There are many things you could use for homeschooling, but if you had to choose, what are the most essential homeschooling tools? The market is full of curricula, books, gadgets, and tools for schooling at home. However, not all are necessary. Here is a look at some of the most essential homeschool tools.
1) A Computer - The computer is a homeschooler's best friend. With the Internet, you have research right at your fingertips. From maps for geography to finding the local temperature to looking up how a television works, the Internet is a wonderful tool for research for students. Don't forget all those lesson plans and worksheets available on-line, too! Outside of the Internet, a computer is great for playing educational games on CD-Rom, writing reports, and many other things. All in all, the computer is one of the most-used tools for homeschooling families.
2) Library Card - Where else can you find thousands of books for free? Not to mention many libraries offer music CD's, movies, audiobooks, reference material, and years of documents stored in different ways. The library is a world unto itself. Most of it is free, which is a wonderful benefit since most homeschooling families find themselves on a tight budget. Libraries often offer many additional things, like concerts, exhibits by local artists, visits from authors, book clubs for teens and adults, special preschool groups, and summer activities for the kids. A library card is a must for homeschoolers.
3) Space - Whether you homeschool in a separate dedicated schoolroom or at the kitchen table, the space you homeschool in is important. It does not have to take a great deal of space to school at home, but whatever space is used must be organized, at least a little. A cardboard box can hold papers, and a special bookshelf can house the schoolbooks. No matter what the size, the space we use is important.
4) Caller ID/ Answering Machine - Some days the phone seems to ring off the hook! Caller ID can let you know if that call is the important one from the plumber on his way to fix the leak, or a telemarketer you can ignore. The answering machine can do the same job, and also record those calls you can return later.
5) Memberships - Memberships, espcially to the arts, can be very important for homeschooling families. Traditional schools have access to resources for field trips throughout the year. It can be more difficult for homeschoolers to afford those luxuries. However, purchasing one family membership a year is a great investment for homeschooling. Many museums and zoos offer a reasonable family yearly fee that allows as many visits as you want. Take advantage and explore all the place has to offer. Rotate memberships every year in order to see more and do more. Consider art museums, zoos, nature museums, or season tickets to the ballet or symphony. Many of the memberships come with perks, like special "members only" events. All in all, taking time out to go, see, and explore is invaluable for homeschoolers.
6) Support - Most homeschooling families can not do without support. This is especially true for the parent doing the bulk of the schooling. Schooling your children is wonderful, but everyone has days they feel tired, frustrated, lost, or unsure. When those days come, and the do come, turning to your support can get you through. Whether it is a online homeschool support group or a local "girl's night out", having people to laugh and cry with can make the difference between success and burn-out.
7) Patience - This one thing can seem elusive, but is most necessary for any homeschooler. Trying to get the laundry done, entertaining the preschooler, guiding the 3rd grader through his math lesson while the middle schooler researches for a report - sound familiar? Patience helps us laugh when the toilet overflows in the middle of lessons, when you discover army men have mutated with Pokemon all over the school room, and no one knows where their pencils are. Patience helps us to go to the park for a natural history lesson on a beautiful day, in spite of the fact that the toilets need scrubbing and the lawn is overgrown. Patience helps us when we live this joyful process called life. It is the one most important essential for homeschooling that all homeschoolers need.
