Essential Fixtures for Your Home School

Some homeschoolers are blessed with that extra room in their home that can be transformed into a fully functioning (a stagnant) classroom.... equipped with such perks as a dry erase board (or chalk board), educational posters and charts, world maps, nicely organized drawers and shelving, and desks for everyone.Wouldn't that be amazing? I can only imagine!

Others of us have kitchen tables and a classroom on wheels that makes its way to said table each and every day. lol Either way, storage and organization is always an issue. It's really a challenge trying to keep everything in order, looking nice and well kept... living in that "everything has its place" moment day after day.

Whether you're one of those lucky homeschooling families with a designated classroom, or have what most of us have... a little bit of homeschooling here... and a little bit of homeschooling there... there are a few things every homeschooler needs to stay organized.

May I first suggest a a good filing cabinet... preferably with a separate drawer for each child? When we were starting out, I used boxes to store papers in and it about drove me mad. I couldn't find anything... neither could my kids. Easily accessing plans, papers, reports, worksheets, grades and anything and everything you'll find yourself printing from the Internet will save you oodles of time and is guaranteed to keep you in good spirits. 

A roomy bookcase, with shelves that everyone can reach is a definite plus. If you have shelves that extend higher than their little hands can stretch, consider bolting the bookcase to your wall. When I was around 10 years old, I had a top heavy bookcase filled with books topple over on me and a friend. This can also happen when kids try to crawl up a bookcase... a set of dresser drawers, or even a television stand. Safety first!

Of course you'll need a table, and/or desks to accommodate your lessons! Try to find something that is sized to your student. If your child is not sitting correctly for long periods of time, or at the appropriate distance between chair and table,  he could develop back or neck problems... or a cramped hand. I proper fit also makes a huge difference when it comes to neatness in handwriting.

You'll want to have storage units for your school supplies too... things like measuring tools, pencils and crayons, loose paper for writing, dry erase markers, index cards, stickers, and anything else you find yourself using. To make things super simple to keep organized, buy an inexpensive labeling device and label each of your drawers. This is so worth the time... everyone will know exactly what lives where! We use those plastic drawer systems you find at Walmart. They work well, although they're not the prettiest things to have around. lol

Finally... if you can swing it, purchase a good size chalk board or dry erase board that can either find a permanent place on your wall, or the type that has a supporting stand. Make sure your kids and you can both reach the board. Also, be sure everyone can see it. Try to have the board front and center when teaching, so your kiddos are comfortably learning and more apt to listen to what you have to share!