Must-Have Supplies for Virtual Learning

For weeks I’ve been wondering what the must-have supplies for virtual learning are.

Last school year’s final semester was virtual, but a bit of a cluster due to the teachers and kids being somewhat thrown into the situation.

This school year is different.  We’re starting off on a much more solid footing, hopefully.  

Must-Have Supplies for Virtual Learning

The first week of virtual as passed us by, and with only one hiccup on the first day it has been more or less uneventful.  Now that we’ve lived through it, I can confidently list what I feel are the must-have supplies for virtual learning.

A Dedicated Learning Location

Where is your child going to learn?  Wherever it may be should be clear of all distractions – both sound and visual.  My boys are very much like me in that they are easily distracted, so we’ve dedicated an area in each of their rooms for their computers.

The desk is outfitted with a comfortable chair – they sit there for 8 hours, so it has to be comfy.

Desk lamps are great to have, especially if the area isn’t well lit.  I personally like natural light, but my boys for some reason like darkness (with LED lights).  I pick my battles.  

A strong internet connection is a must. The more devices connected to the internet, the more of a drain on the strength.   For the most part, our internet has been great (knock on wood), but it may help to invest in a booster. 

Cooling Fan

There’s plenty of scientific research that concludes uncomfortable working temperatures result in a negative effect on educational achievements. When it’s cold, you can crank up the heating and have your child wear some extra clothing layers to warm up.

But, when the temperature goes from warm to uncomfortably hot, how can kids cool themselves down? It makes sense to invest in a fan that sufficiently keeps the room cool as your child is doing their school work.

You’ve got an almost limitless choice of cooling fans for home use. Of course, if you’ve got air conditioning, that’s even better! But, a cooling fan is cheaper to buy, and its small footprint makes it easily portable.

Not Your Run of the Mill School Supplies

They each have a binder with dedicated sections for each class, as well as pens, pencils, and the usual items found in the back-to-school section of Target.  

Because the boys are learning simultaneously (in rooms right next to each other) and are easily distracted, they need to wear some form of headphones.  My younger one likes the over-the-head version, where as my older one prefers ear buds.  

Please be careful when it comes to volume control.  If it was up to my boys, they’d have their headphones on full blast and that could cause major hearing damage down the road.  

I look for ones made specifically for children that are volume-limiting but they seem to be hard to come by these days.  

Positive Messaging

I leave for work before they are up and ready to start the day.  Each morning when the boys come down for breakfast, they check out our Chalkola board for a little note from their mama.  

I look up cool and fun quotes to help motivate them and get their day started on the right foot.  

Other than the items listed above, I make sure I have ample snacks and beverages to hold them through the day of learning.

What supplies do you recommend are must-haves for the virtual school year?