Back to School Must Haves — Homeschooling Edition

As the media blitzes us with calls of back to school sales and must do lists, I send out this gentle beacon of truth:

You don’t have to buy all the things.

There. I said it.
OF COURSE, we need to buy SOME things…just not ALL the things. 
That being said, here are my personal back to school must haves–homeschooling edition.
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One of the beauties of homeschooling is the fact that there is no one size fits all program. As a result, there is no set supply list either! However, in my humble opinion, every family needs…
 

Really good writing utensils/art supplies

These are lessons carried over from my public school teaching days…but if you’re going to buy the pencils, get these!
Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Pencils, Pre-Sharpened, 2 HB Soft, Yellow, 72 Count
Bonus if they come pre-sharpened. If not, I HIGHLY suggest investing in this pencil sharpener:
X-ACTO Pencil Sharpener, Mighty Mite Electric Pencil Sharpener, With Pencil Saver®, SafeStart® Motor, Black, 1 Count - Home, Office, School, Teacher Supplies
It’s inexpensive and gets the job done! We love it.
My favorite crayons, markers, and colored pencils. Sorry not sorry! Crayola is the best!

1. Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils (24ct), Kids Colored Pencils for School, Back to School Supplies for Kids, Coloring Pencils, 6+

   

   $5.88

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2. Crayola Pip-Squeaks Skinnies Washable Markers (64ct), Mini Markers for Kids, Coloring Markers, Craft Supplies, Kids Holiday Gift, 3+

   

   $13.10

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3. Crayola Broad Line Markers (12 Count), Washable Markers for Kids, Assorted, Great for Classrooms & School Supplies, Ages 3+

   

   $6.92

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Some fun pens.

1. Pilot, FriXion Clicker Erasable Gel Pens, Fine Point 0.7 mm, Pack of 15, Assorted Colors

   

   $29.99

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2. BIC Soft Feel Assorted Colors Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm), 36-Count Pack, Black and Blue Pens With Soft-Touch Comfort Grip, Perfect Color Pens For Note Taking

   

   $16.32

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3. Paper Mate Colorful Gel Pens InkJoy Gel Pens, Assorted Medium Point (0.7). Perfect for Vibrant, Colored Writing and Sketching with Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens, 14 Count

   

   $15.23

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Really good scissors and glue

1. Fiskars 5" Left-Handed Pointed-Tip Scissors for Kids Ages 4-7, For School or Crafting, Red Lightning

   

   $4.49

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2. Fiskars® All-Purpose Left-Handed Scissors - Ergonomically Contoured - 8" Stainless Steel - Paper and Fabric Scissors for Office, Arts, and Crafts - Red

   

   $9.43

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   08/20/2026 01:01 pm GMT

1. Amazon Basics All Purpose Washable School White Liquid Glue - Great for Making Slime, Single Pack , 1 gallon

   

   $14.78

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TAPE!

All the tape. If your kids are anything like mine, they are constantly creating things, drawing things and displaying them around the house, etc. Ya need the tape! (Packing tape for building things, painter’s tape for displaying on walls.)

1. Scotch Magic Tape, Invisible, Home Office Supplies and Back to School Supplies for College and Classrooms, 24 Rolls

   

   $36.84

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A whiteboard and magnetic dry erase markers (great for sticking onto your fridge!)

Cinch 17x11 Stain-Resistant Fridge Whiteboard with 4 Markers & Eraser - Magnetic Dry Erase Board Organizer & Planner for Refrigerator (Plastic)
EXPO Magnetic Dry Erase Markers with Eraser, Fine Tip, Assorted, 8 Count

Lots of paper

We are HUGE fans of reusing in this house! We write on the back of junk mail envelopes, on the backs of paper, etc. Want not, waste not!
That being said…we need to have lots of paper. Here are my favorites:

 

A library card!

Such a wealth of knowledge and resources available there!
 
Hope this list helps!
Happy learning,