Must-Haves for Virtual Learning and Homeschool!
We survived our first month of the new school year! Yay! I have 3 kids still in school – one is in high school and doing virtual learning while my younger 2 are being homeschooled by me using our district’s program (God, help us!). Organization is the key, and I have to say I’m proud of myself for getting things in order BEFORE the first day of school! I am not an organized person by nature, but have gotten tons of ideas from other parents and are using them!
Here are some of the top must-haves that me and other families are using to help turn our homes into our kids’ classrooms:
Desks (if you’re trying to avoid using the dining room table like us!)
IKEA Desk for 3! The pic above is the set up we have for my 2 boys and me. All the pieces are from IKEA. Lines were like Disneyland and we had to drive over an hour away but I love it! I can work right next to my boys to help them with whatever they need. Plenty of workspace and storage for us all! We used 3 of these drawer chests and 2 of these desk tops to create it. Learn from me and make sure to check online to see if they are in stock BEFORE driving out to IKEA!
Long Two-Person Desk – If you can’t make it to IKEA but want something similar and have more than one child in school like me, check this desk out! Stylish and can be used even when schools open!
Compact Desk with Wheels – If space is limited, something like this small desk could work. A friend of mine got this and loves it. It didn’t actually fit next to her couch, but is still functional with a desk chair. At the end of the school day, all supplies get stored here and she pushes it along her living room wall.
Organization
Clipboard – This is one of those all-in-one kinds of clipboards! I have my kids’ schedules on the front, important papers inside, plus it has compartments for school supplies too. And since we’re homeschooling, we can grab this at any time and take school on the road.
Magazine Holders – Instead of clipboards, another mom got these from Michael’s Craft Store. She has a different color for each child and has all their workbooks, paper, and folders all in one place. Makes their school space look fun! She got matching pencil boxes too!
Scrapbook boxes – These were such a great idea! A seasoned homeschooling mom in our group shared this tip for keeping materials organized for each of her kids. Thanks, @the_funschooler_archive for sharing the secrets of your homeschooling success!
File Organizer – This is supposed to be for file folders, but you can use it for magazines or thin, grade school books and it’s gold! Hey, if I have to set up all this stuff in my house, I still want it to look good!
Magnetic File Holder and Marker Holder – If you don’t have desk space for storage and organizers, these could be a cool alternative! You can use command wall strips to mount these to any wall and store everything your child needs for the day.
Storage For School Supplies – This was a popular item when school-from-home began back in March 2020. I like those sections can be removed. Kids can grab what they need and put it back at the end of the day.
My Homeschool Supplies (as shown in the photos above)
Clock – I love this clock! It’s easy for my kids to read and practice telling time with because it has numbers!
Similar Chrome Book – My kids do a lot of their Chrome books. I love that they are lightweight and easy to take with us!
Pink Chair – This is MY chair! I love it. It’s comfortable and pretty!
Desktop Calendar –
Diffuser – I always have essential oils in the diffuser. I usually use lemon and peppermint when we are doing school time.
Seat Cushion – This is super comfy and my 9 year old loves it!
Oil Holder – Have to keep them organized!
Pineapple Bookends – So cute to keep my 7th grader’s books together!
White Magazine holders (has my 3rd grade books in) – Graceson has a lot of books! These help keep them organized!
Desktop Tic Tac Toe Game – Great for when we need a brain break!
Phew! That’s a lot! There is so much more too! If you’re not already in my Facebook group, be sure to join! There are daily posts with all kinds of ideas from our community. And if you are in the group, please be sure to keep showing us what’s working for your family!
