So, I already changed my room around a little bit. I didn’t like some of the setup and wanted to get a spot for my ‘poster center’.
Here are our desks and workboxes. I like the boxes separating the kids, it helps with focus issues.
Here’s a closeup of one of our ‘workstations’. The drawers are Smart Space 10 drawer rolling carts from JoAnn’s. I also found some colored ones online at ebay, and several people have said they found them at Sam’s Club as well. Unfortunately they are double what I paid as they were 50% off at JoAnns when I got them.
Here’s a closeup of the drawers, I put 2 velcro dots on them, one for the number cards, and one for an extra card like ‘work with mom’. The kids also put the number from their number strip on the 2nd dot when they pull the drawer to work on it.
I love these carts, they really take up LESS space and the drawers pull completely out just like if they were to take it off the shelf. They pull them out then stack them on the floor to the right as they finish. The drawers are also a better size for books and such so I don’t have to bend my books getting them into the shoebox size. If there’s anything too big, I just set it on top of the cart. I also use the top of the cart for them to stack their finished worksheets and such. They work quite well if you need something that takes up less space!
Below is our Science/Computer/Random Activity Center! This is also our play room which was formerly known as the living room. I change out the activities on this table based on what we’re doing that week. Tomorrow it will be our magnifying center for our nature walk finds.
Here’s our alphabet tree and new ‘poster center’, Its the little poster on the wall to the right of the tree. I put up a velcro wall sticker then put the opposite hook velcro on the backs of all the poster so they can be put up and taken down easily. It’s a small spot, but is all I have and will work for us! Next to that is a bookshelf of games and construction paper.
My very large whiteboard I got from a church school closing sale for $5! Sweet!
Here is our animal map, verse board, calendar, and a magnetic whiteboard for our letters, next to that is a bookshelf with lots of puzzles and fun games and you know… stuff…
Here’s a closeup of our calendar. I put it on a cork board and put push pins on each day. I usually have them do some sort of pattern using the colored links. Then each day they have to count the calendar. I find this works wonders in teaching number recognition. Right now it’s my kindergartner’s job to teach my tot. He gets practice without realizing it, and she learns what her numbers look like! 2 for 1!
This is my old whiteboard, which is now being used for our sign language cards, and soon to be spanish cards, but I ran out of tape :0)
Last, but not least, our reading area, some soft pillows and fun books, mostly readers that my 2nd grader can read on her own or to the others.
Well, that’s our room…for now anyways!
MINDY: I cleaned them WELL, then sanded them a bit. Then I spray painted them with primer and dried. Then I spray painted them with whatever color my kids picked! It worked fairly well. Oh, and I took the chrome legs off first, so they are still chrome.
Wow..thanks for sharing. You have a wonderful setting for your kiddos to learn. I love some of your ideas to and your curriculum.
Oh, bless you! I am about to start homeschooling my oldest (he'll be Pre-K) in the fall and am just getting into the homeschool thing. We're attending a conference in June and hoping to get some practical ideas and encouragement. I stumbled upon your blog (well, God probably LET me stumble upon it!) and I am so thrilled to see some of your ideas. I LOVE your homeschool room and so badly wish we had an extra room in our home for one of our own. Until the time comes for a bigger home, we'll have to make do with our dining area. Thanks for sharing your info! May God continue to bless you on this wonderful journey!
Wow, how nice! It looks JUST like a school room. I bet you will all LOVE it!!
I've been looking at buying similar boxes for a project of mine but I've been reading a lot of reviews that they are chintzy and the drawers fall out if you have a lot of stuff in them. What do you think of them?
JEN: We’ve had ours for almost 2 years now, they’re holding up quite well. The only time I’ve had an issue is when the Teeny Tot tried to climb up one! Otherwise they are fine for us, but it’s not like we’re slamming them around or anything, just lots of opening and closing, so far so good :o) I’d recommend them, I’ve seen the other reviews too, but honestly we haven’t had any issues.
Hi Erica,
My son LOVES star wars and I am using your workbox system this year. I would like to add the little pictures of the star wars characters like you did on his cards. Where did you get them from and how did you add them to the number cards? Thanks so much.
Lauren
Hi there, i find your blog very interesting. Where did you got those calender from? Is there any printable version? Thx so much!