.svg){kind=small}
Every summer teachers send out a list of what school supplies students must bring to the classroom. But, you know what they don't send out? A list of all the school supply items kids need AT HOME to successfully do their homework!
I have three kids who are 5, 9, and 11, and between them they have attended three different elementary schools - and that means I have a lot of experience with elementary school homework!😊
So, since I'm your Type A Mom friend who's here to help lessen the behind-the-scenes work of parenting, and because I have years of experience with my own kids, to help you be prepared for homework this school year, I've put together a list of what school supplies we use at home that have worked well for us.
My goal with this “School Supplies for Home List” is for us all to gather these items before school starts so we aren't scrambling the night before a homework assignment is due - because we all know that that night before panic is good for no one…😉
SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR HOME LIST
PENCIL BOXES FOR EACH KID
*I found that it's best for each of my kids to have their own pencil box that's specifically for their homework. This is what is in their boxes:
Number 2 Pencils (3rd grade and up love using mechanical pencils)
*On the outside of the pencil box I put:
Label with Alphabet, Numbers, Shapes etc. (so they can refer to it while working)
Their Name (my kids often like to decorate their box with stickers)
.png)
SUPPLIES ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL
*I keep these supplies in a specific drawer in the kitchen, and I group them together by type in their own pencil boxes. Then when a kid needs to use one of these supplies, they simply take the corresponding pencil box and use what’s inside.
Colored Pencils (make sure they come with erasers to make it easier to fix mistakes!)
*Paper is often needed, but sometimes it's paper for arts & craft homework and sometimes it's paper for writing homework.
Lined Paper (wide ruled is usually needed)
*The below supplies I keep at home for different memorization drills they may need to do, or if there is virtual school at some point.
Small Dry Erase Board plus Markers and an Eraser (to write answers if they’re practicing spelling, or if they're writing and showing answers while on zoom)
Headphones with a Microphone (to listen and then participate in class discussions)
Small Notecards with a Ring (to use as flashcards for sight word study, memorizing math facts, etc.)
HOUSE SUPPLIES
*These items help my kids (and me!) stay on track and comfortable while doing their homework.
Timers (a lot of homework seems to be done with a time limit - i.e. an assignment is often to do 20 minutes of reading)
Cork Backed Placemats (we use these to make a smooth writing surface on top of our bumpy kitchen table)
Portable Desk (my older kids like to use this desk to be near the rest of us if we're doing the bedtime routine for a younger sibling)
Bulletin Board (great to have a nice one in a central spot with print outs of all school app log-in information pinned up for everyone to be able to find when needed)
Post-It Notes (once my kids got to 2nd grade I had them write a to-do list of what needed to be done each night and put it on their folder)
Reading Light (clips on to the side of their bed for reading a few pages to themselves at the end of the day)
.png)
I hope that being proactive with having school supplies at home ready to help will give us all a great school year with very little homework drama!
❤️, Amanda, your Type A Mom friend
