10 Things You Don’t Need in Your Homeschool Classroom

The first year I started homeschooling, I had 3 small children ages 6, 4, and 1. I wanted to set up a school classroom, but my husband had just quit his job to start a business. Money was tight so I just bought curriculum and didn’t worry about setting up a homeschool room. Several years later, when we had the money, I realized that we didn’t need some of the things that were on my list originally. After homeschooling for over 2 decades, I have found that homeschooling works best without some traditional classroom items after all. Here is my list of 10 things you don’t need in your homeschool classroom.

Don't Buy These school room supplies

 THINGS YOU DON’T NEED IN YOUR CLASSROOM

#1 TRADITIONAL SCHOOL ROOM WITH CLASSROOM DESKS

This is one of those things that we never had. My kitchen table, sunroom table, and family room couches make the best learning environment. When my kids were young, I just sat on the couch with them in my lap or next to me for reading. The kitchen table is suitable for math and writing, and my kitchen island is perfect for science experiments.

classroom

#2 A CLASSROOM CHALKBOARD

We have never had a traditional chalkboard. I have never stood at the front of a room and lectured my children. We did use miniature chalkboards because I wanted my kids to experience writing on a chalkboard. This was used for play purposes.

#3 A GRADE BOOK

I have not used a grade book in years. I bought one in the early years of homeschooling and used it for a few weeks. But I don’t necessarily believe in giving out grades in the younger years, and in the high school years, I just used a spiral-bound notebook.

#4 ENCYCLOPEDIAS

While encyclopedias can be pretty like the World Book editions with beautiful photos on the spine, they really aren’t necessary. This is an optional item that can be found at the local library. Plus there are free online versions of encyclopedias available. If you feel you must have a set of encyclopedias, look for a used set at your local library or online.

 

#5 BACKPACKS AND PENCIL CASES

Backpacks are truly optional. We don’t usually have backpacks to carry books anywhere. The books stay at home. However, we do use backpacks for packing for overnight trips or to bring toys along with us! Pencil cases – where you are going, you don’t need pencil cases. We have our pencils in a basket on our phone stand; and yes, we still have a phone stand!

#6 LUNCH BOXES

These are optional too. On rare occasions, we use a lunch box or bag when we are going on field trips, but the lunch box as we know it is totally unnecessary when we are eating the majority of lunches at home at the kitchen table!

#7 THE DREADED ITEMS ON THE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST

I personally only had one year with a school supply list. It wasn’t horrible, but I have read the school supply lists for our local school district every few years just to see what they are making parents buy.

Consider making your own school supply list. Buy whatever you want. Let your kids buy a purple folder with 2 pockets and not the red, green and blue ones with 3 pockets on the school supply list. Buy red pens and green pencils. Go crazy and get the items that your children want and not because they were assigned by someone else.

#8 BULLETIN BOARDS

The traditional bulletin board is where teachers display student’s work. You see rows of the same exact craft or writing assignment neatly displayed for everyone to see when they come for parent-teacher conferences. Homeschoolers have built-in display boards called refrigerators. We proudly display our children’s work on the refrigerator with good old-fashioned magnets.

#9 PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

First, I acknowledge that this isn’t something you have to purchase, but it is something that many parents dread. When my oldest son attended a traditional half-day Kindergarten, and the first parent-teacher conference came around, I was told by the teacher, “You really don’t need to come in for a conference. I wish I had 100 students like your son.” When the spring conference came around, I was told the same thing. So my only child that attended school never required a parent-teacher conference. But as a homeschooler, if I ever feel the need for a parent-teacher conference, I will simply talk to myself.

#10 CLASSROOM TEXTBOOKS OR TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM

While many homeschoolers depend on traditional textbooks, I have almost eliminated textbooks from our schooling. I, instead choose to use “living-books.” I define living books as biographies and historical fiction. These types of books introduce your children to an education that is rich in storytelling. Reading books opens up a whole new world for children as opposed to traditional textbooks. There are instances where traditional textbooks are still used in my home, but generally, they are reserved for math and occasionally science. Additionally, I have written a homeschool curriculum that can be used for all ages, and it is currently free! 

So, what are the supplies I do recommend for your homeschooling? I have made an entire list of things that you should get.

Just remember that I took decades to build my supplies, at-home library, lists of favorite books, and incidentals. You don’t need everything on day 1. 

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Homeschool Classroom Supplies

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