Regardless of your method, curriculum, or reasons for homeschooling, here are a few affordable (and free!) products that have not only brought ease but also elevated our homeschool experience. None of these recommendations are sponsored; I do not receive a commission for you clicking on any of the links below. What is posted is only a reflection of what has been helpful for us. So, as with any CVG post, use only what works for and applies to you and your family.

Organization & Planning.
For those of us living in states with highly regulated homeschool laws, staying organized is a must. That being said… as a career educator of twenty years I have found that being organized, to whatever extent we can and regardless of where we live, is in the best interest of any parent. This is not about the aspirational perfection that floods the internet. After all, our resources, values, needs, and lives are all very different, and aspiration for aspiration’s sake is an empty and maddening pursuit. For me, organizing and planning simply means creating a trajectory of educational success (as I define it) for my child while minimizing my own stress level so that I can remain present to her needs in the process.

Lara Casey’s Cultivated Homeschool Planner. This is a FREE printable resource, and it is truly priceless. https://laracasey.com/2018/10/01/free-download-homeschool-planner/ Before I began homeschooling, I stumbled upon it and slowly spent a month developing our mission, values, and goals for the remainder of the school year. The monthly pages are pure gold. The intention is not to go down a detailed mommy bragging hole, but only to say with sincerity out of my passion for the product’s value that:

• My child has grown in so many ways in the past six months
• We have been able to meet and exceed many goals because of breaking down, reflecting upon, and setting goals on a daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal basis.
• I have been better equipped to keep the journey in perspective, which has resulted in more joyful teaching.

Emily Ley At-a-Glance Weekly Planner. The reasonably priced large weekly planner, which can be purchased at Target and Office Depot for under $40, has been great for keeping track of what we do each day, and my child’s attendance. I don’t have to write a novel, but using coded symbols I know exactly what my child has done each day, and I am able to make notes about how the day went. Living in a highly regulated state, my plan is to start record-keeping now, so that it is a habit from the beginning of our journey. In addition to saving papers and schoolwork, it is easy to have these planners stored away at the end of each academic year, for easy reference as needed.

Desktop File Folder (FREE) and Spreadsheet software (FREE if on your computer): As I download free and purchased printable materials, I sort them into sub-folders by season, subject, unit etc. Like cleaning out one’s email box, I do this periodically a few minutes at a time, so it doesn’t build up and get overwhelming. 15-30 minutes once a month seems to do the trick. My spreadsheet helps me keep track of what I have, and I can use it for easy reference. In the case of materials that are appropriate for older children, I make a note of that as well, so I can take advantage of them at a later time. A parent with children of different ages may find it useful to add an additional level of folders to sort printables by approximate age and development level. Now that I’ve built up quite a collection of things that are appropriate for my child for the next 2-3 years, I’m slowing down on my downloading. It is easy to go down a rabbit hole with this stuff, so I need a little digital minimalism in this new frontier.

Setting up a separate email address for our school. After joining many wonderful mailing lists, I decided it would be best to set up a separate email address. No regrets; this streamlines things a great deal.

Plastic bin for daily homeschool routine. Gives the little one a framework but enables her to pick the order of most of the activities. What doesn’t get used may get left in for the following day’s bin.

Washi Tape & Index Cards. I post a brief hello message as well as the date on the front of the daily homeschool bin. It includes the day of the week, month and date, as a way of gradually instilling the concept of days to my child. We read it in the beginning part of our home school.

Iris Self-Stacking Plastic Filing Cabinets. Self-explanatory.  Why do I think there will be a wall full of these in our future... :-)

Regardless of your method, curriculum, or reasons for homeschooling, here are a few affordable (and free!) products that have not only brought ease but also elevated our homeschool experience. None of these recommendations are sponsored; I do not receive a commission for you clicking on any of the links below. What is posted is only a reflection of what has been helpful for us. So, as with any CVG post, use only what works for and applies to you and your family.

Tools
3-Hole Puncher. Want to put something in a binder, perhaps by season or subject? You can get a decent one for less than $30.

The Apache AL9W Personal Laminator. This cost less than $30 on Amazon and can handle 8.5x11 paper easily. 100 packs of sheets are available to the tune of $20. I use it to create dry erase and playdough mats and to make manipulatives, games, and flash cards much more durable.

The Fellowes Star + 150 Comb Binding Machine. For about $65, you can have a quality comb binder. While some things end up in a three-ring binder, other materials I like to use the comb binder for. I am also planning to use it for select e-books. I am homeschooling a pre-kindergartener, but I can see how this product has great longevity and far more usefelness as she grows. For a parent of an older child, this could be particularly beneficial for home-printed curriculum, nature study journals, reports and records. You will need to purchase comb binders and plastic covers separately, to the tune of $10-25 for a 100-pack. While they are expensive, bought in bulk they can last for a long time.

Please note, that in the case both the Apache and the Fellowes, these devices are for personal use. You can’t overdo it with churning out materials, and it requires patience to follow manufacturer’s guidelines. The quality of the product you will receive for a modest cost, however, makes following the proper maintenance and manufacturer’s recommendations well worth it. Added bonus of a personal device: neither the laminator nor the binding machine take up a lot of space.

Dollar Tree and Target’s Bullseye Playground. I get that these are not a tool, and at first glance, not necessarily in line with the message of minimalism. But hear me out--- in moderation and with intention, you can outfit your child’s homeschool experience (especially for grammar school and younger) with some wonderful educational products and unit supplements. I remember getting little pots with growing mediums and seeds for a $1 each at Target, and they played an invaluable role in our plant unit. Dollar Tree has had a lot of great basic supplies for crafts and manipulatives. Perfectly functional binders, just like the ones you will find in other stores, are a fraction of the cost here. If you share in my convictions about trying to buy as many “made in the USA” products as possible, you will find that if you look carefully, you can find some American-made goods at Dollar Tree.

Though it’s hardly a news worthy trend at this point, there are many places on Long Island where you can get an excellent Acai bowl. And the good news is, many of them feature other delicious and healthful dining options!

NY Beanery (631-598-2888, 114 Merrick Road, Amityville)
A charming rustic-modern coffee shop with a lovely staff who have the patience of Job. Their signature beverage, a vanilla honey latte, is truly delightful. The Hampton Bowl (unlike its namesake) is not only affordable, it is one of my favorite acai bowls you can get on the Island. Delicious, recognizable ingredients can suit even the pickiest palate. For something more adventuresome and tropical, try the Long Beach Bowl.

Crazy Crepe Café (crazycrepecafe.com, with locations in Selden, Smithtown, Miller Place, Ronkonkoma, and Mt. Sinai)
Crazy Crepe may be known for their delicious crepes (particularly the strawberry-banana-Nutella version named after the shop), but they also make a very reasonably priced bowls with a pleasant acai base. As with anything on their menu you, you can make it “crazy” by adding Nutella! Don’t miss the seasonal lattes here, especially in the Fall—they are stunning.

Vitality Bowls (631-652-4262, 96 E. Main Street, Smithtown)
There are a few things you can expect when coming to Vitality Bowls: excellent, fresh ingredients, innovative combinations, and ability to handle various dietary food preparation needs (though the onus is on the customer to request it). Because they prepare things from scratch, prepare to wait, or call in an order in advance.

Vitality Bowls features a lot of different types of bases, including graviola, acerola and pitaya. Some may find certain super foods an acquired taste, but they can accommodate and customize a bowl to fit your needs and preferences. If you prefer a hot pick-me-up, I love the Pitaya Latte and Superfood Mocha, which are made using Tend espresso from Shirley. They can add coconut sugar to taste, so don’t hesitate to ask for it. A new location has just opened in Commack, and they are offering a lot of coupon promotions worth keeping one’s eyes peeled for.

One of the loveliest moments of summer is carefully timed and involves rising early. It is truly unlike any experience you will find elsewhere on Long Island (much less just about anywhere in the country). What am I talking about? The transportive experience of Lavender on the Bay (631-477-1019, 7540 Main Road, East Marion) After you take in acre after acre flush with purple, sit in one of their Adirondack chairs, close your eyes, and simply absorb the smell of the blooms and the sound of the bees buzzing cheerfully. There is an admission fee, and it is extremely important to follow their website to know if the lavender is in fact blooming. East Marion is a tiny town, and the influx of people who visit the farm is great. I exhort anyone who visits to be respectful, quiet and discreet, for the bees, the other visitors, and the residences that dot the edge of the property. There are an assortment of lavender products and plants available for purchase. Plan well, get there early, and be prepared to have an enchanting visit.