The Top Five Things I NEED to Successfully Homeschool

As this year is coming to a close I am looking at the decisions I have made this year and in past years pertaining to homeschool. My first year of homeschooling was done on a very limited budget. We purchased only what was necessary, used the library, got a membership to a museum when it was on sale and used the internet for everything else. Unlike my first year, my second year of homeschooling was done on a not so limited budget. We took a multitude of fieldtrips, joined a co-op, and purchased an overwhelming amount of curriculum and materials. Now I am in my third year of homeschooling and I am analyzing what I truly need to homeschool. So here is my list of the top 5 things I need to successfully homeschool:

1. Pencils, pencils and more pencils. I can’t say this enough, pencils seem to disappear at the most inconvenient times. I send the children on a pencil hunt and of course it takes hours before they can find one and begin their school work.

2. A good quality pencil sharpener, maybe two. This is a continuation of the whole pencil saga that erupts at the beginning of the school day. I say good quality because they seem to break all the time.

3. A computer, laptop or tablet with internet connection. Even if you don’t allow your children online access this will still be an invaluable tool for creating assignments, checking and researching facts or ideas.(not extremely important as there are ways to get around not having a computer...see #5)

4. Paper. This really goes unsaid but I thought I would add it anyway.

5. A library card- The library offers so many great resources to homeschoolers, not just books, but classes and workshops, computers and printers/copiers, cd’s, educational software and videos and the list goes on. Definitely this is the most cost effective tool (nothing beats FREE!) available to homeschoolers.

Now having emphasized my needs, If you do plan to homeschool what do you think you would need? If you are on a budget don’t feel that you cannot homeschool due to money issues. Be creative, there are ways to do this without breaking the bank. Check the library for books about homeschooling on a budget. Make a plan and go for it. If I did it, so can you!