In no particular order:
1. Bible – we use this for reference, reading, scripture memorization, and devotions. I also use this Bible app on my phone (it’s free) and love it for being able to look up verses on the go or for reading the kids the verse of the day when they’re all piled in our bed in the morning!
2. Story of the World – our favourite curriculum
3. Paper, paper, and more paper – we often get free paper from workplaces of friends and family. We just flip it over and use the blank side in the printer or for drawing, doodling, and writing. We go through so much paper!
4. Simple Craft Supplies – glue, scissors, paint, markers, crayons, pipe cleaners, tissue paper, coloured paper, paper plates. We use a hanging shoe organizer to keep all of our craft supplies at the ready.
5. Books – all shapes, sizes, topics, and levels…WE LOVE BOOKS!
6. Imagination – something I try to nurture in my kids. When I find myself lacking in the imagination department, I look to others for inspiration (see #7).
7. Pinterest – this would have been a very boring year for the kids if I hadn’t discovered Pinterest! If you want to learn more about how it fits into homeschool, read my series on using Pinterest in homeschooling. As an added bonus, it’s free! Follow me on Pinterest to see what other projects we might try.
8. Patience – this is one of the top of the top must-haves for me. I don’t always have enough patience and some days, it feels like I have next to none and it feels like homeschooling takes every ounce that I have, but no one can successfully homeschool without it.
9. Prayer – our days always go so much better when we start together with prayer. Our prayer wall gives us all a visual and helps encouragement. And for me, a busy, sometimes stressed-out homeschool mom, prayer is everything.
10. Flexibility and Grace – the nature of homeschooling demands flexibility from year to year, day to day, and child to child. It is also necessary to give yourself grace. No one is perfect and us homeschool moms are no exception. I often have expectations of myself that no human being could live up to and am working on allowing myself more grace. I think grace is also a must for gifting our children with and for teaching them through action.