Do you have a designated school room?

[LoveToBeMom]

I am preparing to homeschool my children, starting with my near-preschool-aged son. Currently, his activities are primarily on shelves in the living room, and then there are a few other little nooks around the house as well.

I am wondering if we should have a designated "school room." Please tell me how you are set up and why, and any pros / cons you see.

Right now, I enjoy his learning and activities happening in the midst of the rest of our daily lives, so that there is no clear delineation between "learning" and "living." I am concerned that less learning will take place if the materials are confined. However, as we move into preschool (Montessori) this fall, I will be introducing more and more activities and I'm unsure whether I want our living room to transform into our little schoolhouse.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

[dotnetdiva]

Speaking from the perspective as someone who just started last year and overdoes things, here's our homeschool house.
http://satorismiles.com/homeschool-room-photos/

I've converted many parts of the house to be learning-related. We have a few untouched places, but it seems that I've turned much of the house into our homeschool. Even now I'm thinking of making a big Animal/Plant kingdom tree and putting that up on the wall, lol.

[CariOfOz]

We don't have one, at the moment we use our family/dining room for most things. We also do a fair bit of work on the computers. We have a set of ikea expedit shelves (the 4x4 cube one) that houses a lot of our books, crayons/pencils/glue etc in baskets & tubs and I've been 'rearranging' this room so that it serves more than just one purpose. Before it had a HUGE dining table and all the furniture but that was against the walls. I got a smaller (and nicer dining set, made our shelves into a room divider, put down a rug for a cozy reading/activity area.

I would LOVE to have my own hs room though, mainly from the mess perspective When we get started on a project/craft etc , it is a pain to always have to put everything up if we take a break .. or if it's a multi session experiment/project! We're going to be in the house buying market in a year or so, and I'm looking at houses that are a specific design (typical Australian highset homes with BIG rumpus rooms downstairs) JUST so that I can have this

[Marimami]

We have multiple areas, but they have evolved as our needs have changed. We never set out to have a "school" room, and really none of them are like that.

We have a dedicated craft/science room, but we've always had one of those. We basically just organized it better and got a waterproof, acid-safe, chemical safe huge table for it.

We also have a dedicated outdoor science "area" for outdoor things.

(Science and crafts are DD's favorite things.)

Until recently, we had all our books, manipulatives, maps, curriculum, globe, etc. in the living room and it got to be too much. So, we just converted our guest room into a dedicated space for all our supplies. We also use it to play games and hang out too so it's not like it's cut off from our living space.

It works out well because I work from home full time, and it's right next to my office. So, when it's time for me to work on something with her, it's really convenient. But, when just she and DH work on things, they just close the doors and the noise doesn't bother me at all.

It has really helped de-clutter the living room tremendously.

Holli

[sbgrace]

I think a lot of people "school" at the kitchen table. We don't have the space for a dedicated room for schooling but even if we did I don't think it would fit our style/needs. Science works well in the kitchen (experiments/mess) as does all the art stuff and similar, we do writing and lots of math because of the manipulatives involved on their kids table in the kitchen, phonics is on the computer, literature (as well as all our reading together) is cozy on the couch, etc. I just don't see the need for our own school space as it just flows in my day. However, more closets to store stuff would be fantastic and I certainly drool over the set up dotnetdiva has!

[MamaMonica]

We've never had a school room and use the kitchen table for most projects or work.

[elizawill]

we do have a designated "school room" (or really, it's half a room & half my dh's room, lol). it is where i store everything & i absolutely love it. when my daughter was in kindergarten, i had everything all over the house & i could never find a thing! i hated it! although we have a "school room", we don't actually sit and do school there (it seems to be used more-so for projects and such that can be left out on the table). my son & i usually learn together on the couch & my daughter has a clubhouse in her bedroom where she prefers to do school work. when it's warm outside, we prefer to sit on the side porch and work. but for organizational purposes, i really love having a designated place. i have pix at my blog under photos. hth.

[Copper]

We are making a change, we thought we wanted to "school room" but we still always end up in the living room, dining room, screened in porch or outside when it is nice. My office also has her computer and desk and our bookcases and supplies and the guinea pig. It doubles as a guest room for out of town company too. Dd does her independent work while I get a bit of work done in the afternoons we don't have activities...and it works out well being in the same room to help/answer questions and getting a bit of work done for me.

We offered her this room back it was originally her room but he "lovely" neighbor next door constantly had is dog out barking at 6 a.m. at their back door and it faces his room we ended up moving her to what WAS my office.
Since this room is the bigger of the two and she will be turning 9 and is having friends over more and more often, time for a change. She picked out her paint color and we will be making the switch soon (hoping to declutter both rooms at the same time)..can you say spring cleaning ?

At any rate we have been homeschooling for 4 years so I have a good idea that our "pattern" of the way we do things won't change much.

[goobergrl6]

We do have a school room. We do not always use it but it does house everything. That way it is not cluttering the rest of my house up with stuff. I love it that way.

[Momma Aimee]

I have a buddy who has a great set up -- IMO -- they have a smallish room full of shelves ... all school stuff has a home there.

(sher has 9 kids, one homeschooled till 12th grade graduated in may 09)

they have a "quite work spce" int ehre as well as the computer and printer.

they have a big shelf in teh dinning room for 'current work" boxes for each kid -- that kid's work for the week.

The kids work where ever -- the younger kids at the big dinning room table, the older kids in their rooms 9as they earn that right by showing they will work and get things done and do it well). Or the 3rd grader might do math on the sofa next to mom BF the new twins ...

so work happens where ever it "works" ....but tehre is a quiet spot if needed (the school room) and there is a centeral home for all school stuff not currently in use.

Now ther eis NO WAY all the kids could even fit in the school room LOL -- but that is not so much what it is for.

i love her set up.

When we move i will seek it out --

my dream woud be a BIG school / art and crafts room. a counter along one whole wall with cabnets below and a deep utility sink in the counter (yes inteh school / art and crafts room). A big table -- or two -- where projects could be left 1/2 done ...and a ton of shelves and cabnets where homeschool stuff can live.

when we move i will be activly seeking a set up that will allow for a room where all the homeschool stuff can live and 1/2 done stuff can be left out .. even if i know the actual work, most days, will move about the house. Also a spot where the other distractions of the house (tv, toys, etc) can be "left at the door" and the focuse can be 100% what it needs to be -- if we need that at some point ot get something done.

I want a large enough space that we CAN work in there when we want -- our little "safe spot" .. but i know we won't always do so

Speaking from the perspective as someone who just started last year and overdoes things, here's our homeschool house.
http://satorismiles.com/homeschool-room-photos/

I lust after this room

[jlpumkin]

Originally Posted by dotnetdiva

Speaking from the perspective as someone who just started last year and overdoes things, here's our homeschool house.
http://satorismiles.com/homeschool-room-photos/

Totally love this and wish that space was available in my home.

Having said that, I love how we tend to school all over. Ideally I could find some way to take over the large linen closet off of my breakfast nook. I could place all of our supplies and books there. And even have an empty shelf for 1/2 complete projects. Then I could close the door on them but have everything handy to where we actually school. Hmm maybe one day...

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by jlpumkin

Totally love this and wish that space was available in my home.

Having said that, I love how we tend to school all over. Ideally I could find some way to take over the large linen closet off of my breakfast nook. I could place all of our supplies and books there. And even have an empty shelf for 1/2 complete projects. Then I could close the door on them but have everything handy to where we actually school. Hmm maybe one day...

that sounds like a great plan -- do it!!!

[MissRubyandKen]

We are a family of five and currently live in a 3 bedroom, 1000 sq ft apartment. So, no, lol. No dedicated schoolroom. We are buying a house and waiting on the closing date (hopefully soon!), but it isn't much bigger at 1350 sq ft with 3 bedrooms. The extra 350 sq ft is all in the family room. But there is also a good sized garage and a fenced in yard. I'm imagining the formal dining room will be anything but. The kitchen is not eat in, so no space in there. I'm betting a lot of the bookshelves with books and supplies and the whiteboard will end up lining the dining room walls. I plan to set up a messy space in the garage with cupboards for storage and a table or two for projects, puzzles, and games to stay upon if needed. The computer will likely be in the family room. The big kids will have comfy reading spots and a small desk in their rooms for when they want quiet. The little one will have fun things to do in each room of the house, except the big kids' rooms. So yeah, we'll be spread out through the house.

[mommariffic]

I'm so jealous of that website, holy moly!

We don't have a designated "school" room, but DD is only 2 and we are just renting this house. We do have a little "craft nook" which is off the kitchen, a small, sunny breakfast room that has our old kitchen table. I keep our Community Playthings craft caddy in there, hang DD's paintings up, work on crafts, and keep some potted plants in there. She's allowed to get the room "messy" and whenever we are going to paint or craft we go in there.

Besides that any work sheets we do she does in her kitchen helper, or on the floor or dining room table. We have books in every single room, and baskets of Waldorf inspired toys or just her Playmobiles in the living room area.

[PGTlatte]

Our eat-in kitchen is our designated school room. Our school supplies are taking over the kitchen cabinets and I've got stuff hung all over the walls

The kitchen table is truly the center of our home and the spot that everything else revolves around. If I tried to set up a different room for school, I don't think they would ever want to be in it.

[cappuccinosmom]

No. Dining room table.

Personally I might like a homeschool room, from the standpoint of organization, and keeping school things out of my hair. But I don't know that it would be a particular benefit to the kids. They do really well with the way things are now.

Later on I might like a dedicated spot in the house where a child can go if they need quiet in order to concentrate on something. Right now my older son usually retreats to the living room away from the rest of us in order to focus on his math worksheets.

[ewp11100]

We have a "school room" that consists of a 12 x12 room. One wall door an bookcase, next circle time/calendar activities on bottom, art work showcase bulleten board on top and another bookcase at the end. 3rd wall is window, door, easel and the 4th are the "desks". "Desks" refers to scoured clearence matching over head cabinets, under cabinets with two empty spots that we push chairs up to. One has the lap top for mommy's sanity the other is free for the boys (ds and dh) to do thier school work. We also have a kids size table and chairs for art activities. Floor is gross old peel and stick tiles that are perfect for our messes! I like having this "room" before we were at the kitchen table most of the time which cluttered up my kitchen really bad! No I keep all the clutter, crayons, tiny pieces of paper, googly eyes and all in a room that looks like it should be a mess (or obviously we wouldn't be having any fun )

sorry about typos I have a baby squrming on my lap,

[akwifeandmomma]

Originally Posted by goobergrl6

We do have a school room. We do not always use it but it does house everything. That way it is not cluttering the rest of my house up with stuff. I love it that way.

Us too.

Ours has a large table, several bookshelves, a closet full of games, activities, and whatnot. We use it daily, but migrate to other areas depending on our moods and what we're doing. I like having a dedicated space.

[LoveToBeMom]

All the responses have been interesting to read and really helpful. Thanks for contributing!

[DaughterOfKali]

The dining room table. (space is very tight here.)

When we get tired of our four walls, we take some work to a cafe.