Hello all, I'm new to the site and I have been homeschooling my oldest daughter 16 for 3 years, my 13 year old son for 1 year and next year I will take the big step and all 3 of my children will be homeschooled (my 12 year old.) I use a classical approach with traditional subjects to teach. Up to this point we have used our computer room as our homeschooling room. The room is small but has two computers and good storage. Next year, my children would like to set up a "traditional" school room in a large unused room in my basement. I think it is a good idea since I will need to add one more computer. I am going to let the children decide what and how to set up this room with my guidence of course. Besides the computers, I would like to have hands on activities for my 7th and 8th graders. I am curious to hear suggestions from others on how to keep the room educational but "warm and inviting" as well. Please lend your suggestions this way! Thanks all!
One thing I use that you might like... is that for our Table I painted it with Chalk Board paint... When we are sitting at the table to do schoolwork, it quick and fun to draw out explanations (especially math) right on the table. Somehow it's more fun than having a chalkboard up on the wall. LOL
Hello, Celeste! Wow, you're in Germany!!! We don't get very many outside of the United States and Canada. Is your youngest one a girl or boy? I'm asking, because my oldest (dd) will be 12 in June. I'm Jackie. I've got two other children...my dd will be ten in two weeks, and ds is 6. We're finshing up our seventh year in Central Ohio. I don't use a "classroom" at all. That's just me. But if I WERE to set one up..... With your kids' ages in particular, I would include LOTS of input from them. Let them help set it up and decorate it. What YOU or I might consider "inviting", they might be rolling their eyes at. If your kids have any special needs, such as highly distractable, you'll need to keep that in mind. I would try to store manipulative stuff in LABELED plastic containers on the shelf, where they are easily accessible. You might try to group them as much as possible by subjects. I use to be a classroom teacher, so I know about setting up "learning centers" for younger kids, but am not sure WHAT I would do for older!
CHALK BOARD PAINT!!! Syele, I never knew such stuff existed!!! What a cool idea! But I bet it wouldn't work on something like cement block basement walls. And I don't see me doing it on our kitchen table, which is where we work, lol!
I would suggest, with your ages, that you set up a Science area. A shelft top or counter? Type area to have them do thier science projects in. You could keep buckets, planters etc, Beakers, charts of the elements and things relating to Science in their level of learning on the walls as well? If you have bunson burners to use for this it is always good to have a fire proof area set aside from the rest of the work too. I would also put an Art space, if I had room. We are rearanging our Den to be part school room next year. Hubby wants to move things so computor does not have sun and we can see what kids are doing at all times when on internet. Even with out them seeing us watch them. So I would suggest that the computors are set up in an open area where you can view them at thier ages as well. Math charts are great too! My kids would love it if they could do thier own room up, you are blessed! How cool! Welcome too! My kids are almost 15, 12 and 8 btw, nice to meet you! TeacherMom
TeacherMom, When does your oldest turn 15? My oldest turns 15 near the end of this month, and I have a 12 yo and a 9 yo, so our kids are quite close in age!
Cool Deena! My oldest Daniel, turns 15 on the 13th of Next month, dd is 12 , and little ds is 8 going on 9 in August. pretty close for sure! Cool!
My oldest ds will be 15 on May 20, my other ds is 12--turns 13 in Sept., and my dd turned 9 in March!
I don't have a special place for the kids to work. I do make sure they have a table (my dining room table of all places) where they have room to work without being bothered. I think a special room would be fine as long as it was near to where I am during the day. For me that is usually the kitchen.
I agree with Maureen, try to find a special room in a rv. LOL we use the table and the girls love it.
Teachermom--My children will be in 5th, 8th and a Junior in highschool next year. WOW, where has the time gone?! They grow up soooo fast! Maureen--My kids work near where I am also. My oldest is using a DVD program, which he's not liking much, but we need to finish it... I like it better to be near, and I think it helps them stay on task better! They like sitting on the couches and floor, so very rarely use the diningroom table, even though it's always available!
I agree with Teachermom! Go for the fun science zone and creativity area. If you have room you could even make a reading area where you get some beanbag type chairs and oversized pillows.
Chalkboard paint is wonderful! My dd has it on her desk and I have it on one of my cabinets in my kitchen. It's fun stuff! Here, we use the dining room table mostly. We have a gated in flat roof off my second floor---we use that on nice days, the desks are out there now. I have all the school stuff stored in my breakfast nook for now.
I love the ideas! Thank you! I told the kids about the chalkboard paint and they already found a old table to fix up. I just hope I can find the chalkboard paint around here or I can find it online with a store that ships here! I think some beanbags is a great idea as well, and a science area! I normally get up at around 5:30 in the morning to do my housework and that frees up my day so I normally spend the entire day with the kids while homeschooling. Thank god for a crockpot and flylady! lol. I know I am lucky right now to have this extra room, which I won't have when we return to the states next year so I want to enjoy it this year.
Chalboard paint sounds fun, but our chalboard is the whole backyard of cement patio... sometimes the fences too, but mostly the patio cement. I am allergic to chalk, or its dust makes my hands swell so we do window boards and whiteboards with dry erase markers. I try to stay with the kids near by too, it helps when they are trying to learn to know if they have a problem I am there. and Deena I don't know where the time goes, seems like I just started home teaching and suddenly they are reaching High School, one this year, ( they start at 9th grade here) and one in a couple years... at least my 8yr is going to be here a while he is in 4th next year. Whew!
TeacherMom, I hear you!!! Rachael is Middle School, but my "baby" is just finishing up kindergarten. I told him I was going to buy special medicine so he won't grow any older than 6, lol!
Cement block basement walls would be a bit tough on the chalk. LOL but you can paint any old thing that is smooth. I got the idea from those decorating shows on tv.. they usually paint little kid sized tables when they make playrooms. My kitchen table was old and a handme down that made it here rather than the garbage so the paint was an improvement! If I was doing a classroom in a basement I'd find an old table from a garage sale or something.. or just Get a board from the hardware store... there is some smooth white board you can buy that is ment for Shower walls.. it makes a perfect white board and a huge sheet is only about $8. My Friend that teaches Kinder get a sheet cut in 30 squares for a classroom set of whiteboards.
I set up our learning center two years ago for my now 10 & 6 year old girls. We have bulletin boards on the walls, a marker board, and lots of other charts (calender, weather observations, etc.) I also got a bulletin board boarder with the characters from their curriculum (ACE), storage cupboards with doors that are about waist high, so things can go on top, like a globe, current year's honour roll certificate, main dictionary, atlas and Bibles, etc. We also each have our own desks, mine is in the middle and each girls desk is on either side of mine (that way their not tempted to fight with each other!) The girls love it and they decorate their room every season accordingly. This is all on one half of our basement (not an underground basement), and the other half is open play/activity space. We also have sliding glass doors leading out to the backyard, which is perfect for break time. Good luck with yours. Maybe let the kids do their share of the decorating/set up, mine loved that!!
