Sunday, March 16, 2008

At Last a Homeschooling Room

Do we all need a homeschooling room? No, we don't but it sure is nice to have.

I have been wanting to create one but have never gotten around to it and finally I did. Since I have 2 girls it was easy to leave it the color it presently was (light pink with girls accents).
Ikea has some inexpensive products for projects like this. I put their Ikea desk along one wall that they share since it is rather large with each of them on either side. Each child has their own craft supply container full of glue, scissors, stickers and more. On the wall above them is a shelf with a magnet strip from Ikea along the bottom for them to hang whatever they want on it. The bookshelf next to the closet in this photo has books organized by level 1, level 2 , level 3 readers along with chapter books and board books on the bottom shelf. This bookshelf is also the home of their 5 baby snails.

Also from Ikea is a 3 drawer table that each child has as a storage for their pencil boxes, note book paper pads and special items. On top of this is all the informational learning books for reference including art/drawing books, animals encyclopedias, weather, pioneers and more. At the end of the desk is a night stand for the "library only" books.


Since converting this room took away a guest sleeping area I took an extra twin futon that I had and folded it up in the corner as a reading lounge. It will act as both a reading comfy lounge and a twin bed when rarely needed for company. I covered it in a pretty purple throw to go along with the room theme (girly).
Next to the reading corner is the music instruments that the girls are learning to play along with a microphone that is real and hooks up to the electric guitar amp. They hang out on the lounge and practice guitar and make up songs weekly.



I too wanted a space for me to work on some of my projects such as sewing and scrap booking so I bought a 78"x 23" desk top at Ikea and it fits nicely along the one wall. Love it! I can work on things while the girls are working quietly on school work. Above my desk I hung a white shelf that I have a large dry erase calendar on and the girls like to use that shelf to display the monthly holidays and theme.


Luckily my mother in law had given me a large chalk board from Pottery Barn so finally it is up on the wall and being put to use. The girls like to write out their math problems on it. I myself like using a dry erase board so I picked one up at Staples and love that as well! It too has a magnet strip along the bottom and we hang art work that needs drying on it.



I utilized the silding closets doors as a display of their artwork and they proudly like to see them up on display. I use various art projects from "All Things I Can Do" art book and since I am a crafty person I have my own crafts as well.

My biggest problem was a place to keep their board games, play dough, moon sand, science kits, craft supplies and puzzles. There was wasted corner space in the closet that goes beyond the sliding doors. I went to Home Depot and had them pre cut wire shelves for me and I hung them up and everything is now in order. I use the already present clothes shelves for their school books.
At this point in time I am using Calvert curriculum thru Connections Academy and love it. Having internet access to Brainpopjr.com and Headsprouts.com has been a wonderful supplement to our curriculum. I am currently trying out Professor B's Power Mathematics which is a very interesting power point presentation which makes me an excellent teacher in knowing different ways to show the children how to get an answer to a problem. I was brought up in the public school system only knowing one way to get the answer to a problem but there is definately more than one way and each child learns differently so I look at other options of presenting to them as well.

So, there you have it. My homeschool room completed! I hope this gives you ideas and inspires you to create a space of your own if you can.

3 comments:

Janda said...

So cool!!! Is this the spare bedroom, or the girls?? You need to come over and help me get my house organized!!:) Good job super mom!! Love ya- Janda

Trisha said...

Yes girl! This is the room backed up to the patio.
We put the queen bed in the garage in a bag so if we need more sleeping beds we just whip it out. ha,ha,ha!
Hugs, Trisha

Stela said...

Yay! this is great! Thanks for keeping me "in the loop" with what is happening in your family.