Classroom update!

I wanted to briefly update on our home classroom space. We quickly outgrew our little hallway classroom when we started Classical Conversations. This new space was already set up like this with the mantle, table, and chairs. It was not used for schoolwork  - just crafts and snacks mostly. It is basically in our "great" room though, so I am trying to make it match the surrounding decor. "Great" room sounds silly - we have a small house, but through some renovations, we have opened the floor plan significantly so our living room, dining room, and kitchen are mostly one undivided space, other than  structural necessities.

I bought a few Deka hanging systems from Ikea and use them to display the subject matter for the week. On it, I hang worksheets, visual aids, mini timeline cards, maps, and our science and history acts and facts cards. I love that I can clearly see what all we have going on and can just pull things off the clips when ready to use.

I finally came up with a system for cumulative reviewing. I have this little photo box that has 4 sections that you can pull out. I pulled up images of fabrics used in my living room and printed for the outside of the box. The 4 sections each have 6 weeks of material for me to reference when quizzing Blaine. They have all material we have learned and mini maps for the geography for each week. Then I hand cut envelope pockets from some coordinating scrapbook paper I had in my hoarder closet that I have mentioned before in a previous post. I printed squares for all 24 weeks of curriculum with subjects for each (I will add as the weeks go by). All they have are week numbers and subject so I can reuse them for all 3 cycles. We divided the squares up between the 5 envelopes and will pull them out throughout the day to go over material. I am trying to think of a way to make it fun - probably reward stickers to go with it. I'll figure it out, but I feel like our homeschool is lacking rewards and discipline.  I am also considering something along the lines of a red/yellow/green light to go along with a reward system.

On the mantle, I keep our globe, review box (for my reference), supplies, and random things pertaining to our schoolwork. I've been trying to get the kids to say the Pledge of Allegiance lately, so I framed the flag to go above it. Last 6 weeks, our science studies focused on ecology, but we are about to start some astronomy, so we have the telescope out and ready! 

Opposite this area is a roll top desk with my desktop computer on it. It is very convenient to sit Blaine at the table and direct his attention to the computer for expansion YouTube videos.

I am still trying to get a loose routine going for us. I just can't seem to figure that part out. I'm still not sure that I want to.  I feel like a major bonus of homeschooling is that you don't have to set alarms, but I am trying to figure out what to designate for certain days/times. I also have to work around the things on our weekly/bi-weekly schedule of CC, MOPS, PE, Little Friends Club, and basic errands.  All of this while retaining flexibility. These first 6 weeks of CC, I feel like I've at least partially figured out what works for Blaine and what doesn't, so I'm hoping by the end of these next 6 weeks, I will get more of a feel for our rhythm.