Back to Homeschool 2025
We had a fantastic first day back to homeschool this year! Admittedly, I put in a lot of time to plan it and I think that helped everything run more smoothly.
Breakfast & Basket Details
Let’s get right into it! Every year we have a special crepe breakfast. I prep everything the night before because our mornings are always super busy.
First Day of Homeschool 2025-2026 Easel: I just made a quick sign in Canva and glued it on. But, I wish I would’ve taped it because it took a little work to get the paper off. This is the cutest though and can easily also just be written on with a liquid chalk marker.
Globe: I got this probably a decade ago at Target. It is no longer sold there, but I did find a nearly identical one on Amazon.
Table Runner: This is a super simple cute runner that can be used for so many things. I needed a touch of texture in out set up so it was perfect.
Apple Paper Plates: If you’ve been around here long enough you’ll know these are our favorites and I am still using the pack we bought years ago.
ABC Paper Plates: And, of course, these are the cutest especially with the apples!
Chalkboard Paper: It’s super cheap and easy to use a 12x12 piece of paper for placemats!
Mason Jar Mugs & Child -Size Silverware: We’ve had both of these forever and love them all!
7th Grade Baskets
Science Notebook: This year I got a Botany study for the girls to work through and thought this was the cutest notebook to go along with it.
The Big Book of Nature Art: They love all things nature + art so I knew this would be perfect for them!
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler: My girls will be reading this for their English class this year.
Tuck Everlasting: My girls will also be reading this for their English class.
Mini Composition Notebooks: I got these at Walmart, but they can be tricky to find so I linked a very similar one that also comes in colors!
Flower Press: Two days in and we haven’t been too impressed with this. I might recommend trying another brand - we will keep you posted though.
Metal Basket: My mom gifted these to us years ago so I just reused them and think they turned out so cute. You can get a similar look with the ones I linked. I used Canva to make the name tags.
3rd Grade Basket
Brain Game Puzzle: My 8 year old is very logical and loves brain puzzles so this was perfect for him.
Sketch Art Kit: He is also a natural artist and was just giddy over this new art set that is exclusively his.
Math Art Drawing Games: He wasn’t as excited about this, but I am, ha! I think he’ll love it once I sit down and help him go through a few projects.
Metal Basket: My mom gifted these to us years ago so I just reused them and think they turned out so cute. You can get a similar look with the ones I linked. I used Canva to make the name tags.
1st Grade Basket
Don’t Let the Pigeon Color This Book: My 6 year old just loves all things Pigeon (and Piggie & Gerald) so he absolutely loved this and loves the stickers in the back!
Guess in 10 Space Themed: He is really into space right now. I don’t have a space unit planned this year so we’ll be learning about it on the side. We love the Guess in 10 games! We already dug into this when we had some down time this week and it’s fantastic!
The Story Orchestra Planets: Gosh, I LOVE these books and my little guy does too! He was talking about Tchaikovsky when he was just 3 years old and has a natural love and feel for music. So, of course, this was perfect for him since he is loving all things space. It was the first thing he gravitated right to.
Mini Composition Notebooks: I got these at Walmart, but they can be tricky to find so I linked a very similar one that also comes in colors!
Metal Basket: My mom gifted these to us years ago so I just reused them and think they turned out so cute. You can get a similar look with the ones I linked. I used Canva to make the name tags.
School Room Details
I never know exactly how our first day set up will all come together. This year I bought I few extra things for their baskets, but it definitely didn’t all fit. So, instead, I pivoted a bit and just strewed some of their new books and supplies into our school room and I think it worked out really well and turned out cute.
Decorations
Pencil Banner: I got this banner in a kit years ago, but the same artist sells the one I linked with other cute school items on it. And, if you preferred just the pencils —you could just print more of those.
Books to Read in August: This is one of the best ways to decorate with books you already have or some fun library books. All the books on this list are books about homeschooling or learning.
Art Supplies: This is another cheap way to decorate. We always do lots of art the first few weeks of school so it’s fun to have all our supplies out. I’ve linked my general supply list so if there is something you see in our school room, you’ll likely find it on that list.
7th Grade
I laid out a bunch of their new books and curriculum. If you haven’t seen my curriculum post, you can check out: 7th Grade Curriculum Picks.
Mini Easels & Chalkboard Framed Grades: Again, I just made a few quick signs on Canva and glued them on these chalkboards (I’d recommend taping though). You could simplify even more and just use liquid chalk on them too.
Rose & Sunflower Lego Sets: Since the girls are really into plants right now, I thought they’d love these and they definitely did.
Water Color Paints: We have used these watercolor paint sets forever, but I just wanted to try something new this year. We’ve been using them for an art project this week and so far we like them.
Glitter Markers: We really love our Ohuhu markers so I thought we’d try these just for fun and they are fun to write with! We especially like to use fun markers and such to practice spelling. I just split one pack between all 4 of my kids.
Garden Corners Coloring Book: These are the best coloring books with alcohol based markers. We use these all the time during our read-alouds. Just make sure to put a card stock behind the paper (the coloring sheets are one sided) because the markers do leak.
Initial Stickers: Especially since we have double of everything for the girls —I thought these would be fun to put on notebooks and course books so they can more easily tell them apart.
The Story Orchestra A Midsummer Night’s Dream: This summer my kids studied A Midsummer Night’s Dream with my neighbor. I was so happy to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Story Orchestra books because I never knew they had it!
3rd Grade
I laid out a bunch of their new books and curriculum. If you haven’t seen my curriculum post, you can check out: 3rd Grade Curriculum Picks.
Mini Easels & Chalkboard Framed Grades: Again, I just made a few quick signs on Canva and glued them on these chalkboards (I’d recommend taping though). You could simplify even more and just use liquid chalk on them too.
Fidget Spinner: As I suspected, this was HUGE hit for both of my boys. And, it’s nice because both spinners can connect together.
Ninjago Lego Set: And, so was this, of course!
Water Color Paints: We have used these watercolor paint sets forever, but I just wanted to try something new this year. We’ve been using them for an art project this week and so far we like them.
Glitter Markers: We really love our Ohuhu markers so I thought we’d try these just for fun and they are fun to write with! We especially like to use fun markers and such to practice spelling. I just split one pack between all 4 of my kids.
Good Vibes Coloring Book: These are the best coloring books with alcohol based markers. We use these all the time during our read-alouds. Just make sure to put a card stock behind the paper (the coloring sheets are one sided) because the markers do leak.
1st Grade
I laid out a bunch of their new books and curriculum. If you haven’t seen my curriculum post, you can check out: 1st Grade Curriculum Picks.
Mini Easels & Chalkboard Framed Grades: Again, I just made a few quick signs on Canva and glued them on these chalkboards (I’d recommend taping though). You could simplify even more and just use liquid chalk on them too.
Fidget Spinner: As I suspected, this was HUGE hit for both of my boys. And, it’s nice because both spinners can connect together.
Ninjago Lego Set: And, so was this, of course!
Water Color Paints: We have used these watercolor paint sets forever, but I just wanted to try something new this year. We’ve been using them for an art project this week and so far we like them.
Glitter Markers: We really love our Ohuhu markers so I thought we’d try these just for fun and they are fun to write with! We especially like to use fun markers and such to practice spelling. I just split one pack between all 4 of my kids.
Crayola Mini Magnatiles: Aren’t these the cutest?! And, the mini magnatiles make crayons!
Let me know if I missed something you’re looking for in the comments! Happy homeschooling! I hope you all have a great year!
Other Posts You May Like: