Favorite School Supplies

It's that time of year again.... and I was actually disappointed that we did not need that many school supplies.  So I don't get to have a big shopping trip.  But I thought I would share a few of our favorite school supplies that are used everyday in our house.  A few are just for fun!

1.  Clipboards

I actually bought several animal and character clipboards from Staples a few years ago.  The kids each have their own.  They use them daily for worksheet and drawing even.  But then again our kids love just sitting on the couch, so it's helpful for them.  Plus they can keep their to-do list on them so it doesn't get lost.  You could also buy a bulk set off of Amazon and decorate them yourself with sharpies.  What a great art project!

2. Erasable Pens

Our girls are in love with these pens.  They use them constantly.  They erase easily.  So they use them not only for their schoolwork, but also drawing and coloring details in pictures.  They write smoothly and so far we have not had a smearing issue.

3.  Backpacks

Why yes, we use backpacks.  Each child has their own backpack.  I bought them their favorite character/animal, so they felt it was personalized.  The boys keep all their current weekly work in theirs, so they can carry it around.  Joey carries his items to work in his even.  If we are going to be in the van that day, we'll pack them full of their work and library books also.  Backpacks have been very handy in our house.

4.  Gel Highlighters

I discovered gel highlighters last year.  They are now our favorite highlighter.  There's no smearing and there is no bleeding through pages!  Although Caty views them as a cool crayon some days...lol.

5.  3-Hole Punch

Oh my...I got one on clearance and it was been unbelievable.  I use this weekly as I prep lessons.  This is a must have if you are creating your own lessons.  It will save you time and frustration as you put together their notebooks.

6.  Colored Notebook Paper

I got this one day at Staples and the girls fell in love.  Caty loves to use it for her math problems.  It's just one of those fun accessories!

7.  Electric Pencil Sharpener

WOW!!  What a difference an electric sharpener makes.  Unless you are fortunate to be able to find an old-fashioned pencil sharpener from an old school, I highly recommend just spending the $25.00 and save yourself the headaches.  Ours has survived 6 years now.

8.  Papermate Mechanical Pencils

These have been great for Caty as she is working on her pencil grip.  The boys also like these a lot.  The lead is thicker, so it doesn't break as quickly as other mechanical pencils do.  You can find replacement eraser and lead for these also.  If you have a student who needs a thicker pencil, I highly recommend these.

9.  Scented Markers

This is definitely a fun accessory to have.  The kids love scented markers.  We have both the broad markers and the thin stix.  They are great!

10.  Roku Stick

We find this invaluable.  I can play Youtube videos on the television.  Que up documentaries on Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu.  This has been a great addition to our school.  But you do need a new television to plug this into, and also wireless in your house.  ***I know most people do have this, but make sure to read the specs before purchasing this.***

These are just a few things we use daily in our house.  Next week I'll give you a list of our most visited websites for games and also printable curriculum!

Have a great week...linking up with other homeschool moms at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.