The Homeschool Must-Have List (From a Former Classroom Teacher)
- Cass
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
At the start of every homeschool year, I don’t ask, “What do I need to buy?”. I ask a quieter, more important question:
“What will help my children think, regulate, and feel safe to learn?”
After years in classrooms and now years at the kitchen table, I’ve learned this: Homeschool doesn’t need more stuff. It needs intentional tools, simple rhythms, and the right support. This is the list I come back to every year.
WHAT I ALWAYS HAVE
1. A Table That My Child Actually Fits At
Learning begins in the body before it ever reaches the brain.
Instead of expecting a five-year-old to work at a full-size kitchen table, they sit at a child-sized table made for their body.
Feet on the floor
Elbows at the right height
Shoulders relaxed
When a child fits the furniture, they win before learning even begins.
Teacher thought: I’ve watched countless children struggle to concentrate simply because their body was working harder than their brain. When the body is supported, learning follows.
Comfort isn’t a luxury - it’s a learning support.
Our table of choice: Ikea Mammut Children's Table (click to purchase)
2. An Accessible Table Caddy (Where Everything Lives)
All our everyday learning tools live right on the table, within reach. Not tucked away. Not saved for “lesson time.” Always available.
The caddy holds:
Pencils
Crayons
Textas
Scissors
Glue
Stickers
When children can access what they need without asking, learning flows.
Teacher thought: When children don’t need to ask for tools, they stay inside their thinking.Interruptions break learning momentum far more than we realise.
3. A Range of Writing Tools
Because children think differently depending on what’s in their hand.
Triangle lead pencils for younger learners
Standard pencils for older children
Crayons for fast, expressive, low-pressure thinking
Textas/markers for slower, more deliberate work
Different tools create different cognitive experiences.
Teacher thought: When a task feels hard, changing the tool often unlocks the thinking without changing the child.
This isn’t clutter - it’s intentional.
4. Proper Scissors (Left or Right-Handed)
Not whatever was cheapest or already in the drawer.
Cutting supports:
Hand strength
Bilateral coordination
Early writing development
Teacher thought: Strong hands and coordinated movements underpin fluent writing later on. Cutting is not “busy work” - it’s preparation.
It’s quiet, powerful learning in disguise.
Left Handed Child Scissors: Officeworks Micador Left Hand Scissors (click to purchase).
Right Handed Child Scissors: The School Locker Micador scissors (click to purchase).
5. Stickers for Child-Led Reflection (Not Rewards)
These aren’t for adults to give. The child:
Chooses the sticker
Reflects on their effort
Builds ownership of their work
Teacher thought: Children who can name what they’re proud of build confidence that lasts longer than praise ever will.
Reflection grows confidence from the inside out.
Our favourites are from Kmart. We just grab the large notepad style.
6. A Metal Water Bottle on the Desk
Always within reach.
Encourages independent brain breaks
Reduces disruption
Supports focus and regulation
Teacher thought: In classrooms, the simplest regulation tools are often the most effective. Hydration is one of them.
Many learning struggles are simply thirst or fatigue showing up loudly.
7. An Outdoor Reset Space
Regulation is part of learning - not a break from it.
This isn’t “playtime” It’s regulation. A backyard. A verandah. A patch of grass.
Teacher thought: Some children return from movement calmer in two minutes than they do after twenty minutes of talking.
Movement and fresh air reset the nervous system faster than words ever will.
8. A Small Whiteboard and Marker
For thinking out loud.
Maths working
Spelling practice
Brain dumps
Problem solving
Teacher thought: When mistakes disappear easily, children take more intellectual risks — and learning deepens.
When mistakes can disappear easily, confidence stays.
Our household has these whiteboards: Officeworks mini whiteboards (click to purchase).
9. A Visual Timer (Not a Phone)
Time becomes visible, not emotional.
Reduces power struggles
Creates predictability
Supports neurodivergent learners beautifully
Teacher thought: Predictability is one of the greatest gifts we can give children who struggle with transitions.
Children cope better when they can see what’s coming.
A timer like this is great: 2 Minute Sand Timer (click to purchase).
10. A Protein-First Snack Basket
Fuel comes before focus.
Eggs
Nuts and seeds
Yoghurt alternatives
Protein snacks
Teacher thought: No amount of encouragement can replace fuel. Brains need energy to learn.
No child learns well on an empty tank.
11. A “Finished Work” Tray or Folder
The child places their work there themselves. This simple ritual:
Signals completion
Builds independence
Brings closure to learning
Teacher thought: Closure matters. It helps children mentally move on instead of carrying unfinished thinking all day.
Small systems create calm days.
We have a jute basket from Kmart. Super affordable.
12. Flexible Seating Options
Because still bodies aren’t better learners.
Floor cushions
Dining chairs
Kneeling stools
Standing benches
Teacher thought: When children can move, they don’t need to fidget as much.
Comfort supports concentration.
13. Getting Dressed for the Day (Not Learning in Pyjamas)
This one surprises people - but it matters. Each morning, my children get dressed for the day before learning begins. Not school uniforms. Not anything fancy. Just out of pyjamas. It creates a clear change of state:
From rest to readiness
From home mode to learning mode
Teacher thought: Small rituals cue the brain that something new is beginning. This one costs nothing and works immediately.
The body understands the shift before the brain does.
14. The Wonder & Wild Private Homeschool Parents Group
This matters more than any supply - and it’s the one most people forget. A place with:
People who get it
No noise, no judgement, no hot takes
Real families, real children, real days
Teacher thought: Confident parents create calmer learning environments. Support matters.
Homeschooling was never meant to be done alone. Confidence grows faster in safe community than it ever does in isolation.
PS: This is my favourite part of Wonder & Wild. Likeminded friends and homeschool besties.
15. What I Intentionally Do Not Add: Headphones
This is a conscious choice. I want to:
Hear how my children are thinking
Listen to their questions and reasoning
Share learning, not silo it
Teacher thought: Language development thrives in shared spaces. Listening tells us far more than silence ever will.
Connection matters more than quiet.
A Final Thought
This list isn’t about recreating school at home.It’s about creating an environment where children feel safe to try, think, move, and grow.
Significance creates safety. Safety invites learning.
Homeschooling doesn’t need to be louder, harder, or more complicated. Often, the most powerful thing you can give your child is less noise - and better support.
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