Tour the Brighton Park Homeschool...

Our homeschool has went through many changes since we started 5 years ago. Changes in curriculum, schedule, but especially where we do school. When we started, we schooled at the kitchen table, but since moving into this house in 2010 which thankfully has a full finished basement (basement levels are a good 10-15 degrees cooler year round here in Arizona!), we converted our basement into a lovely homeschool space. It is divided into sections, based on function, in order to stay an organized space while being used by 5 kids, ages 2-12, every day...

Two puffy chairs in front of the bookcases provide a great place to cozy up with a book, or two or three... a lap desk doubles as a small table between.  The bookcases are divided into the kids bookcase (left), Mine and Mr. Darcy's books (center bookcase) and homeschool books (right). 

Homeschool books are all in labeled sections to help me find things easier, especially each year as our collection of school books grows...

A table sits at the ready  on the opposite side of the room for "serious" work, and also serves as a great space for crafting and for Tim (my one son with special needs) to do puzzles in the afternoons (his favorite activity).

Magazine Holders and Bins on counters organize individual kids school books and decks of learning cards...

This is also how I organize all my speech pathology materials...






The boys bedroom and a bathroom also are on this lower level. A second table and chairs are located in the boys room, giving a great place for them to work without distraction on school work or with their therapists on therapy days...

The kitchen play area keeps my two year old busy while I am schooling the older kids...

 

This cabinet makes a great space for holding all the girls fake food and kitchen paraphernalia...

Above it, hangs a clock, some favorite signs and a large wooden basket that holds faerie toys...

We use these baskets for storage in multiple areas. They are more aesthetically pleasing than plastic bins and easier to tote around by little hands...This one holds a vet kit and stuffed puppies (two puppies were having "check ups" when I snapped this photo)...

A hideout separates the space between the work table and the reading area. It's a great place for hide and seek, quiet time, creative play and other things...

Most people ask if the toys in the homeschool area distract the kids from learning.. No.  The table area is left very minimalist and on the opposite side so that learning is not in competition with toys in that area. The play areas in that space enable the other kids, who aren't at the table at a particular time to be able to choose quiet play activities or reading time. Play is very important for children to learn...in enables them to progress their speech/language skills, social skills, and the ability to entertain themselves when that is required.

What do I like about my homeschool space? THE SPACE! Over 1,000 square feet which really comes in handy during our hot summers when going outside is not an option. I also love the myriad of cabinets and closets I have for storage (4 closets and 4 sets of double closets on opposite walls).

I also love that, even though it is a basement area, there are 4 large windows that let in a bunch of natural light. It is a bright, open space.

What am I still working on? We continue to go through and give away plastic toys as they are replaced with toys of more natural materials.

What do you love about your homeschool space? What would you love to change? 

This post is linked up to the not back to school blog hop. Hop over and check out 300 other homeschool rooms that are linked up this week!


Have a great week!