Preparing Your Homeschool Classroom

Once you've made the decision to homeschool your child/ren, you will need to prepare a homeschool classroom.  This is important and critical for both you and your child.  This will help separate work time and play time.  This also gives you space to keep all of your resources organized and to stay focused.        First,  find your "extra space".  The bigger the better!  Use an extra bedroom, a den, or a finished basement area.  If your lucky enough, and have the land,  you can build an outside building for your classroom.  Whichever you choose, make it your designated "homeschool classroom".  Clear the room out completely, its always easier to start with a blank slate.

     Next, get your child involved!  Why not make it a project with your child?  After all, it's their space too.  Get a plan drawn out on paper of different areas you might like for your room.  A comfortable reading area is always a plus!  A nice, large, child size table with child size chairs. Don't forget an area for yourself.  A closet is great for resources and supplies.  Let's not forget a computer with internet access, computers are excellent resources for homeschooled children.  If you have the room, a computer for yourself is always nice.  This allows you work time while your child is busy or you can get resources for yourself as needed. 

     You will need plenty of shelving space for resources and materials for both you and your child.  A cheap, easy way to do this is at your local building store.  Just buy the shelves that are put up on brackets and attached directly to the walls.  You can use these shelves for all your storage needs.  You can even divide the shelving into sections such as sciene, math, social studies, reading, or whatever you choose.  

     Finally, Decorate Decorate Decorate!  There is a reason for bulletin boards and decorations in classroooms.  Stimulation!  You can decorate as part of your lesson plans and your child should definately be involved.  Make a display section for your childs work and achievements to show them how proud you are of all their effort.

     Do your best to designate an entire room to your homeschooling needs.  This will allow your child and you to distinguish between education time and family time in your household.  This also allows for less distractions that your house may bring to both you and your child.  You can't perform effectively if your thinking about the dishes you need to be doing or if the phone is ringing of the hook.  Your child may not be thinking educationally if they see all those toys or other distractions your house may bring.  The most important thing to remember is that if you feel good and professional about your homeschool area, then it will reflect in your teachings!