Homeschool Rooms Part 2: On Pinterest

For those of you looking for great ideas for decorating, organising and planning your homeschool rooms  - why not have a look at my Pinterest page.  So many lovely ideas, you will love!

Planning your homeschooling room

Homeschooling this year?  New to this all?  Or just looking to revamp,  re-organise and improve on what you have?  Not everyone has a room dedicated to homeschooling so never fear if you don't.  When you are planning your room or working space, you need to take a few things into consideration to make homeschooling that little bit easier and hopefully a little more organised.  These are a few things that I need in my homeschooling room which are different to my list of homeschooling things that I cannot live without.  But I need both:)

1.  A desk or a shared space like a dining room table. And this space needs to have space.  4 children bickering about whose book is in the way, or whose page is overlapping another one's page will drive you batty. I have a big table when we do group work but also have two other desks when they invade each other's space.  Maybe your children are more gracious but mine aren't.

2.  Good lighting
We have a lot of natural light from our windows but we also have lots of rain during winter and the further away you move from the window the darker it gets.  Make sure that all areas have good lighting.  Avoid the light bulbs that emit a yellow light and try and get the white light bulbs instead.

3.  Consider your social life and the visitors to your home.
My husband runs a business from home and our homeschooling room is right at the entrance of the house - AND we don't have a door to close.  I make sure that at all times the room is presentable and if I know we are about to launch into a particularly messy adventure, I take them to the back of the house to the kitchen and dining room area.  (there my secret is out) I am sensitive to the activities in our home as well as our social life.  Where you decide to homeschool, needs to take this into consideration, otherwise you will constantly be berating you children for leaving a mess and constantly be apologising to everyone who comes for a visit.

4.  Place for books - lots of them
Boxes, shelves or crates, be prepared for books.  I never have enough space - we are always inheriting books or buying them second hand.  Curriculum books arrive and we can't even find space for storing them. I once built a bookshelf just from planks and bricks that had been covered with wrapping paper.  It doesn't have to cost you a lot.

5.  Variety - this is great for maintaining interest. Whether you use different rooms to do this or whether you create different spaces within one room - make sure that there are a variety of potential work spaces.   We love excursions and are constantly out and about but there is always work to be done at home.  And to ensure that you maintain interest and variety, think about where else you can work.  We use the kitchen for all science experiments as well as our back yard, reading in our beds, Bible in the lounge, read alouds on the couch or outside on a blanket if it's warm, art on the plastic table on our patio, Mandarin at the computer etc. Don't be bound into thinking that everything has to be done at the dining room table or in the homeschooling room.

 6.  Age plays a very important role in how you set up a learning space.
My youngest is 4 going on 14.  Though she is so little she is always wanting to get involved. At times she is allowed to work at the same table as the boys but then she draws on their pages, breaks their things or starts to sing at the top of her voice. Because of this I have created a play area to one side and also she has her own special desk for "little girls".  I don't isolate her but try to prevent distractions and interference.

7.  Distractions
Some distractions can be a learning experience but you definitely want to be in a space where there is not a constant external demand for attention by the activities surrounding your children.  We used to have our work desk right next to the window but we are situated next to the main road. So you can only imagine  the thrill of every ambulance, car chase or anyone raising their voice as they walk past.  Now we have moved the desk further back into the room and use that space for the play area instead.

8. Hooks, nails, walls, white boards 
Think of creative ways to put their work on display. We rent so this is fairly challenging but we have found ways, like sticking art on windows, using our fridge, hanging art from a string with pegs. They love having their work on display.

9.  If you are thinking of painting - yes bright colours are pretty but they can also be very disturbing too.  Go for calming colours if you are going to paint.

10.  A big couch - for read alouds and literature studies
We don't have one in our homeschooling room - as there is too little space but we just migrate to the lounge and while I read, they build with Lego.

11. We also needed computer space.  We have one old desktop (did I say old - VERY old) and two laptops.  Though the laptops are mobile, we end up with cords everywhere and children trip over them consistently, no matter how many times you tell them to watch where they are walking.  If you plan on using computers, don't wait until they rip out the chord and you hear your computer crashing to the floor.  Cords are meant to be tripped over, especially by children and then we can't blame them, if we leave them lying around.

12. Printer - this is a serious must.  We didn't always have one but I don't actually know how you can homeschool without. With so many great curriculum online like CurrClick - where you pay, download and print and Homeschool Freebies - it really is a an asset. Our printer does do colour prints but we run out of colour all the time and so now we just stick to black and white and add colour ourselves - not as exciting but a whole lot cheaper!

14.You can decorate the walls with all sorts of educational posters but my opinion is don't waste your money.  I bought posters and initially there was an interest but eventually no one even saw them anymore.  What I would recommend are some good maps.  Laminate them so that you can write on them with dry markers when you are doing a specific study (something I have still not gotten round too).  But maps are great.  As for the rest, rather put the children's work up.  They will love it and will also love showing everyone that walks through the door, their latest efforts.

15.  Start collecting goodies for your art box.  I used to think art was really expensive but if you start a collection before you know it you will have loads of materials to work with - wool, recycled items, glue, paper, magazines etc.

16.  Stationary - variety is the key. Don't spend a lot of money on expensive items unless your child is older or very responsible. I have bought some lovely colour tipped pens only to find my 8 year old colouring in so hard that he destroyed half of them in a day.  Test them with a few items first. If they are diligent and careful - go ahead but rather get a few cheap items from the dollar store to start and go from there.

Enjoy the adventure of creating your learning space.  It's not just for your children but for you too, so give it some thought.  There are lots of ways to do this in a very affordable way and I will chat about that tomorrow.  

For those of you who have homeschooled for some time, have I left something off the list of things that you feel should be included?  Why not leave a comment?

Linking up with Raising Homemakers

SA Carnival of Homeschooling: Learning Spaces and Places

So it's my turn to host the South African Carnival of Homeschool Blogs at the beginning of the year. New Year, new ideas and new mom to host, and I am always up for a challenge.  And then I almost blew it and published this 3 days early, leaving out half the bloggers.  Talk about missing the connections in my rather challenged brain!  For those of you that watch NCIS, imagine a rather disapproving Gibbs smacking me on the back of the head like he does with Tony:)

OK too much info...

Firstly I have to say that I love the creativity of these mothers. I appreciate the fact that not one of them has homeschooling rooms that look like the other because each one of them has a unique style with their own child combinations.  There is no right way or wrong way for that matter.  We need to do what works for us.  I love the freedom of homeschooling - the freedom to do what works best:  Structured or unstructured - curriculum choice - how we manage our day - no two families are the same.

Here are some mothers, doing it their way.  And their intention and focus is to ensure the best environment for their children.  

Visit Nadene from Practical Pages , wow is this lady organised, with some lovely ideas for homeschooling like using a white tile for Spelling and Maths.  She'll let you peep into her homeschooling room. And all of this in the Karoo!! I am impressed.

Karen takes homeschooling outdoors, indoors and even on a trampoline at Karen's Clan.  And if you visit her blog for long enough you will discover a lady of many talents who runs Wonder Workshops with other homeschooling families - and if you're lucky their might be space for some more.

Donette at The Journey is revamping her school room, murals and bean bags, and some of those lovely old desks we used to use as kids.  I still love them. 

Taryn at Hayes Happenings has a diverse home school room … on the couch, in the playroom, at the dining table, at the kitchen counter, in the garden, on the bed, next to the fire place, outside at the park… and even in the car.

Wendy from Loving Learning is a homeschooling mom who has been homeschooling for 13 years with two teens and a preteen! This beautiful veteran homeschooling mom has seen how the age of her children has changed how and where she has homeschooled.  A reminder that homeschooling is organic and remains transitional.  We don't start with a plan and stick to it with gritted teeth and force our children into our own plans.  As Wendy will tell you, children change and we need to allow them the freedom to do be themselves and make space for them to grow in an environment that bests suits their age and personality

Trixi from Trixi'x HomeEd Academy has one, two, three posts on her homeschooling room.  An interesting journey of moving from the more structured environment to an environment that the children have chosen.  Moving into a space of freedom and liberation.  All of us had to do this.  We had to find what works.  Keep the good and throw out the rest or adjust it to make it work for our children.  Doesn't this photo just say it all - the joy of learning.

And to have a peek into our home school room pop over to Our Little Ol' Homeschooling Room in South Africa.

If you're still deciding what you want to do with your homeschooling room look at these inspirational ideas in Homeschooling Room of Dreams

And to see some other decor adventures go to Your Homeschool Rooms

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And before you head off, don't forget our great giveaway to win family tickets to the Cape Science Centre, head over there now and enter.

How to get your child to read - Part 2

Previously I posted about how to get your children reading and hopefully you have had the opportunity to put some things in place.  For those of you with short term memories like me:  Some of the ideas included 

*  Putting Books Everywhere 

*  Getting a Variety
*  Reading to them A LOT

*  Dress Up when you read to your children

*  Go to the library often- and not just for books

*  Choose books for them

So now for part 2, yes you thought you had all the tools - but there are more.

Reading is such a vital part of a child's life!  When they can read they can do Maths, Geography, Science or any other subject because there is comprehension and understanding. 

So here are a few more thoughts on how to help your child read and enjoy it!

1. Creative spaces for reading

Beauty is inspirational.  Beauty can make a moment - a memory moment where reading can take place.  

I found some amazing spaces on Pinterest (yes I am seriously addicted), so many beautiful ideas to pin.

 

Fairy lights just make this reading corner so special, fairy lights make everything special.  I love fairy lights!  This is truly whimsical! Never mind for the children, I want a space like this.

Reading Tents, easy to make! I know my boys would love this

 And if you don't have a budget to buy material and wood, why not just throw a sheet over an area where your children can simply read and read?

Budget reading tent

And for some more beautiful ideas (or more boyish ones - because I know the girl in me loves all the pretty stuff that boys don't always enjoy) for shelving and decor for a reading space, you can check out on my Get them Reading Board

2.  E- Books

OK so what's the difference you ask?  

Well isn't it funny that the moment it becomes electronic their interest increases.  Get yourself a Kindle/ Nook or iPad - if you can afford one.  (I am still holding my breath for Father Xmas who still hasn't arrived with mine and may be barred from ever entering my house again if he doesn't arrive soon).
But never fear, now you can get an app for your computer, so that even if you don't have the equipment, you can still use your computer in a similar way. 

3.  Computer programs

I have posted before about Reading Eggs which has just been one my best finds ever! But there are so many others.  Some of them are free, some of them cost a packet.  Ask around, find out what others are using.  If your children are like mine, anything on a computer is a winner.  Even Ruthie who is only 3 is already fascinated with the computer.( I will post about reading sites a later post- notice the lack of dates, I have so many posts and these chubby fingers can only type so fast)

4.  Mom and Dad, Siblings and Grandparents - well actually just about anybody

Grab anyone who is available to read.  I don't always have capacity or time to read to all my children all the time, so find someone who will. And if they are especially patient individuals let them have their younger sibling read to them.  


Please note:  this works sometimes and other times there have been enormous arguments because the one sibling is telling the other sibling what to do:) or maybe it just happens in our house....

5.  "How to do" books

If it's Lego its Declan

if it's J-Boarding or fishing it's Ethan,

if its baking its Chad 

and if it has anything to do with princesses - then its definitely Ruthie

(that does go without saying - but thought I needed to say that anyway)

My children each have their own interests but if I happen to take a book out on how to build, make or catch something - or in the case of the only daughter in the house - how to make herself look like a princess, I find I have 4 very avid readers.

Give it a try.  You would be amazed.  Of course you may be expected to buy ingredients, take your child fishing and help him put that slimy worm on his hook, or endure endless changes of clothing - but you will have them hooked.  (couldn't resist)

6. Movies with subtitles

@£$%%££%&_(**(^^%%$*&&_*+(+*^$_+>?

Which means:  This will work if your child is interested in movies and wants to know what is going on.

So there you have it, in brief - 6 good ways to help your child to read.  And in fact not just read but love reading. 

And one last thing, I hope you remembered to enter the Reading Eggs Giveaway!  There's still time!

I would love to hear from you as to what works for you?  How do you encourage your child to read?  
Bribery?  Dedicated reading times?  Lots and lots of books?

Your Homeschool Rooms

So I showed you my Homeschool Room of Dreams , then I showed you Our little ol' homeschooling room in South Africa,  And now its time for your submissions of what your learning space looks like.

And we had two delightful submissions.  The first one is from Trixi's HomeEd Academy

I love all the poster.

 

Books and more books! 

And this one from Elize van der Merwe

"Our room has changed a little bit, with a "picture timeline" of the Bible - old to new testament right at the top of two walls. I have also been able to use an old baby changing station with drawers for storing all our crayons, paints, paper, magazines, etc. so it looks a bit neater. This is now in the place of the little table underneath the shelves.

School happens either at our dining room table or on the stoep in front. But we need to renovate this space, and put a permanent roof on, as it only has shade netting at the moment. Then it would be ideal for everything we want to do, from painting to building blocks, etc.

I also bought blackboard paint and made one huge blackboard that we put either on the floor or on top of a table, and another more manageable one that can go with when we visit granny (10hrs away). It is big enough for the two boys to draw simultaneously, so no fighting about whose turn it is - I just draw a line down the middle."

 Thank you to both of you for sending in your lovely photos!  As for the rest of you, there is still time to submit your photo's

Our little ol' homeschooling room in South Africa

So I posted yesterday about Homeschool Dream rooms - but today I am posting about a regular ol' homeschooling room in Kalk Bay, South Africa.  A room with no decorating budget beyond the stationary and books (which by the way makes excellent decor - I love the way a room feels with LOTS of books and clean, crisp stationary.)

 This is Ruthie's desk and my chair, I keep her things separate from the boys and near me because when she does "school" (colouring in, cutting, gluing or making) she can be fairly disruptive.  I like to keep her busy with me and then she hops off her chair and comes to sit on my lap so I can read her stories. 

Ruthie spends most of the time she running around outside, playing on the floor or chasing the cat (poor cat).  It just gives her a sense of belonging without disturbing the older boys.  I am busy painting flowers on her desk, so that its a special place for her.  You can see I've done one (experimental), and hopefully I will finish the rest today.

 This is where the boys work.  I took an old toolbox and painted it pink (much to their disgust - probably should paint it blue!) and we put all their stationary in there for everyone to use.  We tried having different boxes, and different desks but then they waste time asking each other for things and walking around - and I don't want to buy 4 of everything every year, lots of it just gets recycled.

The two older boys keep their books on the shelf in the left (yes on top of the fireplace - I might need to revisit that idea in winter as they might decide to 'accidentally drop a book in there!).  Seriously though we don't use the fireplace as it makes the room far too smokey.  I also have a little white board on top of the fireplace which I use to write some things down for the children.  This is normally a date, a heading, maybe some keywords or maybe just a thought for the day.

 

The other two children store their books here and all my books are here too.  My read alouds, portfolios, files - anything I may need for the day.

 

This half of the room is the place where the kids can just enjoy some time if they finish part of their work quickly(this really helps them and keeps them motivated).  On the left we have our old computer which we mostly use for some of our history, maths and geography CD learning games.  Pillows to sit and read or lie on.  We normally have a laptop on the other table (as one computer between 4 children is very challenging) and this is often for further subject research, projects, Mandarin lessons with Rosetta Stone or those lovely Usborne Internet Linked books.

The table in the front has a selection of puzzles or activities which I rotate every day.  Also the table has been painted with chalk board paint so the children can scribble and art all over the table.  Every day the children leave me a different picture, word or message.  This is also a great place for Ruthie to be in the same room and enjoy playing her own games.  I have a CD player which generally plays either worship or classical music in the background.

So now you've seen mine! It may not be picture perfect like those mentioned yesterday but we love it, its comfortable and it works for our family.

Again just to say again - this is just our base.  I think its vital not to spend all day here but it does help with focused core subjects.  The rest of our learning takes place everywhere else - even on the beach on hot summer days:)

So I would still love too see where you learning space! Why not send me a photo. Whether its your dining room table, your garage, the garden or any place that you do "school" or  learning, submit your photo.

Homeschooling Room of Dreams

I have been preparing for our new school year which starts on Monday which has included painting old book shelves, selling old homeschooling books, browsing CurrClick for any interesting down loadable products for this years homeschool curriculum. And who could resist looking at all of those ( I-could-never-afford-but-would-so-love-a-room-like-this) homeschool rooms.

Be warned - do not be intimidated.  Most homeschooling rooms truly do not look like this and if they did, they are far too perfect to want to use for children. Imagine the grubby hands, the insects found in the garden, the crusty half-dry play dough, the mouldy science experiments in any of these rooms?  Absolutely not.  But they are still inspirational.  I can't get the look but sometimes its just the idea of a shelf - or an arrangement - or a box.  Each one gives me something to think about.

My key test is what the children think of their home school room. If they thinks its great, then that's all I need to know.  And I DON'T show them these photos.  I only drool over these at night when they are not around:)

There was a time that we homeschooled through the house and in fact we still do - in the kitchen, in their rooms, on the patio, on the dining room table - but I still like to have a room where all there things are.  We use it as a base but we choose where we want to do our learning every day.  Also because we run a business from home and sometimes Sean has clients at the house, it helps to be in a room where some of the noise (though not all of it) can be contained.

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Have you been preparing a room? Why not send me a photo.  I would love to see the space where you learn.  Whether its your dining room table, your garage, the garden or any place that you do "school" or  learning, submit your photo.

For some other ideas why not have a look at my Pinterest Board