Homeschooling has become very popular over the last decade or so. Many parents choose to homeschool their children because they want them to get a better education than they would receive at school.
In addition, some parents believe that they can give their kids a better upbringing than they would get from a public school.
Homeschooling is a form of education where students attend classes outside the home. They usually study subjects such as math, science, history, art, music, etc. The curriculum is often tailored to each student’s interests and abilities.
Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular. According to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), there are currently around 2 million homeschooled children in the United States. This number is expected to increase significantly in the next few years.
The main reason for this growing popularity is that many families feel that traditional schools are not providing an adequate education for their children.
Some parents have concerns about the safety of their child’s environment, while others simply do not like the way that teachers teach.
There are several reasons why parents decide to homeschool their children. One of the most common reasons is that they do not agree with what is being taught in public schools.
Parents may also be concerned about the quality of education provided by public schools. For example, many parents believe that the teaching methods used in public schools are outdated. Others think that the emphasis on standardized testing is detrimental to learning.
Another reason for choosing to homeschool is that parents do not want their children to be exposed to drugs, alcohol, or other harmful substances. Some parents believe that they can provide a better environment for their children than is available in public schools.
Whatever the reason may be for you, when creating a classroom at home for homeschooling your kids, there are several things to consider or keep in mind. This article will go into that as well as some ideas on keeping the environment fun and organized.
Things To Consider For Creating Your Classroom At Home
Space
You should have enough space in your home to accommodate all of your children’s needs. If you don’t have enough room, then you should consider renting out additional rooms.
It is important to make sure that your house is big enough for everyone. At the same time, if you have a small space to work with, then it is manageable but you will need to at least have a designated space within your home for homeschooling.
Furniture
You should have furniture that is suitable for your family. Make sure that it is comfortable and easy to move around. Also, make sure that it is sturdy and durable.
Curriculum
When you are deciding on which curriculum to use, it is important to find one that fits your children’s individual needs. There are many different curriculums that you can use.
However, if you are looking for something more comprehensive, then you might want to look into using a curriculum that has been created specifically for homeschoolers.
Materials
You should have plenty of materials available for your children to work with. These could include books, computers, art supplies, etc. Additionally, make use of support and resources out there online.
Organization
You should organize your home so that it is easy for your children to access everything that they need. Plan your space and also plan your lessons for a whole semester.
Fun
You should create a fun environment for your children. This includes having games and toys available for them to play with. Learning should be fun, so try to be creative with it.
Cleanliness
You should make sure to clean up after yourself and your children. This includes cleaning up spills and wiping down surfaces.
Time
You should set aside time each day for your children to learn. This time should be scheduled and consistent.
Building a routine for your child’s learning is important for them to learn important skills around time management. A routine can also give a child a good expectation on what the day ahead will look like.
Ideas For Creating A Home School Classroom
Calendars
Use a calendar to help you schedule your days. The calendar should be used to keep track of your child’s schoolwork and activities.
A calendar can take shape in the form of a chalkboard wall-which is multipurpose-you can create a calendar on it to keep track of assignments or tasks or even special dates, and use it to teach lessons as well.
A bulletin board can also do the same thing, just with more paper and pins used. Additionally, whiteboards are just as effective if you do not want to commit to painting a wall with chalkboard paint.
Attached to the bulletin board, you could place wire racks filled with folders for tasks and assignments that need completing.
Command Center
This is a dedicated space in your home to make room for all the resources and materials you will need for your child. This may include art supplies, workbooks, bins, textbooks and other resources. Making use of a bookshelf or desk space as a work surface is a good idea.
Incorporation of storage techniques along the wall will help keep you organized. These could take the form of storage cups placed on the wall for pens and pencils and other art supplies. Alternatively, use bins for each kid, each subject or for the supplies.
There are many different storage carts or trolleys that can be used as well to store bins or drawers that are transparent and have labels so that you can easily find what you are looking for, making learning from home that much more fun and accessible.
Daily Planning
It is a good idea to assemble a morning basket or an afternoon basket so that your kid knows what is coming up for the day or the next day, respectively.
This will help them feel more at ease, knowing what to expect, and also will get them excited about the day ahead.
Having a daily lesson plan helps you stay on track and focused on the curriculum and your kid’s individual goals.
You can make a colorful planner for each kid and each subject for a full month, which can detail each of your children’s daily assignments and tasks. It is useful to use a timer or scheduler for other activities too, such as outdoor time or exercise.
Organize subjects by color, that way you will be able to find your supplies, materials, and resources easily. It will also allow planning easier, as you could use color stickers or magnets on your boards that you use for planning lessons.
It will become a quick visual cue for yourself and your kids to remind them which subject is being taught that day and will give them a quick idea on which subject has homework or assignments due for when.
Further to that, you could also organize assignments by week in color folders- an in and an out folder so that your kids remain on task and organized.
If Tight On Space
You might have limited space for your homeschool classroom. In this case, you should still try to incorporate some of the ideas above.
For example, if you cannot afford a large chalkboard wall, you could instead go for a smaller one. But make sure it is big enough to write on. Also, if you do not have a lot of wall space, you could always hang pictures or posters around the room to provide visual cues.
If you are short on actual workspace, think about converting some closet space into a workstation. The lower level will make space for a chair and a desk surface and the shelves above can serve as storage space for resources, materials, and art supplies.
Don’t be afraid to make use of dead space in your home, such as space in hallways or corners which may seem awkward to fit a regular desk into.
You can easily custom make a desk to fit in between two walls to make a work space for your kid by cutting some plywood to fit.
What is great about this, is that your kid can be involved in the process of making their workstation their own by choosing ways to decorate this space.
At a pinch, you could also make use of under stairs closets or space there that may be under utilized.
Conclusion
A homeschool classroom should emulate a school classroom, but should also become a space or environment in the home that your child feels free to express themselves and comfortable to learn in.
Hopefully, this article has given you some insights on how to structure your homeschool classroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost?
Homeschooling doesn’t necessarily mean spending less than before. If anything, most parents spend more money because they want to ensure that their kids receive the best education possible.
However, what you save in terms of tuition fees and textbooks, you will certainly spend in terms of supplies and equipment. This means that you will have to budget accordingly for these expenses.
Do I Really Need To Buy All Those Books And Other Resources?
Yes! There are many reasons why you would want to purchase books and resources. First, it allows you to keep track of your progress and ensures that you are doing well with your studies.
Second, it helps in developing reading skills and improves vocabulary. It also provides opportunities for your kids to read outside of class time, and it gives your children access to information that they otherwise wouldn’t get from other sources.
Will My Kids Miss Out On Social Interactions?
Social interaction is important, especially when we talk about learning. It is essential for our development as human beings.
As long as you are able to teach your kids to interact socially, then there shouldn’t be any problem at all. After all, you don’t want your kids to grow up isolated from society.
Hi, my name is Helena Waters and I was a teacher for 40 years before retiring last year.
During my time as a teacher I dedicated the majority of it to making classrooms as fun as possible, with educational parties, fun activities, and low cost entertainment that made the children excited about learning.
I taught children of all ages, from preschoolers to high school students. Now, with the pandemic having uprooted everything that children once knew about school and learning, I think that the need for my ideas is bigger than ever.
That is why I created School Sparks, a place in which I can write down and share all of my ideas on how to get students excited about going to school again. I hope that you’ll find some useful within a school setting, even at home too!
