Creating learning centers in your home should not be overwhelming. Let’s start with your home school area or the area you will be schooling most often. Organization is very important and you may already have some of these items in your home, which will make it easier on your wallet.
- Book shelves – for storing books, workbooks and games
- File Cabinet – for storing important paperwork and planners
- Baskets – great for storing books, games and craft supplies
- Plastic storage containers – these are wonderful and are available in different sizes to store paints, crayons, markers and craft supplies
- Table/chairs – an ordinary kitchen table will work wonderfully
Those mentioned are some of the basic items to start your home school area and many of those items are readily available at yard sales, flea markets, thrift shops or you may already have some in your home. We love going to yard sales and thrift stores in search of treasures that will make our home school environment more organized. We found baskets that worked great for art supplies at a Discount Store for $1 along with art supplies. When hunting for bargains keep a list of items you will need or keep your possibilities open, you may find items that will come in handy for future projects.
Now let’s discuss the purchasing of books and workbooks. Once again you don’t need to spend exuberant amounts of money to home school your children. Many of the books used in traditional schooling are re-used time and time again, and you can adapt the same concept. First you must determine the grade levels you will be teaching and if you have children in different levels you must take that into consideration as well.
One of the best places to find books you can use for home schooling at no cost in your local public library. My children love visiting the library every 2 weeks and enjoy choosing their own books with their own library cards. Books can also be found at yard sales and thrift stores. We have found many classics at yard sales for bargain prices and were in excellent condition. Those wonderful books still adorn our bookshelves and are available for the younger ones to read when they grow older.
There are many places to find books and workbooks that will work wonderfully for your homeschooling needs. Listed below are a few examples:
- Warehouse Stores – bargain book stores and large warehouse stores such as Sam’s Club or Costco have great workbooks at low cost
- Discount Stores – many discount stores will carry workbooks as well as educational games, activities and stickers
- Used bookstores – you will find treasures in these great shops, but theses shops may be hard to find so be sure to ask your friends or search on Google for shops in your area
- Used curriculum fairs – these are usually put on by other homeschoolers and are great resources for curriculum that is gently used at a fraction of the cost
- The worldwide web – there are many home school curriculum swap sites and some that will resell curriculum that are in good condition as well as Ebay and Amazon
- College bookstores – many of these shops will sell used textbooks that are perfect for your high school students
Your learning center as you can tell is composed of all your home school needs. You may not have the luxury as some to have a separate room to teach your children but that should not hinder your decision to home school. Many families will use their kitchen or dining room table to teach as well as the outdoors. Keeping a corner with your supplies is wise and will keep your home less cluttered.
Consider bookshelves and baskets as mentioned above to store your items which will also instill organizational skills in your children. But most of all, have fun with this experience. No one says you must be stuck at home at a table teaching all day long. Some of the best lessons are taught when you are creative and use your surroundings. Not only will you be teaching but you will also be creating long lasting memories. Have fun!