When I first started thinking about how to set up a homeschool learning space, I thought about my children. After all, this would be the space where they'd be spending a big chunk of their day transforming their minds. I wanted to make it personalized and inviting, but still an effective learning environment. So, I converted our extra room into a homeschool learning space that is both functional and fun!
First, I needed to decide what furniture I wanted to use in my homeschool classroom. I chose tables, desks, bookcases, and other storage organizers. I took into consideration how to use closet space for storage as well.
Then, I determined how to set up the furniture in the space. I knew I wanted the table to be in front of the window. The natural light is perfect for reading, and the occasional dog walker breaks up the time without being a constant distraction. My desk fits perfectly next to my kids' table along the wall and the little table sits nicely in the middle of the room. That left the cube storage and bookshelves, so I placed them along the opposite walls. And voila, the basic structure for our homeschool learning environment was in place.
Here comes the fun part; filling up your classroom! I started with the cube storage. To give my children their own space and accommodate the grade differences, I keep their daily work in this cube storage. I used their favorite color of Neon Tall Storage Baskets and Neon Classroom Book Bins to color-code them. Each of my kids has whiteboards and manipulatives in their blue canvas bins. Since they use the whiteboards daily, I keep the Colorful Crayola® Dry-Erase Markers and Plush Googly Eye Dry Erase Board Erasers in a Large Storage Jar right on top. Anything else that I know I need on the daily I keep on top as well, like the Time Flip Chart and pointer.
I also used one of the Neon Tall Storage Baskets with Handles and a few Neon Classroom Book Bins in our calm down corner. I filled a calm down basket with books, Mini Encouragement Cards, breathing exercises, and stress balls. I placed stuffed animals, a rainbow pillow, and a Medium Yellow Pillow in this area, too. In our house we use the Learning Emotions Magnetic Activity Set to name and understand our emotions. This is a great area for my children to refocus and get back into a good mindset when they get frustrated. I haven't always had this area, but I am so grateful that I set it up! I encourage my children to have a growth mindset and be able to identify and control their emotions; this area has been instrumental in their growth!
Playing is another way my children get refocused, especially my youngest. He is five and obsessed with magnets, so my husband bought this oil drip pan from an auto parts store for him. If you have a magnet lover, these drip pans are awesome! My son spends his mornings playing with our Life Cycle Magnetic Activity Set, Learning Insects Magnetic Activity Set, and magnetic shapes. He goes back and forth between the magnetic drip pan and the science center.
The science center has tools and hands-on activities that my children can use at their leisure. The STEM Explorers Magnet Movers tools, Animal Tracks Self-Checking Puzzles, and Cause and Effect Self-Checking Puzzles are just a few that currently spark their curiosity to learn. The science center is also where I house our globe because it fits! The material I set out here coordinates with our lessons. I change these materials out with the seasons and our curriculum.
I store curriculum and supplementary materials in the closet. Any closet space or bookcase can be used for storage. My manipulatives and magnetic activity pieces fit perfectly in these Clear Large Locking Storage Bins, Clear Medium Locking Storage Bins, and Tall Jars. These activities expand my kids' learning in a hands-on way and were a great investment. I labeled them with a bold font on bright paper and attached them with contact paper. Now I always know what I have!
I use a simple file crate to organize all the magnetic and play dough sheets. For example, the CVC, CVCC, and CCVC Magnetic Activity Set and Simple Sentences Magnetic Activity fit standing up right in the file folders. To the right of the file crates is a 7-drawer paper organizer. This holds resources that my kindergartner will often use, but not daily, such as the Animal Classifications Sorting Boxes and Life Cycle Sticker Scene Assortment. I printed labels with bright paper to help my son identify which tray he should use.
All of my educational books are nestled in these bright Neon Classroom Book Bins and Solid Color Book Bins. I numbered them 1-10 with corresponding colors. When we discuss African animals, I direct my children to the number eight bin with books about animals around the world. Our reading area is in the living room. This is where the kids can get cozy and go on great reading adventures! Check out how I set up our home reading area here.
I'm not done yet! I still have wall space to utilize! The walls are a great place to add visuals that compliment your curriculum and enhance your child's learning experience.
If you teach multiple ages like me, you will want to choose materials that benefit each of grade level. The Common Grammar Mistakes Mini Bulletin Board Set is a perfect example of that. Not only is it a necessity for my 4th grader, but my highschooler still references it and my kindergartner is learning as well. I wanted this comprehensive bulletin board to be a focal point for each of my children as they work. It's displayed prominently across from their table on Fadeless® White Shiplap Bulletin Board Paper. Schoolgirl Style Rainbow Bulletin Board Borders accent it beautifully. I like how bright this bulletin board set is and that it serves a valuable educational purpose.
Squeezed tightly next to it is our Spotlight Person area. Currently, I'm using the Notable African Americans Bulletin Board Set. I fringed it with Loop-de-Loop Bulletin Board Borders and black Double-Sided Solid & Polka Dot Bulletin Board Borders on fadeless white butcher paper. To make this area pop, I taped Schoolgirl Style Light Bulb Bulletin Board Cutouts to twine and draped it across the top and gave the nook a title.
Social Studies is my favorite subject to enhance with great visuals and hands-on materials. There are many ways to engage your child in each study. This year we are doing world geography. The Continents Learning Charts are informative and inspire curiosity with their vibrant real-life pictures. They pair nicely with Cultures Around The World posters and African Animals Readers. These engaging additions to our curriculum pique my children's interests and connect them to what we are studying.
Just below the posters is the Funtastic Food Friends Bulletin Board Calendar and a whiteboard. A calendar is always good to have on-hand for elementary-age children to learn about time and seasons. We also write special dates and any extracurricular activities on it. The Funtastic Food Friends Theme is bright and compliments the room, so I added these Jumbo Funtastic Food Friends Cutouts throughout the room like little surprises.
Whether you have a blackboard, easel paper, or whiteboard, having a place for your child to write out problems and make mistakes is valuable in their learning and growth mindset. Underlining this is the Schoolgirl Style Industrial Chic Alphabet Line Mini Bulletin Board Set. I love the contrast of the white against the black. I placed it low so it would be at the right height for my kindergartner to easily read.
The most important section in my homeschool room is our bright and colorful reward center. My kids love earning prizes and I enjoy rewarding their achievements! I find that positive reinforcement and desirable goals are great motivators. Every year I do sticker charts and rewards, but this year I gave it a makeover! I used the Classroom Reward Management Set to track their progress. The reward robot is framed with Schoolgirl Style Hello Sunshine Rainbow Bulletin Board Borders on top of fadeless white bulletin board paper. I added 3D legs by folding a thin piece of paper back and forth and gluing one end to the torso and the other to the shoe. At the robot's sides is the BIG goal we are working towards and how many batteries are still needed to get there.
Below the robot are jars of small prizes. I filled Small Round Storage Jars with the prizes from the Kindergarten Learning and Incentive Kit and Tootsie Roll® Fruit Rolls® Candy in the same color, because I love color-coding. I tossed the larger prizes into a Large Storage Jar and labeled each prize jar with an encouraging phrase. When my kids earn enough batteries, they get to choose a small prize! Having these smaller incentives as they strive towards the bigger goal keeps them focused and determined. They work hard to reach their goals and their morale is healthier.
Right next to the rewards center hanging on the wall are Rainbow Clipboards. I try to add movement to our lessons as often as I can. When my kids can complete the lesson or activity in another room, or we are going on a field trip, I place their activity pages on a clipboard. As soon as they walk in and see the paper on their clipboards, their eyes light up, and they run to see what they get to do that day!
Another area of encouragement is the Jumbo How to Be a Friend Letter Cutouts that I added to our door. Character is an important part of our homeschool and these are cute visuals of how to be a good friend. I framed these large, fun letters with the Loop-de-Loop Bulletin Board Borders and purple Double-Sided Solid & Polka Dot Bulletin Board Borders on fadeless pink butcher paper. Instead of putting staples in my door, I used Mavalus® Multi-Purpose Adhesive Tape. The tape works great, and when I needed to move a piece, it lifted without ripping the paper and stuck tight again. Amazing!
To finish off the room, I painted a DIY Flower Box Centerpiece with white acrylic paint and adorned the front with a string of pom-poms from this Bright Classroom Welcome Banner with Pom-Poms sign. I filled a couple of Quart Ball® Mason Jars with I Believe in You Pencils and the others with marbles and plants. It is a cute and practical centerpiece with personality. When my girls need some separation during a more focused subject, I can turn the centerpiece long ways between them! I love multifunctional pieces!
This homeschool space has been successful for teaching multiple children in different grades, but you do not need a large space to be an effective homeschooler. You can transform any space into an effective homeschool learning space. My highschooler decided she prefers the kitchen table while focusing on math, so we set up a small homeschool space for her there. I put her supplies in this Brown Wooden Crate with Chalkboard Labels and provided her a whiteboard to practice the problems. To personalize the space, I put up an encouraging Rustic Faith Poster and hung Schoolgirl Style Light Bulb Bulletin Board Cutouts on twine across the top. Now she can concentrate and do her best in a homeschool space that is her own.
As you set up your homeschool learning space, remember that this is the place your child will grow their love for learning. Make it unique to you and have fun creating wonderful memories this year!
