Our *NEW* Homeschool Room!

We've been working hard this summer...converting our one-car garage into the new school room! We painted the walls blue, placed a carpet remnant over the concrete floors, and added furniture. Since it's still our primary storage space too, we had to come up with some creative ways to "hide" our non-homeschooling stuff! Lighting is still a little dull, so we're hoping to add a bigger brighter overhead light in the near future!

Drum roll, please...introducing our *NEW* school room!

As you enter the school room from our kitchen.

Down the steps and to the left is our calendar time and magnetic fun area!

I love this Carson Dellosa calendar set! Each month has a different pattern for the numbers.

Magnetic fun storage.

We will be using Sue Patrick's workbook system.

The science center is on top of my husband's "manly things" cabinet.

Pocket charts and pointers from Target ($1 each).

Writing and math areas. We kept our old counter tops (last fall we installed new kitchen counter tops), which are perfect for using as a desk. So why are there white sheets dangling from the ceiling? To cover up our "stuff"...seasonal items, gift wrapping supplies, recycling bins, etc. Again, this is still our primary storage area too!

Writing area...dry erase learning items, mega doddle, and sandpaper letters.

Math area with manipulatives.

Word wall...yes, I'm running out of wall space, but the functional garage door works perfectly!

Opposite end view.



My favorite item in the room...this HUGE storage unit from Ikea. I cornered it because we are storing the girls' bigger toys behind it...tricycles, basketball goal, shopping cart, etc.

I love, love, love the huge storage compartments underneath...great for games and puzzles!

"Mommy" manuals for schooling in the tall cabinets.

Under window storage.


Art area. The easel is from Ikea. We placed a cork board above to display art projects!

Tot school trays for Mac. Trays from the Dollar Tree.

Somewhat organized teaching supplies.

Another view.

Center table from Ikea with two storage containers underneath!

Yes, we have a bike hanging on the wall and recycling bins up top!

Geography and reading area.


Hope you enjoyed your tour of our new school room! A lot of work and love went into creating this space for our family as we begin this new adventure of homeschooling!

If you would like to see other school areas, please hop over to Heart of the Matter!

Calendar Time

I really enjoy browsing through teacher stores...looking for inspiration and great resources! Last summer at the beach, I stopped in one and bought a huge calendar kit. I was totally excited about my purchase, but really didn't know what I was going to do with it or how to incorporate it into our daily routine. Well, thanks to all the mommy bloggers, I have found so many creative ideas to use with the calendar for Izzie. I finally got around to putting it together...

After seeing this calendar, I decided to use a giant cork board for the calendar. The black numbers are reusable clingy numbers that came with the kit, and are a little flimsy. I really wanted Izzie to be able to "add" the correct number each day, so I added Velcro to each number square and printed off these cute heart numbers for her to add each day.

I also included spots for the "day", "weather", and "feelings".

I used Microsoft Word's clipart to create the weather and feeling cards.

Each morning, Izzie is so excited to complete her calendar activities!


It's taken me so long to write this post that we're already into March! Just wanted to share these cute rainbow calendar numbers too.

Organizing Teaching Materials

The theme this week at Growing and Learning By Leaps and Bounds is favorite teaching materials and how we store our supplies.

I'm not really sure what my favorite teaching material is, but my favorite teaching style is "interactive play." I believe that play is essential to the development of children. I encourage Izzie to play a lot throughout the day with a variety of materials. Play encourages curiosity and creativity, promotes motor skills, boosts language and communication skills, and it's a way for her to explore and make sense of her surroundings.

Now, that Izzie is 3 years old and not attending preschool outside of the home, I am also having some struture time throughout the day for "preschool." I'm just starting to acculumate preschool teaching materials and finding ways to keep everything organized.

Art and Crafts Cabinet

Tot School and Craft Shelf

Teaching Material Baskets

Inside Teaching Material Baskets (left to right)

First basket: Colors and Shapes
Second basket: Alphabet
Third basket: Manipulatives
Fourth basket: Numbers
Fifth basket: Fine Motor

Paper Materials

Click here to see more organizational techniques.

Preschool Environment Set-Up

I've been planning for weeks now on the best way to home preschool Izzie. Last year we loosely did Tot School, but not every day. I've been so inspired by the numerous amount of planning being done on the many blogs that I follow. I finally sat up a preschool environment for Izzie, found several curriculum guides to follow, and have an idea of what we'll be doing each day. The schedule will differ each day because Izzie has speech therapy 3 times a week at different times.

We will start our day after breakfast in the dining room with Bible Study. I will loosely use the 3 year old curriculum from ABC Jesus Loves Me. I added a homemade felt board for the weekly Bible verse and other Bible activities. We will be using the Read and Share Bible.

Afterward, we will have Circle Time. During this time, we'll complete the calendar and weather board (picture to be posted soon, still a work in progress), sing songs, and either complete a felt board activity or pocket chart activity.

I received my inspiration for the Seasonal Tree from Miller Moments. I added two pocket charts (Target $1 each). This week's pocket chart activities are for the color green. The seasonal tree is located in our almost completed garage converted playroom.

I really like the Montessori/Tot School style environment. I created a little area for Tot School in the corner of our living room. Each week, I will add a new assortment of items.

I like the idea of having "theme" weeks. It seems so much easier to plan for, so our first week is "On The Farm."

Top Shelf: Old MacDonald Had A Farm book and Fisher Price Barn Set

Second Shelf: Library books (see below for list of books), bottle tops spelling cards, On The Farm Magnetic Play Set, and How To Build An A

Third Shelf: See n' Say Farm, muscial eggs, color green activity, Preschool Scholar workbook

Top Shelf: Melissa and Doug Farm Lacing Beads, Mrs. Potato Head, Melissa and Doug Magnetic Pattern Set

Second Shelf: My One Book with container of sand, number egg carton activity, counting chicks activity

Third Shelf: Farm Animal Domino Game, bowling game, and 2 farm puzzles

Library Books:
Barnyard Banter
Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type
Rise and Shine
Over On The Farm
Wake Up, Big Barn
If You Give A Pig A Pancake
Barnyard Lullaby
Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm
The Cow Who Clucked
Farm Alphabet Book
Cock-A-Doodle-Moo
Does A Cow Say Boo?
Big Red Barn
Barnyard Dance
Farmyard Animals
Animal Babies On The Farm

Art Corner

This week, Shannon at Teaching My Little Bookworm is showcasing Art Corners. To limit the amount of toys scattered around the house, we are in the process of converting our one car garage into a playroom. It is almost finished...before and after pictures will be posted soon. Here is the Art Corner in the converted playroom. I really wanted to create an Art Corner where the materials were open and available for Izzie. We are hoping to add an art easel as a Christmas gift.

Izzie's Art Corner

Old television stand used as a desk for creating masterpieces! I used Velcro to attach fabric to the open front. Bucket of coloring books beside desk.

Fabric hides Play-doh materials, paint and accessories, and dry easrse board.

Pocket organizer bought at Target for $2.50. Top pocket holds extra markers, second pocket is for Dot markers, third pocket contains stamps and pads, and the last pocket has sponges and stencils. I started to add lables for Izzie. The little tin cans (I found at Target for $1 each at Easter) hold markers and crayons. I need one more to complete the look.

Finally, on the wall I attached a dry easre board and Doodle board with Velcro. I found the dry easre board for $2.50 at Target. Izzie enjoys being able to remove the boards to use them on the floor. She also has aprons ($1 each at Dollar Tree) for painting.

I really hope that Izzie's imagination runs free in her Art Corner!


For more insipring Art Corners, click here.

Cozy Book Corner

Shannon over at Teaching My Little Bookworm has started a weekly carnival featuring different areas in your home for all age groups. You will be able to link up every Tuesday. This week's feature is "Cozy Book Corner."

Our first book corner is in the living room. Izzie enjoys sitting on her Mickey Mouse chair, while reading her books. We find ourselves here multiple times during the day reading books.

Izzie also has a reading corner in her bedroom. When she disappears, this is the first place that I look...she's normally sitting in her rocking chair with a book. We read at least 10 books from the basket before bed each night.

Be sure to check out more Cozy Book Corners here!

Next week's theme is Art/Craft area.

Picnic Table Talk: On The Go

This week's ABC and 123 Picnic Table Talk is about ways to keep the little ones busy, while on the go.

I recently made these travel bags for Izzie. I took an 8x11 piece of felt, folded it, and sewed the sides, then added a button. I keep these travel bags by the door in a basket.

I change out the contents periodically, just to keep Izzie's interest. Currently inside: Mickey Mouse paint samples from Home Depot (great for a matching or memory game), small change purse with coins inside (Izzie enjoys counting the coins or taking the coins in and out), a pocket Etch-A-Sketch, several 3-piece puzzle cards, and an activity book with stickers and crayons.

For more On The Go Ideas, click here!