As both a mom and a teacher, I’ve learned that homeschooling doesn’t require endless supplies — it requires the right ones. Parents often feel pressured by long shopping lists, but the truth is that most of those items won’t make a difference in your child’s learning.

What truly matters are a few essentials that keep lessons effective and organized. Over the years, I’ve refined what we actually use day after day.

Here’s the complete list of back to school homeschool supplies in Portugal that we actually use — practical, realistic, and specific to our context.

The Must-Have Homeschool Supplies

1. Homeschool Planner 2025/2026 — where everything begins

For me, homeschooling isn’t about collecting endless supplies. It starts with structure. I’m both a mom and a teacher, and I know from experience that a clear weekly plan makes all the difference. That’s why the very first “supply” on my list is not a pen or a notebook, but my Homeschool Planner 2025/2026.

💡 Created specifically for homeschooling in Portugal — because I couldn’t find any planner that truly fit our reality.

Available in two versions:

• 📘 Portuguese edition → https://amzn.to/3V8RYGU

• 📗 English edition → https://amzn.to/3V61Np6

I built it around our real needs at home:

• monthly and weekly plans that cover the full school year (September 2025 to July 2026),

• a place to track each student’s schedule, grades, attendance, and reading,

• pages for meetings, contacts, and even passwords,

• space for notes and reflections that actually get used.

It’s not about being perfect — it’s about having a tool that keeps us consistent when life gets messy. This planner is what keeps our homeschool running smoothly without me drowning in paper or random lists.

👉🏾 Start your year with clarity and ease — get the Homeschool Planner 2025/2026

2. Paper & Binders — simple, organized, and flexible

This year, we’re not using traditional notebooks. Instead, I switched to loose-leaf paper refills that go straight into binders. It’s easier to keep everything in one place and to reorganize subjects without wasting pages.

What we actually use:

• Lined loose-leaf paper for daily writing, journaling, spelling, and copywork.

• Grid loose-leaf paper for math — keeping calculations neat and aligned.

• Printer paper for worksheets, planners, and activities I prepare in advance.

• Dividers for each subject, so everything stays structured and easy to find.

• Reinforcement rings (those small adhesive circles) — lifesavers when a page tears at the holes.

This system gives me flexibility: if a page is messy, we can just replace it. If I want to keep work samples, I file them directly into each child’s binder.

3. Writing & Creative Tools

In our homeschool, writing and creativity go hand in hand. These are the tools we use almost every day, whether it’s math, writing practice, or Visual Arts.

Here’s what we use:

• Pencils — reliable for writing, easy to erase.

• Good erasers — not the ones that smudge and tear the page.

• A solid sharpener — preferably metal, because the plastic ones don’t last.

• Blue or black pens — for when my daughter needs to move from pencil to pen.

• Highlighters — just a couple of colors to keep notes organized, not a rainbow set.

• Scissors — sturdy and safe, used constantly.

• Glue — for all kinds of projects.

• Cardstock & colored paper — for drawing, cutting, and building.

• Colored pencils — the most versatile tool for creative work.

• Felt-tip pens (markers) — bright and bold, perfect for posters and details.

• Paints and Paint Brushes — watercolors or gouache for larger art projects.

Why it works: this set covers everything from structured lessons to creative projects.

4. Whiteboard & Markers — our go-to teaching space

This year, I’m reusing the whiteboard we already had from IKEA. I’ll be hanging it on the wall at my daughter’s height, so she can stand and write comfortably. It’s not fancy, but it works perfectly — and that’s the point. You don’t have to buy everything new for homeschooling to be effective.

What we actually keep at home:

• Wall whiteboard (reused from IKEA) — practical, at child’s eye level.

• Whiteboard markers — for neat writing (spelling, sentences).

• A small personal whiteboard — Felisberta uses it to practice alongside me. If I write a math problem on the wall board, she solves it on her own little board.

Why it works: it’s visual, reusable, and dynamic. A poster on the wall never changes, but a whiteboard adapts to the lesson of the day.

5. Storage & Organization — keeping chaos away

Homeschooling brings paper, books, and projects into the house fast. If you don’t have a system, it piles up everywhere. What works for us is keeping it simple and practical:

• Binders — one per subject, with loose-leaf paper and dividers. Everything stays in order, and I can file worksheets directly.

• Dividers — each subject or section is clearly separated, so I don’t waste time searching.

• Clear Plastic Sleeves — perfect for keeping worksheets, readings, or art projects safe.

• Reinforcement rings — tiny but essential; when a page tears at the holes, I fix it instead of losing work.

Why this matters: when everything has a place, lessons run smoother and there’s less frustration.

6. Laminator & Printer — for worksheets, projects, and so much more

A laminator may not show up on every homeschool list, but for us it’s essential. I don’t use it every single week, but when I do, it saves time and makes materials last much longer.

A printer is one of those things you don’t think about much… until you need it every other day.

We use them for:

• Worksheets — math practice, reading packs, activities.
• Projects — maps, templates, or activity sheets I prepare ahead of time.
• Flashcards — for reading, math, or foreign language practice.
• Chore charts & schedules — reusable with dry-erase markers.
• Learning games — board games, matching cards, bingo sheets.
• Covers & checklists — durable enough to survive the whole year.

What works for us:

• A reliable printer — not the cheapest one, but one that doesn’t eat ink or jam paper.

• Laminator and Laminating Pouches

7. Math Kit — simple tools that get the job done

For math, I don’t overbuy. A few basic tools are enough, and they last for years if you choose good quality.

What we actually use:

• Ruler — for measuring and keeping work neat.

• Protractor & compass — once geometry lessons start.

• Calculator — only when age-appropriate, but helpful later on.

• Grid paper — already part of our binder system, perfect for keeping numbers aligned.

Why it works: math doesn’t require expensive sets or gadgets. With the right paper and a couple of reliable tools, the lessons are clear and frustration-free.

8. Laptop & Desktop — what we use in our homeschool

A computer is part of our homeschool toolkit. We use it regularly for research, eBooks, and interactive resources. Depending on the family, a laptop or a desktop can both work well — it just depends if you need portability or prefer a fixed study space.

Last year, Felisberta worked with a laptop. It was light and practical for daily use.
This year, we’re adding a desktop as well — stable, durable, and perfect for keeping a fixed study space at home.

What we actually use:

• Laptop — for research, eBooks, and interactive resources.

• Desktop — for longer study sessions and when we want everything set up in one place.

Why it works: both have their role. The laptop gives flexibility, while the desktop gives consistency.

9. Seating — keeping learning comfortable

Light isn’t a problem in our home, but seating is. A proper chair makes a huge difference: when Felisberta is comfortable, she can stay focused longer without fidgeting or getting tired.

What we actually use:

• A supportive chair — not an expensive one, just sturdy and comfortable enough for daily use.

Why it works: homeschooling means spending hours at the table. A good chair supports posture and concentration, and it saves me from the constant “I can’t sit anymore” interruptions.

Conclusion — start simple, stay consistent

Homeschooling doesn’t need endless supplies. What matters is having the right tools — the ones that actually get used day after day. For us, that means a balance between the basics (paper, writing tools, math kit) and the creative side (Artes Visuais, laminator, projects).

The truth is: less clutter, more focus. With these back to school homeschool supplies in Portugal, homeschooling flows naturally and leaves more room for what really matters — learning together.

👉🏾 If you want to begin this year with clarity and structure, the Homeschool Planner 2025/2026 is the tool I use to keep everything on track.

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