Best tips on how to Set Up A Homeschool Classroom

September 1, 2020

Tips and Tricks For Setting Up Your Homeschool Classroom

home classroom setup

Best tips on how to set up a homeschool classroom could not have come in at a better time than in the current season of our lives.

The pandemic has changed everything including how our kids are taught.

Setting up your homeschool classroom can be as fun and creative as you want it to be.

It may start off a bit daunting, but we are about to help you make the task easier.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7

The ways to organize your own homeschool space are endless.

Setting up your homeschool doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Remember to set up a budget for it and stick to it.

In an in-person public or private school, teachers’ classrooms vary greatly.

Each teacher chooses his or her own color scheme, organizational theme, decorations, and bulletin board features.

In the same way, you as a new homeschool teacher – Mum and Dad are free to create your space however you want!

You can choose a modern or minimalist model. Prioritize comfort as much as possible.

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Bright colors or your favorite team’s memorabilia can decorate the walls.

When considering how to set up your homeschool classroom, remember the following mantra: Choose whatever makes you happy!

Here are a few homeschool classroom organization models from those who have had experience in the homeschool classroom.

As you read through them, choose the one that works best for your family.

You can even mix and match and add your own options!

This article is a treasure chest of ideas for practical tips for starting off your own homeschool adventure.

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Living Room Homeschool With Lap Desks

Did you know that you can have a school in the middle of your living room!

Some public school classrooms are looking more and more like a living room.

A couch, a rug, and a bookshelf adorn the floor.

Students can study on desk/chair sets, floor desks, and lap trays.

Kids love the freedom of being able to relax on the floor or on a special chair or cushion while studying.

The simplest and no-fuss homeschool classroom set-up is to just use your own living room!

Each of your children can sit on the couch or on the floor with lap desks.

Lap trays usually include a hard surface for writing and a compartment to store pencils.

They also have a place to put whiteboards, erasers, and other supplies.

Kids can use their lap tray to keep track of their essential items.

This multipurpose lap desk is perfect in a homeschool environment.

With lap trays, children have the freedom to move around the room.

However, it’s still a good idea to assign spots or areas where your kids are allowed to work.

For example, if your children are doing online school from their local elementary, middle, or high school, it’s a good idea to position them with their backs to you so you can see their computer or tablet screens.

First, have the children sit far enough apart that they don’t distract each other.

Next, arrange them to sit in a semi-circle or circle around the place where you plan to be sitting.

They could even sit in a straight line in front of your chair, with their backs to you.

They need to be positioned in a spot where you can see their screens and monitor their activity, making sure they are not goofing off or playing computer games.

If they are sitting on a low-backed couch that is not against the wall you can walk behind them and monitor their activity.

Teachers at public schools walk around frequently to monitor their student’s online habits.

There is nothing wrong with allowing your students to sit on the couch or on a comfy bean bag chair while studying.

In public school, children take turns on the bean bag chair or other special seats.

A child who has been particularly quiet and focused may be rewarded with the privilege of the bean bag chair.

The same principle can apply to homeschool.

Children who are paying attention and focusing can get more freedom in moving to comfy or fun seating arrangements.

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Best tips on how to set up a homeschool classroom – Small Tables And Chairs

Homeschool Small Tables and chairs

Another home school classroom organizational model includes multi-purpose tables and small tables.

Before you start spending money, see if you can use your dining table or breakfast room table or a reading nook with shelves.

You can buy tiny, lightweight camping tables on Amazon or at your local Walmart.

For example, multi-purpose tables provide an excellent option for homeschooling.

A center folding 6 – feet adjustable rectangular table that is waterproof, stainproof, scratch- and impact-resistant; ideal for indoor or outdoor use is a great option for any family.

These lightweight tables fold up into small, compact packs, which look like suitcases.

They can be easily stacked when not in use.

During the school day, you can set up a small table with a chair for each child.

Adjust the height of the table and ensure your kid is sitting in a comfortable chair.

Again, arrange the small tables in an arc or circle with the kids’ backs facing you so you can see their computer screens.

This way, if the students need help with an assignment, it will be easier for you to quickly check their screen.

Since most tables do not have an automatic pencil and supplies storage system, you will need to provide your own.

For very active and high-energy children, a seating alternative would be the flexible school chair like this.

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A “balance ball flexible” homeschool chair has been proven to promote a healthy posture and mind.

It also improves focus and concentration.

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Homeschool Classroom Storage For Supplies

A plastic drinking cup is an excellent place to store pencils, markers, Expo markers, and erasers.

The unbreakable ones are the most durable.

A pencil case or pencil pouch will work equally well.

A marvelous idea for storage is a plastic storage tower.

These are clear plastic storage drawers that stack on top of one another.

Each child stores his or her own supplies in one drawer.

Think of these drawers as a replacement for a binder or cubby at school.

The child uses this space to store his or her notebooks for each subject area, pencil pouch or case, whiteboard, and markers.

He stows his textbooks if applicable, papers and projects, and any other items.

While seated at the table, a student can use any seating device you are willing to provide.

They can even stand if they would like to!

An ottoman can serve as a seat and storage for a host of other things, including toys.

Many kids find bouncy exercise balls a fun way to get out energy while sitting for a long period of time.

Dining Room Table And Shelf

Dining room & shelf
How you can use the dining room and shelf in your homeroom classroom

A more traditional method of homeschooling classroom organization includes everyone working together around the dining room table.

A large wooden shelf can store all the textbooks, notebooks, and supplies.

The shelf is divided into sections for each child.

A part of the shelf can be designated for the finished work to be turned in for grading.

Pencils and erasers can be stored in a separate drawer.

During the school day, kids can sit around the dining room table, working on their assignments.

Mom or tutor can walk around the table, monitoring kids’ work on paper or on the computer.

General Homeschool Classroom Supplies

Homeschool supplies

No matter what room arrangement you choose, it is important to equip your children with quality and needed supplies.

Shop all school supplies here, and all in-home learning furniture here.

Privacy boards are an important life hack that many parents forget or overlook.

These simple cardboard dividers help students remain focused on their own work.

It discourages distractions such as making faces and whispering to other students.

It also helps students by removing visual distractions in the room.

Buying simple dividers can be an excellent, simple, and cost-effective solution for the homeschool classroom.

Children will need many of the same basic utensils that they did in school.

Whiteboards, whiteboard markers, and whiteboard erasers are critical for working out sums or showing answers to teachers online.

Notepaper and pencils are also crucial for jotting notes or calculating math problems.

Plenty of high-quality pink erasers are vital for their erasing needs.

Whiteboard erasers can also be made out of old socks.

Mom and Dad home teachers will need similar supplies.

A small, portable dry erase board can be carried with you in a bag.

Keep a pencil pouch, dry erase marker, highlighter, notebook, pencils, and erasers in your bag as well.

The bag will provide convenient access to your supplies as you walk around to your children’s learning stations.

You can use the whiteboard to practice spelling words or demonstrate how to do a math problem.

Notebook paper can be used to write notes for your student to complete.

Sensory Breaks

Sensory exercise - homeschool supplies

Students of all ages perform better if they have frequent brain breaks and sensory breaks.

For kids with special learning difficulties, it is extra important to incorporate opportunities to move around and receive sensory input.

Therabands are relatively inexpensive options for kids who feel the need to constantly move around.

Therabands are stretchy resistance bands that can be placed around chair legs or table legs.

They provide your child with something to kick, push, pull, and interact with while they study.

Therabands helps children avoid constant bouncing, tapping, or frenetic movement.

Chewable jewelry is another way that children can get sensory input without even looking up from their work.

Chewable jewelry is also known as Chewelry.

Children can relieve their need to chew without destroying their pencils, jewelry, sleeves, and nails.

Chewelry looks like stylish pendants, but they are made of food-grade chewable material that is satisfying for nervous children with autism or other special chewing needs.

Fidget toys are also an important part of a student’s day, for the relief of stress and anxiety.

Especially with the anxiety around Coronavirus, pandemics, and school closures, students need a way to let out their anxiety in a healthy way.

From stress balls to fidget cubes, the internet has a plethora of interesting toys for students to fidget with while working.

Try a DNA squish stress ball, a pillow with sequins to stroke in different directions, or even a homemade glitter jar.

These items help kids relax while studying.

The student may seem distracted while they play with the toy, but they may actually be deep in thought.

Having your mind on neutral and thinking is an important part of creativity, learning, and growth.

Allow children to take breaks to do sensory activities.

Swinging, running around the yard, or doing heavy work will help children stay focused.

Heavy work includes carrying small boxes, vacuuming with kid’s size vacuum cleaners, or pushing a sibling on a swing.

Bouncing on an exercise ball is another example of a sensory break.

Brain Breaks

Whether or not a child has special needs, it’s important to give their brains time to rest and recharge.

Perhaps your child’s online school allows for breaks, or your class schedule is modeled with downtime.

It’s important to allow children to stretch, exercise, or relieve the stress of constant thinking.

GoNoodle is an important source of indoor brain breaks for kids.

Your child may already be familiar with GoNoodle because they use it at their school.

GoNoodle is full of movement videos and ideas in helping children calm down and release anxiety.

You can look online for a wide variety of kids’ exercise and movement videos that are great for five-minute breaks throughout the day.

Outdoor Recess

Relax and unwind

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At a public school, outdoor recess is nothing more than turning kids loose in a large, safe play area.

Kids organize their own games, such as soccer or basketball.

If you have a backyard playground or nearby park, this would be a great place to allow children to burn off some extra energy.

At school, kids usually go outside several times a day, even during winter.

Can you challenge your children to get moving and stay outside, tech-free, for the full 30-minute recess?

While you watch and monitor them, you will get some much-needed time to decompress and relax.

Sunshine in a natural environment is a very good anti-depressant and anxiety-reliever, so take advantage of the time to sit outside and watch your children.

Better yet, join in the fun!

Ultimate Tag is a game that children of all ages in elementary, middle, and high school can play.

Even mom can have fun! In this game, every person is “it.”

Running from everyone, while simultaneously trying to tag everyone, can provide plenty of laughter and exercise.

If a person is tagged, they sit down.

They can be freed only when the person who tagged them is caught.

Clothespin tag is a similar, energetic game.

Everyone receives a certain number of clothespins.

The goal is to run around and clip clothespins on one another’s clothes or hair.

Make sure to set boundaries about places where it is unacceptable to pin clothespins.

You try to get rid of your clothespins, but at the same time, your opponents are clipping lots of clothespins to you!

When the timer rings, the person with the fewest clothespins wins.

Hammocks can provide some form of relaxation at any time for both parents and the children.

Hammocks can be for indoor or outdoor use.

They come in different sizes and fabrics too.

Some are lightweight and can be taken anywhere, while some are strong enough to hold up to 450Ibs weight.

Other exercise and recreation options could be a trampoline, a bike, a jump rope.

Indoor Recess

On the days when rain, snow, or intense cold prohibit you from going outside during recess, you will need indoor recess ideas.

Again, children are not allowed to be on electronic devices during recess at many schools.

Indoor recess is a great opportunity to play board games.

Twister is a great way to stretch indoors and get the blood moving in weary, exhausted bodies.

Don’t worry if the indoor recess gets a bit wild and hectic.

The purpose is to move around! And also have some fun!

Can you create an obstacle course with chairs, carpet squares, blankets, and pillows?

Run around chairs, jump over laundry baskets, step by step on each carpet square, and fall into a bed of pillows at the end!

Setting up your homeschool classroom can seem daunting. But in reality, it can be fun, energizing, and inspiring!

You definitely need a real planner for your lessons and activities.

Your homeschool year can be a fun time to learn and grow with your children.

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An engaging classroom set up can help you stay organized and prepare you for a fantastic year.

Have fun setting up your children’s new learning environment!

Sending lots of love, blessings, and positivity from my home to yours!

By Joann

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