Some materials were provided by my friends at Learn 365 by Oriental Trading for the purposes of this post. All opinions are 100% my own.
We started year FOUR of homeschooling this week. YEAR FOUR! What?! My oldest is only in first grade, yet I’ve homeschooled him since preschool, so if you add up preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, and now first grade…yep, we’re at year four! I’m thrilled to say that I still love it just as much as I did in year one. I might love it even more now, if I’m being 100% honest. My other kiddos are finally old enough to join in for more than just crafts and stories. Don’t get me wrong…crafts and stories are tons of fun and a huge part of our schedule, but seeing them start to blossom and learn new things {yes ALREADY} is so fun! PLUS! My first grader loves to help them with their school work. He’s totally taking the reigns at times when I might need an extra hand, and it’s been a great help. Before I jump into our curriculum and schedule and all that jazz, I wanted to share some simple preparations and organizational methods I have developed over the past four years that help me to have a successful year of homeschool with my kids.
Last year I shared that I organize our curriculum by using a “milk” crate filing system. With the addition of more school subjects for my oldest, and also teaching pre-k and preschool to my two youngest, this system needed a big revamp. The colored file folders from Learn 365 by Oriental Trading were my #1 source of organization. Essentially I have a hanging file folder per day, plus one for completed assignments, one for reading copies, and one for math copies. Within each hanging file, I’ve added a colored file folder for each subject area in first grade: reading/phonics, writing/spelling, math, science/history, and Spanish. Then I made a bulk folder for each day for my pre-k and preschool kiddo with their name on it.
So, each day has seven colored file folders in it. I go through the week before and fill them up while planning with all workbook pages, copies, and materials needed for each assignment in each subject on each day….PHEW!!
It may sound crazy and tedious just reading it, but it SO WORKS for me. I’ve used this system for three years now. It reduces clutter around my house {we do school in an open area at our kitchen table}, keeps me organized, and can be tucked into our storage closet quickly and easily once we’re finished for the day.
In these crates {I now have three of them}, I keep the hanging files as mentioned above, student workbooks that we are actively using throughout the year, teacher handbooks, and other essentials such as blank paper, drawing books, and student journals.
More Ways to Prepare
I was SO excited when I found this set of three desk dividers from Learn 365. I worry about my oldest being distracted by his little siblings since they haven’t always been around when we’ve been doing school work in the past. I actually just brought one of these out for him the other day, and he thought it was the coolest thing ever. And you know what?! It actually helped him focus on his assignment without distraction. Plus, it has little corner holders and slits to slide in a notecard or sheet of paper or two for reference if needed.
We’ve also already gotten great use out of the small {and cutely colorful} blank index cards. We’ve used them for alphabet cards and number cards, helping my little ones to order the numbers 1-10. It was easy and fast to make a set for each of them!
I love these multi-colored trays too! We’ve used them for drying artwork, for keeping math manipulatives from scattering all over the floor, and just this morning for setting our painted rocks on to dry {y’all…is that a thing where you are?! Painting and hiding rocks is SO FUN!}.
And, don’t even get me started on these dry erase boards I found on the site.
THEY ARE SEE THROUGH!!!
WHAT?!
Talk about perfect for setting over a book or copy that you don’t want your kid to actually write on. Isn’t that seriously a great idea?!
We use dry erase boards daily, especially for spelling and math. I usually have 4-5 scattered all over as we’re going through our lessons, so I was happy to grab a set of these clear ones as well for the school year. Not to mention…look at that giant pack of huge drawing paper behind them! Do your kids ask you for white paper hourly?! Asking for a friend…
More Must Have Homeschool Supplies
Now, not everything pictured is from Oriental Trading, but they do have some varieties of glue and notebooks available. They also carry Crayola products…THE ONLY BRAND I’LL EVER USE FOR CRAYONS, MARKERS, COLORED PENCILS, KIDS PAINTS…EVER.
You know they’re the best…admit it. I buy way too many crayons this time of year. I’m talking up to 10-15ish boxes per kid sometimes y’all. They are CHEAP now, sharp crayons are the BEST, and you can always use your old and broken pieces to make fun crayon molds like these Lego Crayons we made a few months ago. They also come in handy for a quick birthday gift with a couple of brand new coloring books…just saying.
We use wide ruled composition books for morning journals, subject area journals and notes, and sometimes just to color in because…kids.
And pencils.
Ticonderoga.
Only.
Forever and always.
The end.
Go ahead and buy some. Come back and thank me though, okay?!
Here’s a complete list of the Learn 365 by Oriental Trading products that have made this homeschooling year easier already. Head over and add them to your cart today! Let me know what you order {or if you find any other goodies I must get}!
Easy Clean Flat Trays | File Folders | Clear Dry Erase Boards
Student Mini Offices | Large Art Paper | Pacon Mini Flash Cards
Sharpie Fine Point Markers
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