Education

6 Must-Haves for Your Homeschooling Setup

When homeschooling, it’s essential to have a setup that will be comfortable and conducive for kids and teens to learn. But with so many options in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose what items you should buy!

Luckily, the general rule of setting up your space is to go back to basics, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned homeschooler. This article will guide you on the six essentials for your homeschooling setup that will set you up for success, including laptops or computers, work desks or tables, bulletin boards, dry-erase boards, and storage systems like a 2 drawer file cabinet.

  1. Laptop

A laptop or a computer is an expensive but necessary tool for homeschooling, and it can increase productivity, creativity, and enthusiasm among kids and teens! Fortunately, there are laptop choices that don’t have to break the bank.

You don’t have to choose the latest releases and the highest specs for homeschool. Entry-level Windows laptops and Chromebooks are more than capable of getting the job done – document management, learning apps, light photo and video editing, and viewing live-stream courses.

We recommend laptops with a $499 price tag. For Windows, we suggest the Acer Aspire 5 for its long battery life and a durable build that’ll endure splashes and drops. Alternatively, we recommend the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5, a 2-in-1 laptop with adequate storage, processing speed, and 70% less blue light.

  1. Work desk

Work desks are best for individual usage, while work tables are recommended for communal use by multiple kids. Keep in mind the following factors when choosing a workspace for your students:

  • Age. Small kids need small desks, and it’s best to keep students together if they’re in the same age range.
  • Productivity. Consider a communal work table if your children work well together in the same space.
  • Storage space. When homeschooling, you can never have too much storage space. Desks with tables and shelves are perfect for keeping your work area clean and tidy.

For communal work tables, a large dining table works best to facilitate communal learning. We recommend the Prepac Floating Desk, a space-saving option with multiple storage spaces for individual work desks. This floating desk can also be customized depending on your kids’ height, making it an option you won’t need to replace frequently.

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  1. Dry-erase board

A dry-erase board is a helpful, easy-to-clean visual aid for your homeschool setup. It’s a cheap alternative to classroom chalkboards that’ll help you save piles of scratch paper. Plus, it works well for solving math problems, drawing visual boards, spelling, and pronouncing difficult words.

Choose between wall-mounted boards or desk boards, depending on the number of students, their learning styles, and their productivity needs. Consider the ARCOBIS Small Dry Erase Whiteboard, a light and portable board that your kids can use on their work desks.

School and art supplies

Standard school supplies don’t have to be replaced every year, as long as they get the job done. As a general rule of thumb, you’re going to need the following:

  • Paper
  • Art paper (construction paper, art paper rolls)
  • Notebooks
  • Sketchbooks
  • Pens and pencils
  • Crayon, colored pencils, paint, paintbrushes, and similar materials
  • Tape and tape dispenser
  • Dry-erase and permanent markers
  • Scissors
  • Stapler
  • Eraser
  • Glue and glue sticks
  • Sharpeners

Fortunately, your local craft and school supplies stores have all your school supply needs! Aside from the essentials, you can also set aside a small budget to let your kids explore arts and craft materials they want to work with.

  1. Bulletin board

Keep track of tasks, assignments, to-do lists, reminders, and positive reaffirmations with a bulletin board. It’s a handy tool for children of all ages that can teach them task management and creativity!

Let your kids’ creativity run free by letting them set up, decorate, and manage their bulletin boards. Meanwhile, you can allot a space for parents and instructors to leave notes and reminders for your students.

We recommend a magnetic bulletin board as an alternative to traditional cork boards used in schools, especially when working with younger kids. Using magnets instead of push pins and staplers can eliminate accidents in the work area. 

  1. Storage systems

Having a well-organized storage system helps you reduce clutter in your workspace, inducing focus and productivity. Two-drawer file cabinets are lightweight and compact enough to fit under your desks and tables, and it’s a safe and simple way to secure your important documents and laminated outputs. Two-drawer file cabinets also come with slide casters that’ll let you move it around without ease and locks for a worry-free storage system.

We recommend the Tribesigns Two Drawer File Cabinet Wood – a neatly designed storage solution with two file drawers and an open space to store homeschool materials and supplies. Its surface is also solid and durable enough to store printers and laminators on top.

  1. Other devices

Depending on your needs and preferences, you can also opt to buy other devices outside of the basics. These include:

  • Printer – relatively, homeschool printing needs are lighter and less demanding. Inexpensive printers will complete the job and provide multiple functions such as printing, scanning, copying, faxing, and wireless printing.
  • Laminators – laminated materials are spill-proof and durable learning tools you can make from the comfort of your work area. Having a laminator at your disposal gives you the liberty to create your craft and learning materials, flashcards, and practice sheets.
  • Kindle or eReader, and a library card – it’s crucial to develop a love for reading, especially among young kids! An eReader can let your kids explore reading without worrying about eye strain, back strain, and huge costs on paperbacks. eReaders like Kindle and Nook also have an option to use library cards to borrow ebooks from public libraries in your area.

Conclusion

Last bits of reminders for homeschooling parents: optimizing your space for your kids’ needs doesn’t have to come at a hefty price tag. Plus, it’s always essential to ask your kids for input. Regularly assess your kids if your workspace works well for them, and adjust for their growing needs.

There you have it – the six essentials for your homeschool setup. Enjoy comfort in your space and learn at your own pace! If you’re looking for more storage solutions and other furniture pieces to match your needs and preferences, you may browse the catalog of Storables.com today!