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Our Classroom

By Sharla Kostelyk

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.)

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I am so excited about our classroom this year! When I started homeschooling, our “classroom” was the kitchen table and that worked really well for us, but a few years ago it became apparent that some of my kids needed a different, more structured environment and we converted our family room into a homeschool classroom.

Last year, it worked really well, but there were a few things that I wanted to do to maximize the space. There were also a few things that weren’t working like our huge games cupboards that were taking up so much space and were hardly able to house anything inside because the shelves were broken. So those got moved out and I put in this Ikea Expedit unit that makes good use of the space and also allows the kids to see the board games which increases the likelihood that they will pull them out more often.

The other thing that wasn’t working is the white door to the outside that we don’t use as a door, but it still takes up room and gives me less useable wall space. Last year, I put the games cupboards in front of it which at least hid it, but with those being gone this year, I wasn’t sure what to do with this big white metal door in our homeschool room. And then it came to me…chalkboard paint!

Now, the door blends in better because of the colour and it is USEABLE space. Instead of a door, I now have a magnetic (because the door is metal) chalkboard!

I changed the configuration as far as where the desks, workboxes and table are and got a new whiteboard as ours was broken. I made sure to get one that I could also use to hang pocket charts on as that is what I’m going to use as a chore chart system this year and I got one with bins so that I can make our weekly sensory bin right in there and have it in the classroom with us. (Last year I had the sensory bins in the next room and it was a bit awkward.)

I changed a lot of my organization methods for this year (there will be a post on my homeschool organization next week) and therefore some of my systems for organization are in the room such as a shoe organizer to hold the craft supplies and file boxes to hold larger items such as puzzles, science experiments, craft items, board games, and activities for our theme units.

kids craft diy organizer using a shoe holder

Here are a few views of our classroom. The lighting is really bad because I took the pictures tonight after dark, but these give the general idea.

workboxes area

reading corner

we converted a fireplace into a corkboard last year and it continues to work really well

The kids are pretty excited about the new look of the room. It’s a bit more “classroomy” than I would like, but I think it’s going to be extremely functional for us. Now the biggest question I hear is “please can we start school today?”!!!

 

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Filed Under: Homeschooling

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle @ Layers of Learning says

    August 12, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    That’s funny . . . I purposely put the games behind closed doors so the kids wouldn’t get them out so often . . . we were having cleaning disasters. Hee hee.

    I absolutely love your chalkboard door and your alphabet on the walls. Super cool!

    Found you on the Not Back To School Blog Hop. Come see our classrooms: http://www.layers-of-learning.com/tour-our-schoolrooms/

    • Sharla says

      August 13, 2012 at 12:08 am

      Thanks Michelle! I’m really happy with the way the chalkboard door turned out. The alphabet is from http://www.peelmonkey.com.

      • Michelle @ Layers of Learning says

        August 13, 2012 at 12:17 am

        Oh! I was wondering about your very cool Africa map on the wall! It’s from peel monkey as well.

        • Sharla says

          August 13, 2012 at 12:20 am

          Yes, the Africa map is from Peel Monkey http://www.peelmonkey.com/collections/around-the-world and you can get it with Ethiopia cut out or they have one without the cutout with a heart that you can add to anywhere on the map. Two of our kids are from Ethiopia so the one with the cut-out has a lot of meaning for us.

  2. Sarah says

    August 13, 2012 at 12:04 am

    Wow! I LOVE it! I really would like to get workboxes like those…
    That’s awesome that your kids are asking to start school. Mine are like, Really mom? Already? Haha!

    • Sharla says

      August 13, 2012 at 12:07 am

      The workboxes are from Michael’s and they still have them this year (we bought ours last year). They occasionally go on sale or you can print off one of their coupons online for 40 or 50% off one item that comes around every few weeks.

      I hope my kids still feel this enthusiastic after the first week is over!

  3. Dawn says

    August 13, 2012 at 5:16 am

    I love it! IT looks like you all will have lots of fun learning. What are the three clocks?
    Blessings, Dawn

    • Sharla says

      August 13, 2012 at 7:19 am

      Thanks Dawn! The clocks are the time in Ethiopia, Nova Scotia (where friends of ours live), and Alberta (where we live).

  4. Sam @ Sam's Noggin says

    August 13, 2012 at 6:18 am

    Love the wall color, and the tree with owls!!

    http://samsnoggin.com/2012/08/the-schoolroom.html

    • Sharla says

      August 13, 2012 at 7:22 am

      Thanks Sam! I love the owls too…there’s something about them that makes me think about reading so I wanted them in the reading corner.

  5. Ashleigh says

    August 13, 2012 at 7:16 am

    Looks very inviting and conducive to fun, effective learning Sharla. Your kids are blessed!
    And yes, isn’t Peel Monkey amazing!!!
    A

    • Sharla says

      August 13, 2012 at 7:21 am

      Thanks Ashleigh. Yes, Peel Monkey is awesome! I just put the Zebra Love one in my bedroom and most of the kids have it in some forms in their rooms too.

  6. Stephanie says

    August 13, 2012 at 8:06 am

    Wow! Your classroom looks awesome! I love the green and the wall decals! It looks like a great place to learn! I stopped by from the blog hop! Happy Schooling!

    http://discoverydaysandmontessorimoments.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-school-room-2012-2013.html

  7. Gwen says

    August 13, 2012 at 8:08 am

    I’m in LOVE with your classroom! We no longer homeschool, but I generally spend August and September wishing that we did, just so I could plan lessons and organize our learning space. Great job Sharla! 🙂

  8. Rachel says

    August 13, 2012 at 9:48 am

    Oh I LOVE it, Sharla!!!! I am trying to decide what to do this year for our homeschool room and am a bit at a loss! So if you have time for coffee one day (and if it would be a break for you and not another thing on your to do list – I do NOT want to add to your workload) I’d love your opinion! It looks fantastic.

  9. J. says

    August 13, 2012 at 9:55 am

    love it, my kids get the kitchen table.

  10. Katie says

    August 13, 2012 at 10:09 am

    I love getting to see everyone’s school rooms!! Your room is SO cute! Love it!

    • Sharla says

      August 13, 2012 at 1:13 pm

      I find it so much fun to see what other people’s rooms look like too! Thanks Katie!

  11. Mary-Lynne says

    August 13, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    Hi Sharla,

    It is an amazing transformation and a great start for your home schooling year. You have worked to hard and it will pay off in great learning!!

    • Sharla says

      August 13, 2012 at 11:20 pm

      Thanks mom! Thanks for all your help with the office…it all works together.

  12. Denise Naus says

    August 13, 2012 at 10:54 pm

    It looks AMAZING, Sharla! (and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise ;))
    I wouldn’t mind doing school there either, lol.

    • Sharla says

      August 13, 2012 at 11:19 pm

      Thanks Denise! The kids were sneaking in there today to draw at their desks…always a good sign!!!

  13. Ruth says

    August 14, 2012 at 6:45 am

    The room looks awesome Sharla. I’m in the middle of re-organizing my classroom and it’s a ton of work…and I have ‘only’ three kids to organize for.

    I wish I could be there in person to examine it in detail! Miss you.

    Ruth

  14. Kim says

    August 15, 2012 at 4:43 pm

    I love everything about it – the colors, organization, set up. The tree & owls (and map) are fabulous. I also love how you used the shoe organizer. We have 4 of them in our house and none of them hold shoes. LOL Thanks for sharing your space! Have a blessed year!

    • Sharla says

      August 15, 2012 at 8:03 pm

      Thanks Kim! I’m curious about what you’re using your shoe organizers for. I have an empty one right now up in one of the kids’ closets and now that this one has worked so well for our art supplies, I’m trying to think of how to use it!

      • Kim says

        August 15, 2012 at 8:43 pm

        Sure! I have one in my laundry room (which is upstairs) on the back of the linen closet door, as well as one on the back of our coat closet just inside the entry way on the main floor. They both hold cleaning supplies and things we typically misplace. 🙂 (Dusting supplies, extra soap, carpet stain remover, air freshener refills, hammer & nails, batteries, wet wipes, etc.) Also, each girl has one on the back of their bedroom door. My oldest daughter LOVES all things Barbie, so hers is used as Barbie storage. 🙂 http://lovinglosingliving.blogspot.com/search/label/Organization

        • Sharla says

          August 15, 2012 at 8:59 pm

          Thank you so much for the ideas…I know just what I’m going to use it for now!

  15. marcy says

    August 23, 2012 at 6:41 pm

    I am continually impressed with what you can do, Sharla! Wow! I love your room. Seeing as I only have one homeschooling, and half time at that, I don’t need a classroom yet. I also have NO room to do that except downstairs where it’s cold and ugly. I would need to do some major stuff down there to make it workable. I’m hoping for a bigger house before I homeschool all of them.

    I LOVE the Peel Monkey decals and definitely have to get some for myself.

    Thanks for sharing…oh, and I LOVE that color too. I am in love with green. Sigh!

    • Sharla says

      August 24, 2012 at 1:01 am

      Thanks Marcia! I’m excited for you for your homeschool adventure this year. We started out homeschooling at the kitchen table for years so no need to make a whole classroom especially not for one student!

Trackbacks

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