You don't have to go broke to have a homeschooling space. Flipping through Pinterest can leave you thinking that you'll need to have an in-home library full of bespoke shelves, wall-to-wall whiteboards, and every supply in every rainbow-shaded color known to mankind. But it is entirely possible to have an efficient, inspiring, functional learning space without spending an inordinate amount of money. It just takes an eye to repurpose things around the house, some good planning, and imagination.
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Use What You've Got Before Buying Something New
It is tempting to think that starting homeschooling is just to go to the stores, but take inventory first. That garage full of books collecting dust? It's the perfect spot to shelve the curriculum. Dining area? It can be used to double as a perfect work area. An empty closet can be used to double as an off-the-way study area. Don't shop until you have inventoried what can be rearranged, repurposed, or used elsewhere in the house.
Storage Solutions
Half the battle is in staying organized. But fancy systems have a way of getting costly quickly. Forget fancy bins and cabinets. Old shoe boxes or repurposed gift boxes can be used to sort materials. Use jars or empty canning jars to keep pencils, markers, and scissors. Over-door shoe organizers to keep flashcards, craft materials, or small books. Marking something with a marker and masking tape can convert any bin into an organized, personalized system.
Design Learning Spaces (Even in Small Spaces)
You don't necessarily have to have an additional room to homeschool in, and that is perfectly fine. Learning can be done anywhere. All that is necessary is to have somewhere to work during school time. If things get busy, a rolling cart can be used to keep things organized and can be stored away when school is done. One can convert part of the family room to a reading area by sitting in a bean bag with a bookshelf in front. Using an adjustable folding table that can be stored away when not in use is beneficial in making an area “school” without taking over the house.
Get Creative with Classroom Design
Wall charts, letter boards, and inspirational quotation frames can be inspiring in a homeschooling area yet can be costly. Consider printing free online educational posters and hanging them in inexpensive thrift store frames. Using chalkboard paint to repurpose an area of wall to an erasable writing surface.
Keep Your Space Tidy to Maximize Your Productivity
A cluttered space can equal a cluttered headspace, and between schoolwork, work life, and just life in general, no one has time. Enact an evening routine where everything is placed where it goes. It does not have to be an ordeal—just taking a little time every evening after school to wipe down tables, put books in their place, and tidy up materials. And in talking about staying organized, little things in the house should not be forgotten. Doing just a little plumbing repair now—fixing a clogged sink—spares future headaches. So does staying organized in homeschooling. Taking just a few minutes every day to keep things tidy saves hours of exasperation later.
Make It Comfortable But Not Too Cozy
The homeschooling area should be comfortable but not so comfortable that nap time is a problem. If kids work in the dining area, a comfortable chair cushion can encourage better posture. If kids prefer to work sitting on floor space, an adjustable lap desk is helpful. Lighting is essential—natural lighting is preferable, but an ordinary desk lamp is helpful in providing supplemental lighting.
Conclusion
The most helpful part about homeschooling is being adaptable, which should also ring true for organizations.
Ultimately, an organized homeschool is about making learning fun and accessible. And the really great part is that you don't have to have an exorbitant budget to accomplish this.
This is a contributed post.
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