As we approach a new school year, there's nothing I love more than purchasing new school supplies. I have always loved getting new school supplies. Whether I was in fourth grade, high school, college, or a teacher in the classroom, it has been one of my favorite categories to shop and purchase. As a teacher, it can be overwhelming to know what products work best as there are so many to choose from. That's why I'm sharing my top picks for the 2023-24 school year as a former elementary teacher turned homeschooling mom. This list includes everything from planners to pencils to games to books, so let's dig in!

PLANNERS

As a homeschooling mom, I have found two planners that I absolutely love. I have used both of these planners multiple times and love them both equally! The main differences are the cover designs, size, and the number of subject/course columns on each page.

FLORAL TEACHER PLANNER - This gorgeous 8"x10" planner has a gorgeous floral design on the front and includes nine columns for different subjects or classes. This is especially helpful when you are homeschooling multiple children or have lots of different subject areas to cover. There are other designs to choose from, and all are equally beautiful and a great asset to teachers.

SUNSHINE TEACHER PLANNER - This adorable 8"x11" planner has an adorable design on the front that reminds you to wake up, teach kids, and be awesome. It's such a motivating title with bright colors that is sure to get you ready for anything the school day brings. Although there are only seven subject columns, they are larger and can hold a lot of information in each. This planner also includes tons of cute stickers to make planning time even more fun!

CLASSROOM SUPPLIES

CALENDAR STATION - One of my favorite purchases for the upcoming school year is this adorable calendar station. My youngest will be starting Kindergarten, and we do most of our homeschooling at the kitchen table. I wanted her to have an interactive calendar system that matched our home decor and looked nice near the entrance of our home. This completely fits my vision! She has already been using it this summer and is having so much fun with it! There are multiple years listed, as well as some blank ones to create your own.

COUNTING PUZZLE CARDS - These puzzle cards are a wonderful way to help young children recognize the many forms of numbers. Each number puzzle includes the number in word form, standard form, dice, and a picture of objects. They are sturdy, brightly colored, and so much fun! My daughter wanted to play with them as soon as they arrived. I love how great this is for her to do independently while I'm helping my other daughter work on her lessons.

SENSORY STRINGS - These sensory strings are great for students who need to keep their hands busy while learning. They are also a fun activity for free center time or teaching young children about the sense of touch.

ORGANIZING CADDY - These caddies come in a pack of two, and they're perfect for organizing classroom supplies like pencils, markers, crayons, scissors, and much more. They're easy to clean and can easily be labeled if desired.

ITTY BITTY PRINCESS KITTY BOOKS - My daughter is not a huge fan of reading, but we came across the first set of books at Sam's Club last year and she has been hooked ever since. Unfortunately, they no longer carry these books but you can find them on Amazon. There are lots of adorable pictures that make these books even more exciting!

MAGNETIC DRY-ERASE BOARD - After much searching, these boards are the absolute best I have found! They are magnetic, dry-erase, and double-sided. They come in a set of five and contain a handle for easy use. I love using these to save paper when my kids are working out math problems. They're also fun just for drawing.

MECHANICAL PENCILS - These pencils are strong, durable, and of great value. They come in bright colors and make writing a breeze.

SHARPIE PENS - Since discovering these pens, I refuse to use any others. They write smoothly, dry quickly, and look beautiful and sleek. Although there are various color options, the black ones are by far my favorite. If you've never tried them, you definitely should!

ON THE GO HELPERS

LUNCHABLE CONTAINERS - These containers work great for packing lunches or snacks. They have beautifully colored lids and are microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe.

LAP DESK - This lap desk is the perfect tool for working on the go. Whether you're entering grades, writing lesson plans, or searching for fun activities, this lap desk has everything you need for a conducive work environment. It contains a built-in mouse pad, a smartphone holder, and a guard to keep your laptop from sliding off. I have been using this product daily for the past couple of years, and it has been such an asset.

That's it for today. Let me know if there are any other school-related products you need a recommendation for. Thanks so much for reading! Have a great school year!

Disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.