How do I set up a room for homeschooling? Do I even need a separate space?
I have been hearing a lot of questions about how to set up the homeschooling space in your home and what it should look like. It is a totally understandable question when one considers the super-decorated classrooms some teachers put together! I’m going to talk you through this and give you some tips, and hopefully, you will feel less anxious and less inclined to try to put an addition on the house before school starts.
Tip #1- Kids are like housecats. Just because one sets up a special place for them, doesn’t mean they’ll want to use it.
We have 4 cats. We own three of those cat tree/ climber things. The last creature I saw actually sitting on the cat tree was my six-year-old son. When I look on social media, I am seeing workspaces being built, rooms being repainted, and elaborate shelving systems being assembled. People are getting serious out there. I have made efforts to have dedicated work tables for the kids in at least 4 different houses. You know where we end up? The kitchen table. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. So if you have space and money and you REALLY want to have that child-sized workstation, go for it. Just remember, to rephrase an old saying, you can buy the fancy cat tree, but the cat is most likely going to sleep on your bed.
Tip #2- You don’t have to re-create public school in your house.
What are you imagining as you think about setting up a homeschool room? Most of us went to public school, and that is what we think of when we hear the word school- rows of desks in which kids sat all day and diligently did their work. Give yourself permission to think outside the “school” box. What will work for your child? Are they more active? Maybe having them stand at the kitchen counter for some subjects will work. Bouncing balls and skipping rope has been shown to improve retention of spelling words and math facts. One of my daughters likes to work on the floor. She has to sit at a table when I help her with math, because the hard floor isn’t comfy for me. We all tend to do reading and history on the couch. My oldest daughter likes to do her reading assignments in the hammock outside. The point is that you can do something DIFFERENT than brick and mortar school, and it is O.K. This is especially true if it makes the work go more quickly!
Tip #3- Picking a “school room” or space off by itself sometimes backfires.
It is pretty cool to try and keep everything organized and, in theory, out of your living room. The fact of the matter is that homeschooling is a lifestyle that isn’t easily banished to a back room. Kids want to be near us. My youngest daughter, especially, likes to ask lots of silly questions if she needs more attention. Unfortunately, parents have other things to do during the day (laundry and dishes come to mind). If the school room is upstairs or off by itself, you will have to stay there with them. From experience, I can tell you that most kids will VANISH when you walk downstairs to move the laundry to the dryer. As I mentioned, we spent most of our 12 years of homeschool at my kitchen table. It had some downsides (like needing to eat lunch somewhere), but I could also fix snacks, empty the dishwasher, wipe counters, make more coffee, and they were never out of my sight. Yes, I had an alphabet chart in my kitchen. My response to curious glances from visitors was always, “We homeschool.”
Tip #4- Limit time on Pinterest. Too much décor can be very distracting, and informative posters are definitely in the category of “less is more.”
This is especially true for kids with trouble staying focused. Think about what your kiddo is learning and what they REALLY need for quick reference. A letter chart (print or cursive) is a good idea, along with a number chart for younger kids who are still mastering writing numbers. I have a visual reminder for my dyslexic child about “b” and “d”. As my kids got older, I took down the numbers and swapped out for a world map. That’s it. No cute banners or anything like that, unless it was immediately relevant to a topic we were studying- like the Civil War map that I hung last year. Personally, I think homeschool room ideas on Pinterest (or other sites, not just picking on Pinterest here) fall into the category of “Homeschool Porn.” That term refers to any catalog or website that gives you unrealistic ideas about what homeschool should look like, makes you feel inadequate, AND makes you double-guess your plans. But like the workspace set up in #1, if you TRULY love decorating and want to spend money on tricking out your schoolroom, then do it. If you aren’t into it, then skip it!!
Tip #5- If it is beautiful outside, WORK OUTSIDE.
This should be obvious, but I know I didn’t really think about it until halfway through our first year of homeschooling. I REALLY embraced the idea when we moved to a state with fewer gorgeous days and long, cold winters. Most parents have read that sunshine and fresh air are super important for kids, so might as well get some sun while learning multiplication. My kids know that they have the option to work on our patio with their books anytime, provided they bring everything back inside. I also make them take outside breaks, even if we are doing our work indoors.
Hopefully, you are feeling a little more relaxed about what you need to do to prep your home for school. Less can be more. Think about your family and your (hoped for) daily rhythm. Remember, do what feels comfortable for you! Don’t let anyone’s expectations push you in a direction that feels forced or wrong for your family.
If you still feel unsure about all this and wish to sign up for curriculum suggestions or first-year coaching, you can learn more about how I can help.
Kristen Sloan is a mom of seven with twelve years of homeschooling under her belt. She has a B.S. in European History from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and served six years in the active duty Army. She also completed training through the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education on the Orton-Giliingham methodology, which she uses with her kids. Kristen loves reading and hanging out with her family, and has an unhealthy relationship with caffeine.