Together, Separate...Let's Talk about School Set-up

[tnahid]

Hi sisters,

I am wondering how everyone sets up their homeschooling rooms or desks or tables? I guess I am just wondering how each of you arrange your children while they are doing their lessons. Such as, are you all in one room, sitting on the couch, on a desk, at the table. Are your children separated in their rooms doing work, etc?

I know there is no right or wrong way in this, I am just needing suggestions and ideas. At the time, my boys do their independent work in two different rooms at their desk, but I am not sure this set up is the best for them, as it isn't really promoting our unity during the day. Plus, my youngest son is beginning to daydream at his desk more and isn't being as diligent in getting his stuff done. My oldest is doing his in his room, but I am concerned about him being too anti-social and doing his work away from everyone too much.

Thanks for letting me know what you do, if you have a separate school room, or how your children "do" school in your home. Also, do you think having them sit at a desk for anything or any amount of time is important for any reason? Blessings!

[pjdobro]

We have a table in our den. It's smaller than a kitchen table and a little lower. It was especially nice when my dc were younger but now as they are getting bigger, I'm thinking we'll have to graduate to a larger table in the near future. We do most of our school work at that table together. Both dc do their independent work usually at the same time. Sometimes I will have one reading to me sitting on the couch while the other is at the table in the den doing independent work. Sometimes they are working alone because one gets up sooner than the other and gets started on independent work. For the most part though they are together. My dc have a small amount of independent work to do before we start our teaching time for the day then I usually try to do most of our teacher time and semi-independent work. I leave them to finish the rest of their work. I check back from time to time and always have an ear open to any disruptions. My dc have really grown in this area this year and are usually pretty good about finishing up their work even though they are together. That hasn't always been the case, but this year has brought a lot more maturity and growth in independence. We are fortunate to have a room to do our school work in here. It seems to help us all focus better. However we have done some traveling while doing school and then we just usually end up at a kitchen or dining room table to do our work. There have been some days when I haven't felt the greatest that we have done couch school. The dc bring the books to me and we do most of our work in the living room. It all works, but for the most part, we work better with a little more formal environment. It just gets us more focused.

[twoxcell]

We school in our dining room/living room. We use the kitchen table, the couch and sometimes I read to one kid in their room.

[Gwenny]

We vary in our places, we move from the couch to different tables around the house. It sounds like you are feeling like I do, I don't like my children off in their room by themselves. I would encourage you not to dismiss your gut feeling on that. My Liberian daughter would like to be in her room all of the time but we don't let her, she's not apart of the family that way.

Nancy

[MomtoJGJE]

We have our breakfast nook set up as a school room. My kids are all still little (my oldest isn't 8 yet) so this works for now. I also generally don't actually do school with more than one at a time. Meaning, I might do school with one of the middle two (LHFHG and LHTH) while DD1 does some independent work. If she's reading she'll either go to her room or in the living room (right off the nook) and if she's doing written work she'll either sit at the little table we have in the school room or at our dining table in the dining room (down the hall where I can see her). A lot of the times I'll set Grace up with handwriting and her Thinking Skills book at the dining table, explain all the instructions, and then do LHTH with Julianna

So we are generally not together during school time, but that's because at this point they are MORE distracted together. In the next year or so I can totally see us combining for story time with the bigger two and having them work at the same time on independent work and do LHFHG with Julianna during that time... eventually starting LHTH with Evie.

[my3sons]

We have an old 2 story home, and we homeschool on the main floor. The boys were too distracted in their rooms, even when I got them desks. Riley and Emmett do their seatwork at the kitchen table, and Wyatt does his seatwork at the dining room table. I can easily move back and forth between the two areas as a large open doorway connects the two rooms. Science experiments are always done at the kitchen counter. Whenever I read and discuss things with the boys, we do that on the couch (i.e. Storytime, poetry, Bible, devotions, DITHOR discussions and reading time, etc.). I think this lends itself to more heartfelt sharing, as it's cozier and it's not as much within earshot of the other boys. We have a CD player in the kitchen we use for Corresponding Music (though with Emmett he leads me in a march around the house while listening to his LHTH music ). My oldest ds who is doing RTR began doing his independent Bible time in his room before we all get up, as it's more private, and he likes to sing to his CD in there. He also began getting up earlier to do his independent science. He loves to work when it's quiet, get a jump start on his day, and have some alone time with my dh when he is home and getting ready in the morning. The "homeschooling cupboard" has been the best thing I've ever done to organize our stuff. It is a built-in cabinet with doors (much like an armoire), and all of the art supplies, the school tubs, computer, etc. are in there. I saved up for that cabinet for years, but it sure has been worth it. HTH as you ponder how best to set up your homeschooling in your home!

In Christ,
Julie

[tnahid]

Julie,
Do you happen to have a picture of your schooling cabinet? I would LOVE to see how you have it all set up!!! I am getting so many ideas from you!

P.S. I decided reading time is going to be on the couch from now on with the kids. It is better and cozier that way.

[Mercy]

Ooh please, please do at least tell us where you got it. I have been looking around and I cant seem to find anything but plain ol boring looking ones. I know that is just what I need to get a lil more organized here, but like I think I might need to save my pennies so I can get a nice one that will last.

[abrightmom]

Ditto on the cabinet sharing Julie....sounds like material for your next BLOG POST .