Where They Learn

Homeschoolers just chill in their PJs and watch the discovery channel all day right? No, they hike up their pants, throw in their pocket protectors and walk around museums, avoiding other "normal" kids at all costs. 

There are lots of stereotypes. In some cases, people fit into them. But in reality, those kids are few and far between. Not many homeschool moms rely on TV to teach their children. I mean that goes against the main reason most of us homeschool. We want to be the ones teaching our kids.

So what does a real homeschool kid and a real homeschool environment look like? I have no stinkin' clue. I wasn't homeschooled. I didn't see it first hand. What I did know is that I didn't want my 3 year old to be distracted. I wanted the place she learned to be inviting. I wanted it to be fun, so she would associate school with a fun time/environment. So that's what I modeled our homeschool classroom around.

Unfortunately, we don't have a ton of space. We're working with a limited budget, with no extra rooms and basically what we already had. Creating our dream space has proved to be a challenge.

We pulled this beautiful vanity from Rhiannon's room and turned it into her desk. She has her art supplies in one drawer, flashcards and science project stuff in the other. The center holds her paper, personal chalkboard and coloring books. 

This bookshelf was a steal. Only $5 bucks on craigslist. Added a fresh coat of white paint and accented the back paneling in green and it was set. The shelf holds her school books, my homeschool planners and some games and manipulatives. 

As far as making the room look like a place she wanted to be, I let her pick out some fabrics and I made her an alphabet banner. Which a few friends have commissioned me to make for them as well. The chalkboard was an old mirror that we painted a bright color. We pulled out the glass and replaced it with a thin wood that was painted with chalkboard paint.

I took apart an old office chair and jazzed it up for her. Tutorial here.

 

And hung clipboards to show off her work (little brothers too). They are so proud to see their art hanging.

It isn't much. We did what we could with what we had space and financial wise. But it didn't take much. Rhiannon is thrilled. She is counting down her days to preschool. She goes and sits at her desk and asks daily when school will start. I'm hoping to expand and add to the room gradually. 

But for now, this is where she will learn.