Welcome Sean,
Don't be too worried about having all of the right equipment when you fly. It's easy to have too much equipment, costing too much, and cluttering a cockpit, or going unused. I knee board is handy, though I've never used one. A4 would be much too large, consider the smallest one you can buy. Fly a while first, and see what you miss, then consider buying. Ask your instructor, then ask he/she if you really need what they recommend - maybe you don't, at least yet.
Once you're flying IFR, recording clearances and such does increase what you must have to be properly equipped.