Dry-erase whiteboard
For math problems, spelling and a daily schedule.
Homeschool supplies for Houston families
Templates by The Hire Power™ · Opportunity looks good on you
Homeschooling does not require a classroom's worth of supplies. Most families get a long way with a whiteboard, a printer, a few workbooks and some hands-on math tools, plus the free resources at the public library.
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Know the rules for your state first
The Texas Education Agency’s home schooling page says TEA does not regulate, monitor, approve, register or accredit home school programs. It explains that home schooling has been legal since the 1994 Leeper decision, that the course of study must include good citizenship, and that a school district may ask in writing for a letter of assurance that a child is being home schooled. Read the current page before you start.
Rules change, so read the official page rather than a forum summary. This site does not give legal advice.
Teaching basics
Thermal laminator
Make reusable worksheets and charts that last all year.
Copy paper
Printable worksheets go through paper quickly.
Grade-level workbooks
Low-cost practice to fill gaps between lessons.
Hands-on learning
Young kids learn reading and math faster with things they can touch and move.
Phonics flash cards
Short daily phonics practice for early readers.
Math manipulatives
Counting bears, linking cubes and base-ten blocks make math hands-on.
World globe
For geography, history and read-alouds.
Kids' headphones
Volume-limited headphones for online lessons in a busy house.
Keeping the day running
Electric pencil sharpener
Saves time when several kids are working at once.
Washable markers
For art, maps and color-coding notes.
Hundreds chart
A wall chart for skip counting and number sense.
Rolling storage cart
Keeps each child's books and supplies in one drawer.
Printable planner binder
A sturdy binder for lesson plans and attendance records.
Free help from the library
Your public library card usually includes free e-books, audiobooks and online learning tools for kids. See our Houston library guide for how to get a card.
Free trials on Amazon
These are free trials for eligible customers; they renew at the regular price unless you cancel, so set a reminder before the trial ends. Check the current terms on Amazon.
The Hire Power™ store has a homeschool weekly planner, a year planner and a preschool packet.
We have not tested these products hands-on and we do not publish star ratings. Picks are based on what each type of item is for. Prices and availability change on Amazon. Nothing on this page can promise a job, an interview or savings.