How I Created a Homeschool Space That Actually Works for Us
Creating a homeschool that works for your family doesn’t require a picture-perfect classroom or endless supplies. I’m sharing the practical school essentials, organization tools, creative learning supplies, and fun little extras that help make our homeschool days easier, more organized, and a whole lot more enjoyable.
9/3/20267 min read
Simple supplies, organization, creativity, and little touches that make our homeschool days easier
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When I first began homeschooling, I thought choosing the right curriculum would be the biggest piece of the puzzle.
And don't get me wrong—curriculum matters.
But I've learned that some of the things that make the biggest difference in our homeschool days are actually the smallest ones.
A pencil that's where it's supposed to be.
A basket that keeps the things we use every day from migrating to every room in the house.
A good set of markers.
A sketchbook that's ready when inspiration strikes.
And sometimes, a completely ridiculous brain break because we've stared at fractions long enough and neither one of us is learning anything anymore.
Homeschooling has taught me that creating a good learning environment isn't about recreating a traditional classroom inside your house. It's about figuring out what helps your child learn and your family function well.
Over time, I've found supplies, organizational tools, creative materials, and a few fun extras that make our days easier.
I've gathered all of those recommendations into my Homeschool Favorites Benable list, but I wanted to share a little more about why I chose them and how things like these fit into our homeschool.
Start With the Everyday School Supplies
There are certain things we reach for over and over again during the school year, and I've learned that these are the supplies worth keeping stocked and easy to reach.
Our everyday homeschool basics include things like pencils, good erasers, pens, highlighters, washable markers, notebooks, folders, index cards, dry-erase supplies, and other basic school necessities.
Nothing particularly glamorous here.
But try starting math when every pencil in your house has mysteriously disappeared and suddenly pencils feel pretty glamorous. 😂
I especially like washable markers for homeschool because they're useful for so much more than coloring. We use colorful supplies for projects, diagrams, labeling, creative assignments, posters, and anything else that makes a worksheet or lesson a little more interesting.
💡 Homeschooling Tip
Keep the supplies your child uses every day separate from your larger craft and school-supply stash. A small container with pencils, erasers, scissors, glue, markers, and other daily essentials saves an amazing amount of time.
If we use it constantly, I don't want to conduct a search-and-rescue mission every time we need it.
Organization Doesn't Have to Be Complicated
Homeschooling comes with stuff.
Books. Paper. Curriculum. Manipulatives. Art supplies. Flashcards. Finished work. Printer paper.
So. Much. Paper.
I've found that our homeschool runs much more smoothly when everything has a designated place.
That doesn't mean you need a beautiful dedicated homeschool room with matching furniture and alphabet posters lining the walls. Our homes still have to function as homes.
Simple organization can make a huge difference.
Things like rolling carts, supply caddies, storage bins, paper organizers, file systems, book storage, pencil organizers, and even a good surge protector with USB charging ports can solve everyday annoyances.
That last one may not sound like a homeschool supply, but between computers, tablets, printers, chargers, and everything else we use now, having a convenient place to plug everything in is one of those decidedly unexciting things that makes life easier.
And I'm all for making life easier.
💡 Homeschooling Tip
Before buying another organizer, decide exactly what is going to live inside it.
I've learned that buying containers without a purpose sometimes just gives you beautifully organized clutter. Give the container a job first, and then find the organizer that fits the job.
Make Room for Art & Creative Learning
This is probably one of my favorite parts.
I don't think creativity should be treated as something kids only get to do after all the "real" schoolwork is finished.
Creativity is learning.
Drawing builds observation and fine-motor skills. Painting introduces color, planning, and experimentation. Sculpting requires children to think in three dimensions. Craft projects encourage problem-solving.
And sometimes kids simply need permission to create something because creating is good for them.
For our Art & Creative Learning favorites, I wanted supplies that could be used in lots of different ways instead of buying a separate kit for every project.
Some of my favorites include:
Mixed-media sketchbooks with heavier paper that can handle more than ordinary drawing paper
Watercolor paint sets
Washable kids' paint
Assorted paintbrushes
Colored pencils
Construction paper
Air-dry clay
Clay sculpting tools
Kid-friendly scissors
Washable school glue
All-in-one craft supply kits with things like pom-poms, craft sticks, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and other odds and ends
I especially love the idea of keeping a mixed-media sketchbook for each child.
It doesn't have to be an "art class" every time they open it. They can draw something they're learning about in science, sketch a historical scene, paint something from nature, design an invention, or simply create whatever is floating around in their imagination that day.
💡 Homeschooling Tip
Create an "I'm Done" art basket.
Keep a sketchbook, colored pencils, watercolor paints, construction paper, and a few simple craft supplies together. When your child finishes an assignment early, they can choose something from the basket instead of immediately reaching for a screen.
The Little Things That Make School More Fun
This might be my favorite category on the entire list.
Because homeschooling gives us something traditional school can't always offer:
We get to make it ours.
Our kids only get one childhood, and I want learning to include memories—not just completed worksheets.
That's why I added a whole section to my favorites called Little Things That Make School More Fun.
None of these things are required.
That's precisely the point.
They're the little extras.
Motivational Stickers
There is something timeless about getting a sticker for doing a good job.
I don't care whether it's 1986 or 2026—a sticker still has magical powers. 😂
I found a big assortment of motivational reward stickers that can be used on completed work, charts, planners, notebooks, or just as an unexpected "Hey, you worked really hard on that."
Fun Stickers
I also included a large pack of colorful vinyl stickers.
These aren't necessarily rewards. They're just fun.
Kids can use them to decorate notebooks, water bottles, pencil boxes, folders, or other school supplies and make their homeschool things feel like their own.
Scented Bookmarks
One of the most delightfully unnecessary things on my list is a set of scratch-and-sniff scented bookmarks.
And I love them.
They're colorful, silly, inexpensive, and an easy little reading reward.
You could let your child choose a new bookmark after finishing a chapter book or reaching a reading goal.
Silly Pencils
We also found fun pencils with fuzzy character toppers.
Do they make handwriting better?
Probably not.
Will a child occasionally be more willing to do handwriting because they're writing with a pencil that looks like it hasn't brushed its hair since 1997?
Possibly. And I'll take the win.
A Classroom Bell
Then there's the smiley-face desk bell.
This is another one of those inexpensive little things that can become part of your family's homeschool traditions.
Use it for games. Ring it when someone gets an answer right. Use it during review questions. Let your child ring it when school is officially finished for the day.
There are a million possibilities—and very few of them are serious.
That's why I like it.
Mini Dry-Erase Boards
Small individual dry-erase boards are another favorite because they sit right at that sweet spot between practical and fun.
Use them for spelling words, math facts, vocabulary, quick answers, drawing diagrams, games, or review.
Something about answering on a dry-erase board instead of another piece of paper can make the exact same question feel completely different.
And when you've already done several worksheets that day, sometimes different is exactly what you need.
Storytelling Dice
I absolutely love storytelling dice for creative writing.
Instead of handing a child a blank sheet of paper and saying, "Write a story," roll the dice and use the pictures as prompts.
Suddenly you've got characters, objects, places, and ideas to work with.
You can use them for creative writing, oral storytelling, family games, vocabulary practice, or even silly stories where everyone takes turns adding the next part.
They turn writing into play—and that's often when some of the best learning happens.
Brain Break Activities
And finally, we have brain breaks.
Sometimes your child doesn't need another explanation.
Sometimes they need to move their body.
I found a fun Grab & Go Brain Break set with movement activities kids can choose when everybody's attention is beginning to wander.
💡 Homeschooling Tip
Don't wait until everybody is frustrated to take a break.
Keep your brain-break activities nearby and use one between subjects, after a particularly difficult lesson, or whenever you notice your child's attention starting to fade.
Five minutes of silliness can sometimes save the next forty-five minutes of school.
And yes, Mom is allowed to participate.
In fact, Mom may need the brain break more than anybody. 😉
You Don't Need Everything to Homeschool Well
I want to make something very clear whenever I share homeschool favorites:
You do not need to buy a house full of supplies to give your child a wonderful education.
Please don't look at anybody's homeschool room, Amazon list, Pinterest board, or Instagram post and think you aren't doing enough.
Start with what you need.
Use what you already own.
Add things gradually when you discover a genuine need.
Some of my favorite homeschool tools are incredibly simple. And some of the best homeschool days happen sitting on the sofa with a book.
The goal isn't to own the perfect homeschool.
The goal is to create an environment where your child can learn, grow, explore, and feel at home while doing it.
Creating a Homeschool That Feels Like Us
One of the things I've come to appreciate most about homeschooling is that we don't have to copy someone else's version of school.
We can create rhythms that work for our family.
We can stop and spend longer on something that sparks curiosity.
We can take a break when somebody needs one.
We can pull out watercolor paints during a history lesson.
We can do school at the kitchen table.
We can read on the sofa.
We can ring a ridiculous yellow bell because somebody finally conquered a math concept that nearly drove us both crazy.
Those little things matter.
Years from now, I doubt our children will remember every worksheet they completed.
But I hope they remember the feeling of learning together.
I hope they remember the projects spread across the kitchen table, the books we read together, the jokes, the frustrating lessons we eventually figured out, the art projects, the conversations—and yes, maybe even the silly pencils.
Because ultimately, homeschooling isn't something we're trying to fit around our life.
It's part of the life we're building together.
And I want that life to be a beautiful one.
🏡 Shop My Homeschool Favorites
I've gathered the homeschool supplies, organizational tools, creative-learning materials, and fun little extras I recommend into one place on my Homeschool Favorites Benable list.
I'll continue adding to it as we discover things that genuinely make our homeschool days easier or more enjoyable.
→ Browse My Homeschool Favorites
Remember: you don't need everything on the list. Take what serves your family, leave what doesn't, and build your homeschool one intentional step at a time.