When you first start Googling “how to start homeschooling,” the amount of curriculum and resources out in the world is overwhelming. I’m here to tell you to take a breath. Don’t start ordering all the shiny things and hoping they will make your homeschool shine.
Start simple. Stick to what works. Skip the clutter.
So, you’re officially homeschooling or seriously considering it. Whether you’re coming out of the public school system or just dipping your toes into something more flexible and family-centered, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of homeschool supplies, curriculum choices, and Pinterest-worthy setups.
But here’s the truth: you don’t need a designated schoolroom or a rainbow of color-coded everything. You just need the essentials that actually help your family learn and live together.
This list is for the mom who wants to start strong without spending hundreds of dollars on stuff she won’t use.
Affiliate Note: I only recommend products I’ve personally used and loved or that come highly recommended by trusted fellow homeschoolers. When you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support this blog. Thank you!
A Simple Homeschool Planner
Honestly, I have stepped away from the planner life during this season. There was a time when I was using a planner regularly, and I loved seeing and reflecting on everything we’ve done. Occasionally, I still pull my planner out and use it for a week or two to get a visual of everything we’ve been up to. It really is eye-opening!
The best thing I did when I was using the planner daily was reverse plan. Check out this article on reverse planning to see what I mean. This gave me the ability to see all that we were doing in a day without the stress of trying to catch up.
You don’t need anything crazy to plan out your days. Just something flexible that lets you jot down lessons, goals, ideas, or what actually happened.
I’ve used both of these and they’ve been WONDERFUL for keeping it simple without being cluttered or overwhelming.
A digital option that I’ve been testing out lately is Trello. I use the free version, and it has all sorts of templates and ways to stay organized if you’re like me and just need everything laid out so your life doesn’t end up in chaos.
A Quality Printer (Because You’ll Use It Daily)
My printer gets used daily either by me or my kids. It can be used for printable curriculum, free worksheets (I highly recommend checking out teacherspayteachers.com,) or all those adorable unit studies.
My kids are constantly printing coloring sheets, Canva creations, or recipes.
I currently have an HP OfficeJet Pro that I’ve used for years, and it’s been great! It’s recently stopped working after years and years of daily use. As I’ve been researching our next purchase, this Epson printer seems to be the way to go. I love that it has refillable ink and comes highly recommended.
Basic Curriculum or Learning Resources-
If you’re starting relaxed, and you’ve gone through the recommended amount of deschooling, you’re probably ready to get started with some sort of curriculum. Here are some ideas to get started.
Full disclosure, we use secular curriculum and really enjoy the format of Build Your Library and Blossom and Root.
We also have used and enjoyed Reading Eggs and Math Seeds in the past. The other recommendations come from speaking to other homeschoolers and hearing what they have used and loved.
Open-and-go options:
Secular:
- Literature-rich, secular, and themed around critical thinking and global awareness.
- Covers multiple subjects, including language arts, science, and social studies.
- Great for families who enjoy read-alouds and unit study style.
- Charlotte Mason-inspired and secular.
- Uses living books and a structured daily plan.
- Covers history, science, literature, and optional add-ons.
- Secular, nature-based curriculum with a focus on art, literature, and science.
- Hands-on, creative activities that support a gentle, child-led approach.
- Low-prep and flexible with a variety of learning options for different kinds of learners.
Religious:
- Faith-based, open-and-go, with beautiful illustrations and gentle learning.
- Popular for its language arts and nature science programs.
- Combines multiple subjects in an easy-to-use format.
- Christian worldview with a Charlotte Mason/unit study approach.
- Open-and-go teacher’s manuals, daily lesson plans, and Bible integration.
- Covers preschool through high school.
- Christian, literature-based curriculum.
- Offers complete packages with instructor’s guides and all books included.
- Very open-and-go with an emphasis on global missions and worldview.
App and Computer Based:
- Comprehensive video-based instruction in math, science, history, and more.
- Self-paced and great for independent learners.
- Also includes Khan Kids app for early learners.
Miacademy (Secular/Online-Based)
- Online platform with video lessons, games, and interactive learning (K–8).
- Covers core subjects plus electives like music, foreign languages, and life skills.
- Customizable pacing with progress tracking and optional parent oversight.
Reading Eggs / Math Seeds (Secular/Online-Based)
- Fun, gamified learning for early literacy and math (ages 3–9).
- Phonics-based reading instruction and foundational math skills.
- Self-paced lessons with rewards, songs, and printable activities.
Homeschool Curriculum Comparison Chart
| Curriculum/App | Type | Secular/Religious | Grade Levels | Subjects Covered | Format | Open-and-Go | Notes |
| Torchlight Curriculum | Curriculum | Secular | Pre-K to Level 5+ | LA, history, science, geography, art | Yes | Literature-rich, global focus, critical thinking | |
| Build Your Library | Curriculum | Secular | K–12 | LA, history, science, art | Yes | Charlotte Mason-inspired, literature-based | |
| The Good and The Beautiful | Curriculum | Religious | K–8 (some high school) | LA, math, science, art, handwriting | Print/PDF | Yes | Christian-based, visually appealing, gentle approach |
| My Father’s World | Curriculum | Religious | Pre-K to 12 | Bible, LA, history, science, geography | Yes | Christian worldview, unit study/Charlotte Mason blend | |
| Sonlight | Curriculum | Religious | Pre-K to 12 | LA, history, Bible, science, electives | Yes | Literature-based with instructor guides | |
| Blossom and Root | Curriculum | Secular | Pre-K to 5+ | LA, science, nature, art | Yes | Nature-based, creative, gentle learning | |
| Miacademy | Online Platform | Secular | K–8 | All core subjects + electives | Online | Yes | Interactive lessons with games and progress tracking |
| Reading Eggs / Mathseeds | Online App | Secular | Ages 3–9 | Reading, phonics, math | App/Web | Yes | Gamified learning with self-paced lessons |
| Khan Academy | Online Platform | Secular | K–12+ | Math, science, history, grammar, CS | Online | Yes | Free, self-paced video lessons with quizzes |
A Laminator (Optional—but surprisingly helpful!)-
These are great for reusable checklists, flashcards, hands-on activities, visual schedules, etc. Although I don’t have one of these anymore, it is great to have for anything you want to reuse more than once.
This Scotch laminator is perfect as it isn’t too harsh on the budget and has amazing reviews. This is the one I have used and would recommend for home use.
Scotch Thermal Laminator (under $45)
A Rolling Cart, Storage Bins, or Book Bins
When you tend to move around the house, like us, you need a lot of flexibility. We use our rolling cart as a disorganized, catch-all craft cart for the time being. In our previous home, though, it was an invaluable tool for holding whatever books and art supplies we used regularly for activities we do together.
These days we keep them in the dining room with these book bins to organize them and these Sterilite drawers to keep it all sectioned to the corner. .
The kids use storage bins similar to these to hold the bookwork they do. The kids are able to grab them and move around the house to wherever they want to work that day.
Great Read-Alouds or a Yoto Audiobook Player
Reading aloud is the heart of our homeschool. Start with a few chapter books everyone can enjoy. If reading aloud isn’t your thing, I recommend easing into it with just a chapter a day. This can be in the morning, over lunch, or at bedtime.
And if reading aloud REALLY isn’t your thing, there are people out there who have done it for you! Our Yoto player is seriously one of our most used items. My kids use them whenever they have free time. We have the minis right now, but plan on getting a full sized one to keep in our living room in the future.
Some of Our Favorite Read Alouds:
A Library Card
It’s free. It’s powerful. It’s underrated. My kids favorite day is library day. Just be prepared that you might not be able to pry them away from the new books that day.
✔️ Pro tip: Check if your library offers access to free apps like Libby or Hoopla for ebooks and audiobooks!
Basic Supplies
Pencils, paper, notebooks. You know the drill. Here’s a quick list so you don’t forget anything.
- Pencils and erasers (Ticonderoga pre-sharpened pencils for the win)
- Notebooks or composition books
- Colored pencils or crayons
- Scissors (child-safe if needed)
- Glue sticks
- Ruler
- Folders or binders for organizing work
- Dry erase boards and markers
- Printer paper
Now that you have everything you need, it’s time to make a plan. Go check out this blog post to help you figure out how to get started homeschooling without the stress.