic appeal of your child’s learning space. While they appear decorative, they actually serve as static points of reference. As kids work through lessons, the aids can help clarify some questions without kids having to flip through a book or search online.
Popular visual aids consist of anchor charts, pocket charts, and diagrams, to name a few. Some have printed or illustrated information. Three-dimensional options, such as human skeleton models and illuminated globes, are also effective at bringing ideas to life.
Organizational tools
Organizational tools keep the learning space tidy. Many teachers agree a clean workspace fosters productive learning sessions. These tools also instill a sense of personal responsibility because kids must return items to specific drawers, compartments, or cubbies.
Of all accessories and tools on this list, organizational materials are by far the most diverse. Filing cabinets, folders, and stacking trays are great to keep homework organized. Art supplies are often kept in pencil cases or storage bin systems. Regularly accessed items like scissors, pencils, and glue are best kept inside a drawer or desk organizer.
"It’s a good idea to set up your child’s computer in the learning space before investing in a homeschooling kit. That way, you’ll have a clear picture of how much room there is for other items."
STAFF
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Homeschooling kit supplies prices
Since every family has a different budget, we will explore what you can get in several price buckets. In general, it can cost from $60 to $350 to assemble the items you need.
Inexpensive
If you’re on a tight budget, you can build a simple homeschooling kit for $60 to $100. Foundational accessories such as a planner, whiteboard, manipulatives, visual aids, and organizers are found here. To truly stay within budget, however, you’d likely need to choose one item to splurge on and stick to cost-effective options for the rest.
Mid-range
For $100 to $200, you can get some top-quality accessories and tools, many of which are manufactured by leading educational companies. You’ll also have enough room in your budget to invest in a few additional tools or accessories.
Expensive
If your budget is $200 to $350, you’ll be able to invest in a diverse assortment of accessories and tools, some of which can be reused for more than one school year. Many of these tools and accessories are full-size versions, such as whiteboards or full classroom sets of visual aids.
Note that if you have multiple children, you will be able to share some items with the bunch, such as a pencil sharpener or a whiteboard. However, you will need multiples of items that cannot be shared, such as individual student planners and grade-level workbooks.
Tips
- Label for personalization. To add a touch of personalization to items in a homeschooling kit, consider labeling certain pieces. Not only does it help kids “connect” with their supplies, it’s also reminiscent of the labeling done in traditional classrooms.
- Chat with your child’s teachers. If you’re curious about which tools and accessories to buy for a homeschooling kit, connect with your child’s teachers. They can give feedback about must-have items in their classrooms.
- Chat with your child. Open a dialogue with your kids about classroom aids and supplies they like using and why they’re helpful. This information is critical to developing a well-rounded homeschool kit tailored to them.
FAQ
Q. Should I buy tools and accessories for my homeschool kit in one fell swoop at the beginning of the year, or should I buy them as needed?
A. Both approaches are fine, provided you have the core tools and accessories you need to start the school year. As kids become acquainted with their day-to-day school activities, parents will be able to make purchases tailored to the needs of specific subjects and learning objectives.
Q. Will my child enjoy using manipulatives?
A. Most kids enjoy working with manipulatives. With that said, certain manipulatives may be more appealing than others. Kids who enjoy playing with blocks or bricks often enjoy stacking manipulatives, while kids who enjoy simulated play will have fun with play money or cash registers.
Q. How will I know the items I’m buying are grade-appropriate?
A. Most educational items are marked with an ascribed difficulty level or intended grade or age group. Organizational and storage items aren’t normally marked this way since they’re intended for all ages. With that said, some may be better suited for children than others. For example, items with bright colors may appeal more to the younger set.
