Homeschool Mom Survival Kit

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How do we do it? Schlep our kids to activities, keep up with the errands, haul around all those overdue library books, and homeschool, without losing our minds?

We've learned to take advantage of tools that help us hold it all together. Here are some of the most important things in our homeschool mom survival kits.

1. Carabiners

That's right. The unsung Homeschool Mom Fashion Accessory is from the camping aisle at the discount store. The carabiner. We use the carabiner to clip our keys to our purses, diaper bags, laptop cases, strollers, backpacks, baby slings, and park day totes. And, sometimes, we reach a new height of fashion when we begin clipping them directly to our clothes.

We plan for our own distraction, for our predictable inability to juggle all the details, for our need to use our hands for library bags and coffee and art supplies and holding children's hands. Carabiners are part of our survival gear.

Our carabiners are protecting our future selves from the absent-mindedness and slip-ups of our current selves.

2. Three-Ring Binders

Keeping a single three-ring binder for each child covering all of their school years means that the information you (or they) need is available when it is needed. No matter what your state requires, you can keep it all in a binder along with other important paperwork. Dividers with pockets for loose papers will keep everything organized. Here are just a few of the things you might keep in a binder:

Attendance records
Immunization records
Standardized test scores and/or evaluation letters
High school course descriptions and course planners
Scouting or 4-H award applications and certificates
DMV paperwork related to licensing
College application information (printed complete applications, essays, transcripts) & acceptance letters
High school transcripts

These sturdy 2-inch binders with rubberized spines are a favorite.

And, if you’re the type who likes to use binders, you might be interested in homeschool planners.

3. Cell Phone

The convenience of an ever-present cell phone means that you always have a camera and apps for note-taking, nature identification, listening to audiobooks, watching educational videos, tracking activities, and more at your disposal. Here are just a few of the ways to use them.

Camera:

snap photos of projects, important papers, business cards, schedules, and more
take photos of coupons and save them to a "coupon" album so they are always handy when you are on the go
take pictures of the serial numbers on boxes or devices before setting the device up, and put the photo in a special album just for serial numbers
at conventions, snap photos of booth specials or curriculum samples (if permitted) to help you remember them when you get home
take photos of assignment sheets so you always have them on the go
take photos of Post-it notes so you can throw them away

Notes app:

keep track of household items with specific dimensions or wattages like filters and light bulbs
keep a running list of questions for doctor appointments
note current clothing and shoe sizes for everyone in the family
make reminders for yourself to follow up on later

Other apps:

Homeschooling often involves waiting. Lots of waiting. Waiting for classes or practices to start or end for multiple kids on different schedules. Cell phone apps can be a great way to stave off boredom and sneak in learning. Apps exist that will:

identify plants, wildlife, and birds (by appearance or by sound!) in your surroundings (here are more nature apps we recommend)
track the weather, wind speeds, and lightning distance
identify flights overhead or ships floating by
let you know when and where rockets will launch
track movement and speed when running or walking
identify stars, constellations, satellites, and more using augmented reality
teach languages
play audiobooks
locate nearby trails
explore nearby adventures

4. On-the-Go-Bags for the Car

Being prepared when you leave the house is a big part of a successful homeschool survival plan, and many of us homeschoolers are automobile-dependent. Living in rural or suburban areas and in some small and medium-sized towns and cities, we find that our communities aren't "walkable," and there is no public transportation to speak of.

With three kids in a wide age range and with a diversity of interests, over the years I have found myself constantly traveling from one "homeschool thing" to another, also mixing in our regular errands. This list of "extras" a mom always on the go might keep in the car saved me on more than one occasion.

5. Laptop Computer & Mobile Hotspot

While not a necessity, having a laptop allows you to bring your office with you. Homeschooling often involves lots of going and doing, and a laptop with a mobile hotspot can help you stay connected wherever you are.

Most mobile plans come with a monthly allotment of hotspot data, which is more secure than public Wi-Fi. From the convenience of connected laptops, we have created and scheduled homeschool assignments, worked remotely, caught up on correspondence, organized extracurricular activities, and much more.

Bonus for Fun - Laminator

Laminators are surprisingly inexpensive and incredibly useful. From chore charts to trip lists to worksheets, lamination turns any kind of printable into a dry-erase document. Lamination keeps paper items durable and reusable—try it for a reusable list of weekly meals, the homeschool plan of the day, recording the day's weather observations, and more. Laminators prolong the life of paper items like flashcards and manipulatives so they can be used by multiple kids over a longer period of time.