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Day 14 Homeschool Supplies List And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Day 14 is about a homeschool supplies list for the free 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

Homeschool hoarders of supplies are a common and growing group.

This is one area where I feel it takes some finesse to find exactly what will work for you, but it is common to have overflowing supplies at first.

Day 14 Homeschool Supplies List And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Day 14: A Homeschooler's Not Back To School List. {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

Look at my chart below as I divided up supplies into two categories.

A New Homeschoolers Back to School List 2 @ Tina Dynamic Homeschool PLus

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

How to Organize When You’re New to Homeschooling

Days 8-12 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

Have you started on your back to school list? What do you have so far?

Day 14 Homeschool Supplies List And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
Day 14: A Homeschooler's Not Back To School List. {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

Day 11: Swoonworthy Learning Spaces & Homeschool Rooms And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool spaces is our day 11 learning spaces and homeschool rooms of the free 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

Not everybody chooses to have a school room. And homeschool spaces and learning spaces are special to each family.

But all of us have to have an area that we feel comfortable learning in.

Finding the exact niche in your home for welcoming tons of new books and supplies is not easy either.

Day 11: Swoonworthy Learning Spaces & Homeschool Rooms And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Though my first area looked a lot like a mini version of a public school room, it has changed many times over the years to accommodate my sons as they have grown.

Just like it is natural for your children to grow, it is normal to update and change your learning area each year with your family’s needs in mind.

Homeschool Spaces

Some years you will make drastic changes, other years changes will be more subtle.

Look at a few of these tips to keep in mind as you plan an area for younger children.

1. If you are teaching writing, be sure your children can practice good posture by making sure they have size appropriate furniture. We can’t expect pretty writing if they are sitting on phone books at the dining room table.

2, If you have walking destroyers precious toddlers, then look at storing you supplies up and out of their reach like the top of a closet. Under a bed in a container with a lid that they can’t pull out worked good for me for a few years too.

3. Because you will be getting little help in picking up items while you are training them, try to keep one room or area where you keep a majority of your items. It will be easier to locate what you need.

Look at a few of these things to keep in mind as you plan an area for older children.

Murphy Winter Antique White Fold-out Convertible Desk

1. Older children can crave privacy at times. Look at desks that extend, then fold back into themselves when they are not used. Even something simple that is attached to the wall, like a Murphy desk and then folds away works too.

2. Because you will have help as they are older, some of your books can flow out of your area and be kept in out of the way places. We have a large guest bathroom, and some of our books in magazine holders are kept there. But since my kids are teens they can help themselves and then put them back.

Organizing Homeschool Spaces

3. Kids are no different than you and I when they get older and prefer very specific supplies, pen or notebooks. Include them in making purchases because they have preferences too.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you here are are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.  

It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.

This new homeschoolers free boot camp is about you. I’ve not only been helping new homeschoolers in person, but here at my site for years.

Let’s lighten up things and look at some swoon worthy spaces. Maybe one of these will help you to be inspired with your learning area.

Idea for beautiful homeschool room.

Source: Pottery Barn (Please Pin from original sources)

Though a lot of their furniture can be expensive, some of their pieces work great especially if you have all young children, you will get a lot of use out the furniture.

Idea for Spring Nature Exploration Table

Source: The Imagination Tree (Please Pin from original sources)

This is a great idea to show how you can have a science/nature table inside. It doesn’t take much.

Ideas for organized school room.

Source: My Joy Filled Life (Please Pin from original sources)

I love the use of space here, especially the wall space.

Beautiful table and walls for homeschool room.

Source: Luxe Living Forum but the site is no longer there.

I love this table and storage, though I would include chairs with backs if you end up using an area like this for writing. But, for crafts it is great.

Homeschool room ideas.

Source: Hope and Honey

Love this cheery area for a learning area.

Walls matter.

Source: Handmade Charlotte (Please Pin from original sources)

Love how she used the wall and you notice one space is a little higher for an older child and the other table is lower down.

Homeschool room lockers.

Source: Just A Night Owl

What is not to love about this school room complete with lockers and chicken wire.

Map in homeschool room.

Source: Just A Night Owl

Homeschool room.

Source: Wildflowers and Marbles (Please Pin from original sources)

Homeschool Spaces

I see this as an area for one or two small young children.

Homeschool room

Source: Natural Beach Living (Please Pin from original sources)

What a beautiful area to start off your journey in!

SchoolRoom

Source: Forever, For Always, No Matter What (Please Pin from original sources)

I love the update Jennifer made to her room last year. It is the perfect example of what I am talking about when I say that sometimes changes are big one year and then another year they are subtle.

I have more pictures on my links below if you can’t get enough eye candy. Click on each graph to go to the page.

Look here at Sharla’s school room at The Chaos and the Clutter.

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

How to Organize When You’re New to Homeschooling

Days 8-10 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

The fact that we have to draw some of our ideas from playrooms, crafts and offices makes it an unique experience when we find something that works for our family.

Do you have an area in mind in your home? Do you have pictures to share already?

Day 11: Swoonworthy Learning Spaces & Homeschool Rooms And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Homeschool Organization + {Storage, Spaces and Learning Places Part 1}
Day 11. Swoonworthy Learning Spaces. 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp.
Homeschool Organization + {Storage, Spaces and Learning Places Part 2}
Homeschool Organization + {Storage,Spaces and Learning Places Part 3}

A 20+ Year Homeschool Mom’s 5 TOP Tips for First Time Homeschoolers

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Nothing compares to being equally excited and equally needing encouragement than beginning to homeschool. In my 5 top tips for first-time homeschoolers, you’ll get my BEST tips in my 25 years of homeschooling.

Oh sure, I have way more to tell you, but this is about the TOP tips’ you don’t get weighed down with too much information.

Too, in conducting in person workshops with new homeschoolers for 10 years, my set of tips will look different than many you read. Why? They work.

And it’s hard to get all your concerns answered for the next year in one or two conversations with a seasoned veteran.

Don’t miss opportunities to discuss with others, but take time to educate yourself as well.

See, what happens is that first-time homeschoolers can overcomplicate the beginning. How? You can bring rigid standards on you and your kids which are not implemented by your local law.

A 20+ Year Homeschool Mom's 5 TOP Tips for First Time Homeschoolers

First Time Homeschooler

Over scheduling, over buying, over planning can be avoided by know exactly how to meet your state law. After that, it’s freedom to set up your day like you choose. Do NOT begin by buying curriculum just yet but by being familiar with your local law.

Look at my 5 top tips for first-time homeschoolers.

1. Knowing your local law is not enough as many veterans tout.
You need to know how to meet it EASILY.

For example, if you live in a state with less laws and not much record keeping required, you can choose what is best for your children. If you live in a state with more stringent record keeping, then you can easily meet that law by using laid out curriculum.

See, other seasoned veterans may say you don’t need curriculum at all. Eventually, that could be your goal.

However, for your first year when you have so many things to adjust to, it can be less stressful to follow a laid our plain and tweak it to suit you.

HSLD which has a clickable map to explain your local homeschool law is a good place to start.
Too, you can comment here, and I WILL reply and help you understand that part first.

Next, homeschooling is a completely different approach than public school.

You’ll love my video What You REALLY Need to Know When You Begin Homeschooling where I take you through more steps.

2. Do not recreate public school at home and bring unneeded stress on your family.

I made this mistake when I started homeschooling. Although my children were all very young, I tried to run my homeschool like a public school. Remember there is NOTHING you have to prove to anybody.

It will take time to adjust to the freedom you get with homeschooling. There is a line between relaxed and rigid. Relaxed is not lazy.

I failed in learning that and sent my Kindergarten son to public school. A year didn’t even go by before I pulled him out and had to train myself to relax and trust the process.

New Homeschooler Tips

Then, over buying curriculum is the next top mistake to avoid.

3. Do buy JUST a framework of homeschool curriculum like math and language arts or use free online curriculum.

Most new homeschoolers feel more comfortable with laid out curriculum. Buying curriculum can wait until you have time to research it.

I have some ways to help you understand first how to choose curriculum.

My video How To Easily Choose and Distinguish between Homeschool Educational Approaches will help you to narrow down how to homeschool.

My point is do NOT buy a lot of curriculum in the beginning until you have time to get to know your children. Save some of your budget to buy the fun things or do classes your children are interested in taken.

Overbuying curriculum almost seems a rite of passage, but avoid overbuying.

New to Homeschool

Math and language arts are essential subjects needed all the way to high school. However, there are many ways to meet each of the needs of your children. Below I have some posts which will help to give you a starting point.

In addition, you can use free online curriculum until you decide if you want to purchase curriculum. Easy Peasy all in one by Lee Giles was created years ago. It’s a great way to start.

A 20+ Year Homeschool Mom's 5 TOP Tips for First Time Homeschoolers

Another one of my TOP tips for first-time homeschoolers is understanding how to deschool.

4. You ABSOLUTELY have to deschool.

It’s hard to deschool when you don’t what it is or why. Even families whose kids will never go to public school need to deschool. Definitions will vary; here is mine.

It’s the time to unlearn what you think education should be as taught from a public-school mindset and to be open to new, natural, and creative ways to teach your kids.

It’s realizing that taking your kids out of school one day and doing the exact thing at home the next day which wasn’t working in public-school is the definition of insanity (ouch).

It’s letting go and letting in something new in your life; it’s accepting the homeschool lifestyle which is opposite of the public-school lifestyle.

In short, deschooling is a tool both for the first-time homeschooler and long-term homeschooler. When you first begin to homeschool, you need to rethink your view of education. As you homeschool longer, you are subject to burn out and need to return to your deschooling habits.

As I mentioned even if your children will never go to public school, you still need to adopt your view of what is homeschooling. That takes time. The amount of time each family deschools will be different.

How to Deschool – Are You Doomed If You’ve Never Deschooled is another video I have for you.

If your kids have been in public school, you need to take time to educate yourself to what is available in the homeschooling world.

Sure, you can research, but through my many years of teaching new homeschoolers in person I created a course focused just on the unique needs of first-time homeschoolers.

If you don’t want to wait on the ins/outs of how to homeschool, look at my online self-paced KickStarter course. You’ll be in the KNOW NOW.

What Is Included in the Homeschool Kickstarter Course for
First-Time Homeschoolers

MODULE 1

 What I DIDN’T Learn From My Homeschooling Mother, But Should Have
(1 workshop & Printables)

Support is important and you should trust your ability to teach. You’ll walk away from this workshop knowing you’re capable of teaching your kids and why you’re capable. The nuggets in this workshop are golden for the beginner.MODULE 3

How to Choose Curriculum (Wisely)
(9 workshops & printables)

The BIGGEST mistake new homeschoolers make is buying curriculum without knowing how to buy it other than the looks good method. Avoid stress two or three months into your journey by knowing EXACTLY what to choose for your children.MODULE 5

How to Organize it ALL 
( 5 workshops & printables)

Finding balance with all the new hats you’ll be wearing and time management are not easy. Using the AWESOME sample schedules in this module and the step by step plan, I walk you through creating a routine or schedule UNIQUE to your family. Beginning homeschooling by stuffing it into an already busy life is not the way to begin. Did I mention as an organized person I have many tidbits of organization help sprinkled throughout the workshops?MODULE 2

Diving In (Leave Your Public School Mindset Here)
(3 workshops & printables)

If you’re struggling with your public school mindset or that there is one right way to succeed you’ll understand what it means to homeschool and why it’s not public school at home. Homeschooling is a superior approach for a reason.MODULE 4

Teaching the Stages of Homeschool 
(8 workshops & printables)

Jammed packed with great information on understanding the transitions children go through from PreK to High School prepares you to homeschool for the long run. Each learning stage is broken down for you so that you gain the best tips for how to teach and what to teach.MODULE 6

Facing Your BIGGEST Fears Not If But WHEN They Happen 
(1 workshop & printables)

There is a GREAT BIG list of wrong things you’re focusing on in your first or second year which will suck the life out of your homeschool journey.
Begin your journey with the wisdom of the past which has worked successfully for thousands of homeschool families who have gone before you.

Lastly, my fifth top tip for new homeschoolers is learning when to say yes and when to say no.

5. When to say NO and when to say YES is a must learn quickly your first year.

And it’s not easy to know when to say yes and when to say no. So, here a few tips to help you use your time wisely and focus on what is important.

  • When completely curriculum suddenly becomes the focus instead of your child’s needs, it’s time to say no.
  • Trying to right all the wrongs of public school by putting your children in every enrichment activity available is a huge no. You will have time to understand the homeschool world, but you need time with your children to heal. Especially if your child was bullied, has anxiety, or is flat out exhausted, your healing time should come first.
  • Say yes to seizing unplanned moments in your year to learn like packing up the books and heading to the park for a beautiful day outside.
  • Another yes is when your significant other has off from work, savor that time because it’s family time.
  • Taking time to educate YOURSELF is another huge yes. It’s easier and smoother your first year when you know how to schedule more efficiently, learn how to choose curriculum, and know how to teach to your children’s learning style. There is no need to take years doing that. If you want the fasttrack, I am here to help you through my Kickstarter program for first-time homeschoolers.

IF you have any questions email me at tinahomeschools at gmail dot com. I am here for you!

Look at these other tips you’ll love:

Hugs and love ya,

Homeschool Organization Motivation – 11 Gadgets To Get You Going

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool organization motivation means finding the little pretty things that motivate me for the new homeschool year.

Hopefully they’ll get you giddy for the new year too.

Homeschool Organization Motivation - 11 Gadgets To Get You Going | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Jonathan Adler Seasons Pouch11

I love anything Jonathan Adler and I have a smokin’ hot accessory pouch for you.

Then I have the lightweight light I use at night for reading when the Mr. is ready for bed, but I’m still reading my latest book.

book light11

Organizing Learning Spaces

I got this when we were on the road to South America and just love the fact that it’s light and not bulky.

Besides, a lot of my homeschool reading how-to I do at night.

desk monitor11

This next item is a screen shelf which I also found when we traveled because it added a bit of extra storage when I was limited on space. 

Anything Bando I love because all their supplies and organizing tools are fun and colorful.

markers11

Then, add a bit of some fun things to your learning surface whether you have a table or nook.

I love anything that keeps me motivated.

sticky notes11

Then, I’m a sticky note junkie because they can, well – stick anywhere and I’m loving these sticky notes with the days of the weeks and then these Pride and Prejudice page flags are a recent find and so adorable.

book tabs11

Then this adorable mini easel with Carpe Diem is a bit of motivation for the day to get going and seize the day.

carpe diem11
office tools11

And I just love my little micro office tool box because it is SO cute.

Okay, okay, it has so much packed into a small container like scissors, tape and the most adorable mini stapler, which is great to have by your 7 Step Free DIY Homeschool Planner.

pad11
USB charger11


Then I couldn’t resist a few more pretties

ampersand


Then the last last item to move your to organize are these ampersand bookends that I just flipped over. I found some that just offered black and others which offered color.

Stuff like this gets my going for the new homeschool year. Why shouldn’t we homeschool with a bit of style?

Over the Top Homeschool Organization Tools!

Don’t forget the other things I have to help you get this homeschool year off to a great start.

If you’re new to homeschool, you’ll love my book.

It is UNIQUE in that it’s not another book written by a homeschool mom, but a program based on my years ACTUALLY helping new homeschoolers.

Also, besides all the free and paid pages to upgrade your free 7 Step DIY Free Homeschool Planner, don’t forget I have the Ultimate Glam it Up Planner and and the fabulous Unit Study Planner. (click on the links to see more pictures).

Glam It Up Package 300 Tina Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Hugs and love ya,

Signature T

This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

5 Homeschool Things to Toss By the End of Summer

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

5 Homeschool Things to Toss By the End of Summer @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

If I lived in the perfect world of just organization, I would ideally label one box give away, another box labeled to keep and another one to throw away or recycle. But I don’t live in that world because I need to homeschool too.

Homeschool organization is quite different than having all day long to organize, which of course I would love but it won’t happen as long as I homeschool.

Why Homeschooling Simply is of Lasting Value?

Because my time is limited, tossing has always been my go to option. Unless something will bless a homeschool family right away and in a large way, clutter multiplies if you don’t get rid of it soon.

Too, because we are sharing living and learning spaces, a lot of the things I do at the end of summer spills over into my home organizing.

I find that back to school or the beginning of a school year, after I have chosen my curriculum is a great time to take a peek at my home to see what I need to toss.

Look at 5 homeschool things to toss by the end of summer…

ONE. Toss old food, containers and items from your pantry. Mark containers clearly.

Toss old spices and food items @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

toss old containers

When I need to make room for food that my family will eat because their likes and dislikes have changed, I find that cleaning out my pantry for the new homeschool year gets me ready.

It’s hard to cook well when there is a mess to begin with. Take time to toss what you won’t eat this next year or take it to the food pantry for others to be blessed by.

Then, get rid of containers that make it hard to see what you have on hand when ready to cook. I love see through containers and I mark them clearly (no corny pun intended) so I know what I’m grabbing when time is rushed.

TWO. Toss recipes that you do not use.

You know I have mentioned before that though many apps exists for recipes, I like to put my recipes in a 5 inch binder.

Homeschool-Organization-Are-you-Collecting-Cookbooks-or-Recipes_thumb.png

I don’t like my hands touching my devices while I’m cooking. And with page protectors I can turn the pages easily in my binders and wipe them off to sanitize them.

It’s the way I roll and so I always try to go back through my 365 recipes for the year and toss ones that just don’t make top marks with my family.

THREE. Art projects. Do you have some of these lying around the house?

Perish the thought that I don’t keep every crafty piece of art that my sons have done, but I don’t. I would be living under a suffocating pile of heap-o-junk.

A long while back I had to have a reckoning with Tina Day. I was in homeschooling for the long run, which meant I had to make some hard and fast decisions about art projects to keep and which ones to not keep.

toss old art projects by the end of summer @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I do cherish each one and take several pictures of each project.

How to be Happily Homeschool With What You Have and not With What You Don’t Have

And though I do love free cloud storage, I prefer to use a huge external hard drive because I don’t want to rely on free cloud storage that may come or go.

I use the Toshiba 1TB portable external hard drive because it has tons of storage (1TB) is slim and I can travel with it. I take lots of pictures of our projects through the years and store them on the hard drive.

FOUR. Sorry, but I don’t pass on nasty broken crayons or map colors to the younger siblings.

Unless I have a preschooler in the house, which chunky crayons are for, each kid gets brand new crayons or map colored pencils.

Even younger kids are smart enough to know that they are getting second hand crayons and they don’t want those old nasty things.

I guess you could have a party with the crayons and melt them all to make an art piece but then you’re back to needing to store that project.

FIVE. Toss or tear down old science projects. Recycle if you can.

I say toss loosely here because sometimes we can use the same parts over when we have built something previously.

Toss or recycle old science projects @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

We have loved every contraption and gadget we have made through the year but the end of the summer is a great time to part with them and make room for new creations.

We break them down and keep only the parts that look like we may be able to use again.

Those are just a few of the things that I am happily sorting through.

What about you? What do you toss or recycle by the end of summer?

Also, look at my article, How Can I Achieve Simple Homeschooling and Get Organized – Rev Up for the New Homeschool Year.

Hugs and love ya,

Signature T

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