I’ve shared , revealed , and uncovered the extent of my crunchiness …

I haven’t written a lot about homeschooling, regardless that it’s a huge a part of my household’s life, as a result of I didn’t suppose it could curiosity most of you.

When grew to become the hottest image I’ve shared on Instagram, lots of you requested particulars about particular elements of the image, so I made a decision to write down about our homeschool classroom.

Don’t Homeschool?

I hope that a number of the ideas on this submit will likely be useful to you, even when your children should not taught at dwelling.

I’ve two youngsters who’re technically below “school-age,” and lots of the issues I’ve in our classroom are there to interact their creativity and hold them busy whereas the older children be taught. These actions can be useful for kids who aren’t of college age but, however nonetheless need to be concerned within the studying course of.

My Homeschool Classroom Philosophy

One of many many causes we determined to homeschool our kids is that we felt we might give them a extra detailed and various schooling than they might get in a typical faculty system.

Briefly, my philosophy is that studying occurs 24/7 with youngsters, and that whereas we’d concentrate on particular matters throughout sure elements of the day, we train them on a regular basis.

We tie in features of the Montessori educating technique, together with a few conventional studying curriculums ( and are the 2 we’re presently utilizing) and lots of hands-on actions and area journeys. Whereas I really like the Montessori philosophy, we spend quite a lot of time , going for walks, and taking part in than sitting within the classroom each time we are able to. We additionally attempt to permit the kids to have some autonomy in selecting the particular actions that they do and the themes they be taught first every day.

We additionally incorporate journey into our studying each time potential, as youngsters be taught rather more from visiting a spot or tradition than they might from merely studying about it.

So whereas I really like our little classroom, I additionally actually love the time we spend studying outdoors of it.

Setting Up Our Homeschool Classroom

As we put together to start faculty this 12 months and I arrange the classroom, I’m sharing my private homeschool concepts, so I hope you’ll share yours within the feedback so we are able to all be taught from one another.

Our homeschool room displays the range of studying strategies we use and the range of ages we train. My youngsters are all presently below 10 years of age, so clearly, a a lot completely different setting can be wanted for older youngsters.

I adopted the thought of “Workstations” that’s in style in Montessori faculties in establishing our classroom. My objective was to have completely different stations that my youngsters might rotate to and every have their very own house for impartial studying.

These are the “Stations” now we have and the way we use them:

1. Leaping station: I’ve discovered that particularly for energetic boys, motion truly improves studying, reasonably than stifling it. The truth is, sitting for too lengthy in a single place rapidly makes them bored and inattentive, whereas with the ability to transfer  helps them focus. , and I really like that youngsters can use it as an indoor train whereas studying (and this builds on the Montessori concept that motion enhances cognition). We primarily use the mini-trampoline (or rebounder) to allow them to soar whereas we learn, train a lesson, or whereas quizzing them on spelling, multiplication tables, and many others. Additionally it is an excellent place for them to maneuver round throughout breaks, particularly when it’s raining outdoors.
2. Studying Station: Pictured above within the prime picture on this submit, the studying station is a bit of space with three beanbags for sitting on to learn. That is used for impartial studying or learning and is an effective break from sitting in chairs.
3. The Little Youngsters Station: The favourite spot of the below 5 crowd, this mini-table is a refurbished outdated espresso desk that misplaced a leg and that we rescued and refurbished. The highest has a ledge so small items received’t fall off, and the floor is roofed in in order that they will apply writing on the desk itself. That is considered one of two stations particularly for the little children and the chairs are mini-sized as properly. See extra element under for the particular actions now we have at this desk.
4. Faculty Cupboard and Trainer Station: We discovered that having the varsity books in an open house the place the youngsters might entry them always led to little children making an attempt to be taught like the massive children by changing into enthusiastic about books. Our answer was an outdated cupboard (technically a kitchen island) that we discovered at a salvage retailer. We put in little one locks on the doorways and now every little one has a cubby inside the cupboard for books. We open it throughout faculty and return the books after faculty time. This additionally minimizes the mess. The highest of the station is dwelling to instructor provides, our college plant and a few flash playing cards. See extra element under.
5. The Workbook Station: The older youngsters take turns working at this desk with considered one of us at a time, and , a desk is a good place for the required e book work or take a look at.
6. Paintings Show: A pal made these cute paintings show boards and so they assist hold a deal with on the quantity of valuable paintings on the partitions at any given time. Every little one has one “clip” and may show a bit of paintings or one thing they’ve labored on at school that week. It’s only a board with some heavy metallic clips that say “Look What I Did..”
7. Studying Station Storage: I record a few of our particular studying stations under, however these bins include units of flash playing cards, beading actions for little ones, lacing playing cards, artwork provides, and Montessori studying stations. We additionally hold the few toys that now we have in these bins (legos, blocks, and many others).
8. Little Child Play Station: A play space for the little ones. A kitchen set with picket toys, an artwork easel for portray, drawing with chalk, whiteboard writing and different actions. Extra under.
9. Acrobatic Station: (Not Pictured) Hanging within the door of our classroom is (one of the best Christmas current we’ve ever gotten for our children). This indoor playground is actually a brilliant robust pull-up bar with 5 attachments for play and train. The pull up bar is powerful sufficient for adults to make use of, however a swing, a climbing rope, rings, a trapeze and a ladder could be added for the kids to play. This can be a nice station for them to get their vitality out or swing whereas listening to a lesson or a language CD.
10. Ebook Station: (not pictured)- A easy bookcase of books that the kids can entry any time.

Extra element on the assorted stations….

The Little Child Studying Stations

Lots of our little child actions are saved within the bins on the opposite aspect of the classroom and never pictured, however a few of their favourite actions are:

• Sorting Beads: I’ve that I’ve painted in varied colours. The little ones can type these into little picket bowls which are painted the identical coloration.
• Threading Beads: I take advantage of extra of those painted picket beads in a station the place little ones can thread beads. They use  to string the beads in varied patterns.
• Sandpaper Letters:  They’ve and  on playing cards made out of sandpaper. This provides them a tactile expertise of studying the letters and so they actually get pleasure from it. I do know many mothers who make these letters out of index playing cards and sandpaper, however that is one exercise I selected to purchase to save lots of time preparing for varsity.
• Lacing Playing cards: One other favourite exercise for little ones… you could possibly completely make these out of cardboard and shoelaces, however our children and it has been nice for varsity.
• Counting Stations: For studying numbers, now we have a number of actions: (nice for motor expertise and counting), A , , and quantity rods.
• Blocks:  They get pleasure from so as to add one other sensory ingredient.
• Shapes and Fractions: We’ve got playing cards and drawing modules for this, but additionally , which we additionally use to show the older ones fractions.
• Puzzle Stations: We’ve got a field stuffed with age-appropriate puzzles for little ones. They particularly like for studying the bones of the physique.
• Arts and Crafts: Once I’m feeling particularly courageous/loopy, now we have portray, coloring, modeling clay and slicing stations for them to make use of. These are usually a particular deal with since they require extra cleanup, however we attempt to do these a pair occasions every week.
• Picket Animals: I obtained a giant set of  as a child reward and they’re one of the crucial performed with actions for youths. They draw footage of surroundings to play with the animals on, make child garments to decorate them up in, and match them to their zoo animal playing cards. These are additionally nice to place within the diaper bag for church and different quiet occasions.
• Studying Station: One other favourite is a bin of board books and sensory books particularly for little ones. They like having their very own books and “studying” them. Additionally they have their private books that I make for them annually with footage and reminiscences from the final 12 months and so they love trying again over these reminiscences and asking about them.
• Music Station: . We even have and  for studying about music all through historical past. Opera is the little child favourite at our home.

We attempt to encourage the youngsters to solely use one station at a time and clear it up earlier than transferring on to a different. I’m not a Montessori perfectionist, and at occasions, a number of stations will find yourself out at one time, however usually, the thought of stations cuts down on mess. The remainder of the little child station features a kitchen set with picket meals (one other Christmas reward) and an artwork easel (additionally a Christmas reward)…

Massive Child Studying Stations

As I discussed, we attempt to facilitate as a lot studying as potential outdoors, whereas touring or whereas transferring, however we do comply with a hands-on curriculum for the older children. I’ve arrange studying stations for them as properly, and so they rotate in order that we are able to train all of them simply.

The stations for the older children embody:

• Faculty books: Stored in out faculty cupboard, these faculty books and workbooks are the core of the curriculum we use.
• Geography Station: The globe and massive maps are used when educating about geography and we even have puzzles, colorable maps, and matching video games for this.
• Language Stations: This 12 months, we’re educating the kids Italian since it’s a part of their heritage. We’ve got for the littles and . My husband teaches this topic since he speaks some Italian.
• Phonics and Studying Stations: I take an uncommon strategy to language and phonics. Whereas educating the fundamentals of phonics and studying, I additionally use flash playing cards that I’ve manufactured from t and flash playing cards of  (which I realized at school myself and which I credit score partially with my excessive rating on the SAT). The greek and latin roots assist them perceive language as they be taught extra advanced phrases and make it simpler to determine what longer phrases imply.
• Lego Containers and : Fundamental lego blocks are nice for educating counting, fractions, stacking and different quantity associated actions. We additionally will incorporate these into topics like historical past (letting them construct fashions of historical buildings) or science.
• Horticulture Station: We haven’t planted our vegetation for the 12 months but, however now we have indoor vegetation, herbs and greens that the kids have a tendency throughout faculty every day. We additionally do experiments with sprouting seeds and planting for the backyard to assist them study this.
• Artwork Stations: Pure paints, coloring, clays, glue and scissors that we use for varied actions.
• Science Experiments: We’ve got varied fingers on experiments and stations for studying chemistry, biology, physics, and many others. and the supplies for these are saved within the bins as properly. Some favorites are , and the physics experiments.

Homeschool Classroom Ornament

The decorations in our classroom are quite simple. I’ve some homeschooling associates whose lecture rooms are awe-inspiring, however I didn’t have the time/vitality to create every little thing from scratch and opted for some fundamentals from the native instructor provide retailer.

We’ve got and varied studying posters that I alter out all year long.

As soon as we start faculty, most decorations are paintings or faculty work the youngsters have accomplished and it modifications consistently.

Actual Life Studying:

As essential as structured studying is, my favourite factor to show (and doubtless their favourite factor to be taught) is what I name “Actual Life Studying,” or classes that assist present actual life expertise.

This can be something from coming to the shop and farmers market with me and serving to decide which meals are one of the best deal (per ounce), making tinctures or salves with me, happening a nature hike and studying about wildcrafting or some type of health.

I attempt to contain my children in actions like cooking dinner, doing laundry, stitching on buttons, and even balancing the checkbook (for the older ones) as these are sensible expertise that they are going to completely want sooner or later, it doesn’t matter what profession or additional schooling they select.

The truth is, a lot of the recipes on this weblog are ones that my youngsters helped me with in a roundabout way.

Vital Be aware

I’m sharing our classroom for informational functions. I’m not an skilled by any means and am studying as I am going. Additionally, lest anybody suppose that our dwelling and classroom at all times seems this neat, the classroom is organized proper now as a result of we haven’t begun our 12 months faculty but. 🙂

Whereas we goal to maintain issues this clear and arranged, it doesn’t at all times occur throughout faculty. I additionally try to be affected person each single day throughout faculty and that doesn’t normally occur both. 🙂

The system, stations and notes above are optimum for our college system, however not at all do all features of this occur completely each day. Like parenthood, homeschooling is a transferring goal that appears to be consistently adapting and altering. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy. Hold experimenting till you discover one of the best and set-up for you!

I hope that a few of my ideas will likely be useful to you, and I’d love to listen to a few of your prime ideas for homeschooling or educating your youngsters as properly.

Do you homeschool? What does your homeschool classroom seem like? Have you ever discovered any ideas, tips, or hacks that make the training course of simpler?