Logan Voss
If you are a parent new to homeschooling, you may be feeling pretty nervous—nervous about the subject matter, your ability to teach, and a plethora of other ideas that just seem to continually pop into your head. This is completely normal, and the best part is that there are some very easy and helpful ways to cope with these feelings. One of the easiest things to do when planning your child’s curriculum is to start with the simplest things: the essential materials. To help you get to the bottom of this and start your first day off right, this article will discuss the essential materials for homeschooling.
Binders and Notebooks
A binder or notebook meant for storing notes is one of the most important things that you can give your child for school. In general, one of the things that you should be teaching your child in the early stages of homeschooling is the practice of organization and task management. A binder or notebook is the perfect item to teach those skills.
Sketchbook
Sometimes, the best way to teach a lesson is to have your child draw it themselves! Having a sketchbook is invaluable in these situations, as the lines on normal paper are often confusing for younger children. Plus, sometimes, your child will just need to draw! Having a specific place to keep all their creations makes teaching and organization much easier.
Quality Pencils and a Good Sharpener
What is education without writing and notetaking? Having a good pencil and sharpener (or a mechanical pencil with extra lead) is essential to creating a smooth educational environment. If you lack the tools for annotation, your child will surely suffer in retention, and you will have a very hard time teaching overall.
Storage and Organization for Papers
As mentioned before, storage and organization will benefit your teaching philosophy while homeschooling your child. One of the easiest ways to do this is to have a file organizer that your child can easily access. You can have them submit work by placing it on certain shelves, provide feedback by returning items on other shelves, and even store their old work for safekeeping!
Planner
Having a planner and learning how to use it properly and efficiently is often the sign of a good student. Enforcing these ideals and ensuring that your child abides by them is a lot easier if they have the right materials in the first place. Forgo making your own planner, as having a specially designated notebook is something that every child needs to experience.
A child’s first time in homeschool can be stressful for both the child and the parent. In both situations, being prepared by having the essential materials for homeschooling is the most important thing you can do to provide an adequate environment in which your child can learn.
