| Now that you have decided that you are going to | | | | composition notebooks and spiral notebooks or a |
| homeschool your children, you are going to need | | | | three ring binder. Get some pocket folders, too. |
| a classroom, or at least, a reasonable facsimile. I | | | | Elmer's glue, crayons and colored pencils. |
| don't want to suggest that you use the spare | | | | Organizers, such as small bins for crayons, rubber |
| bedroom or empty out the garage. Most folks | | | | bands, and paperclips for separating everything |
| use the kitchen or dining room table as a desk for | | | | and keeping things handy and in order. |
| both the teacher and their children. What I do | | | | Get a milk crate for each of your homeschoolers |
| suggest is that you get some sort of portable | | | | so they will have their own space to store their |
| wagon so that you can store your often use | | | | schoolwork. |
| materials in one place. Space is usually at a | | | | Two highlighters, one light and one dark |
| premium in the homeschool classroom so you will | | | | Index cards, and a 12 inch ruler. |
| need something convenient and easily portable. | | | | A good handheld pencil sharpener with two |
| When you are ready to set up your materials for | | | | different size holes. You will be using it all the time. |
| the day it will be a lot easier if you have | | | | Wide leaf loose-leaf paper for writing lesson |
| everything in one place. When school is over you | | | | materials and compositions. |
| can put everything back in the cart and move it | | | | You should have your own homeschool stationary. |
| out of the kitchen. | | | | Select a name for your school such as "Smithfield |
| You probably won't want your company sitting in | | | | School", "Homeschool Preperatory School", or use |
| the middle of your classroom. You'll also need a | | | | your own name or street name with "academy" |
| portable blackboard or a whiteboard to illustrate | | | | or "preparatory school" tacked onto the end. Use |
| lessons and demonstrate demonstrate difficult | | | | your imagination and let the kids help, too. |
| concepts. Personally, I would not recommend a | | | | Once you have your school name, you can make |
| blackboard. The chalk dust is too messy for your | | | | your own homeschool letterhead on your word |
| house. A whiteboard is much cleaner and easier to | | | | processor. Then save it to your hard drive so |
| use. You can get a small folding white board at | | | | you can use it on all of your correspondence. Put |
| any good stationary store. | | | | it on your letterhead and make identification cards |
| First of all forget lunch boxes and backpacks. | | | | for your kids. Do a good job in preparing these |
| That is unless you plan on going on spending a lot | | | | items and include photographs for a photo id.. You |
| of your time on field trips with your children, and | | | | will want them to look their best, so get some |
| you probably won't even need the backpacks. | | | | help from family and friends if you need it. Buy |
| Here is a checklist, in no particular order, of some | | | | some laminating materials and laminate your ID |
| of the things you may need on your "first day" | | | | cards with your homeschooler's photo to give |
| of homeschool. I know you may have most of | | | | them some legitimacy. Don't forget to make one |
| them around the house somewhere, but get | | | | for yourself. They may need identification cards |
| them all in one place so you won't have to | | | | for admittance to school basketball and soccer |
| interrupt your lessons to go find them. | | | | games, maybe even the library. Many of the |
| A waste basket, cheap enough and you can | | | | school supply stores you shop will ask you for a |
| always hide your mistakes :) | | | | schoool ID for store discounts and freebies. |
| Separate work tables for you and your children. | | | | Most major stationary stores have special deals |
| This is the ideal but you can just use your kitchen | | | | for teachers, usually in August at the end of the |
| table. | | | | Summer vacation. |
| A file cabinet - you will need to keep records, file | | | | Staple's Teacher Appreciation Day is an annual |
| lesson plans, test papers, your curriculum, report | | | | event. that can save you some money. They also |
| cards and health records. You will also need a | | | | have a teacher's Awards program that will give |
| bookcase. | | | | you up to 5% off on purchases and free delivery. |
| A computer with DSL internet access or a dial up | | | | This can be a good savings and the free delivery |
| connection if DSL is not available in your area. | | | | is certainly a benefit to save you time. |
| Have a wall calendar to schedule your monthly | | | | These are recommended items you should |
| activities, holiday events, and group activities with | | | | consider having. If you live in a log cabin as Abe |
| your homeschool association and other | | | | Lincoln did then you may have to make do with |
| homeschool parents.. | | | | what you have. But Abe did OK didn't he? |
| Pens, pencils, and erasers. | | | | Lincoln was one of the original homeschoolers. |
| Children in grades 4th thru 8th will need | | | | |