- Use Swagbucks! We have been able to buy several school-related things using our Amazon gift cards won by using Swagbucks.
- Ask grandparents and other relatives for educational games and toys when they ask for gift recommendations.
- Shop thrift stores and garage sales. We have an adorable Lauri puzzle (in like-new condition and no missing pieces!) that we got at a garage sale for only 99 cents! We have also found wooden toys, high-quality games, and a Ravensburger puzzle with all the pieces. Thrift stores and garage sales are also great sources for baskets to put toys and all kinds of items in.
- Be willing to accept all kinds of cast-off furniture–much of our furniture was given to us. It may not be the most stylish, but we’re thankful for it, and I’m often able to re-purpose it to fill a need in the school room.
MO says
I've been throughout about 20 links so far throughout the blog hop, and this room is the first to really catch my interest, so deserves a comment. I quite enjoy the softness of your area. Looking through the pictures I can feel the love an calmness in your home. I've never seen a sewing corner either. I'm sure it's a lovely benefit to your days. Mixing real life art/skill into a room filled with "school" type items is wonderful. The older computer is such a feeling of breathing deeply compared to the huried " gotta have" the next techy thing.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Joy Kincaid says
MO, thanks so much for taking the time to leave such an encouraging comment! It really blessed me.
Taleah says
Wow – thank you so much for sharing all the photos of your space! It's given me great ideas for ours!
Joy Kincaid says
I'm glad it was helpful, Taleah! Thanks for letting me know you were here!
Patty @ Coming Up Roses says
Wow! that's a ton of stuff! I love that it's all in one place and so kid friendly! Can I come play?
Joy Kincaid says
Yes, it is! Thanks for visiting, Patty!
Dusty (To the Moon and Back) says
I love your room! It's so quaint and inviting! I love baskets as well. 🙂 I bookmarked the page with the artwork on it. I loved that picture you have on your wall.
Joy Kincaid says
Thank you, Dusty! That artwork is one of my favorites, and we have another one of hers hanging next to that one. They're so colorful and cheerful. 🙂
Sherry says
I love the balance of all of your activities, books, and furniture. You truly have made room for everything essential, including those things that enthuse both heart and mind!
Joy Kincaid says
Sherry, thank you so much for your kind comment!
Nancy Jo says
Oh, I love that! I have storage in our kitchen for all of our supplies and also games stored in the coat closet. We have school at the kitchen talble and all around the house and in doctor's offices on days we have appointments. I would love to have a room where everything could go. You have some really great ideas. 🙂
Joy Kincaid says
Thank you, Nancy Jo! This is the first time I've ever had a school room, and it is so nice to keep everything all together. As I'm looking at the coming school year, it looks like we will still be doing the actual learning all over the house (painting at the upstairs kitchen table, reading aloud in the living room upstairs, reading lessons in my bedroom (where it's quieter), etc.).
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!
Sarah says
Your homeschool room is incredible, Joy!! I love it! You are amazing in your organization and so creative. Everything about this room bespeaks home, family and that which would so easily promote learning.
I really enjoyed this post and all of the abundant and excellent ideas that are shared in it! Definitely inspiring!
Joy Kincaid says
Thank you so much for your sweet and encouraging comment, Sarah!
Angela says
Wow!! What a beautifully organized schoolroom you have!! (Want to come help me with mine, lol??) We actually have a schoolroom for the first time and I am working to get it set up so that it functions well for us. It's proving to be quite a challenge, but seeing your post really inspired me!! I have to say, it made me giggle when I saw you had labeled your old couch, "old couch" with an arrow pointing to it. Maybe it's just me, but that struck me as humorous. I am a collector of baskets and now I have some great ideas of how to use them. Do you rotate what is in the baskets or just keep them the same?
Joy Kincaid says
Thanks, Angela! If you saw the "old couch," you wouldn't laugh!! 🙂 It seriously looks terrible. It is a 90's hunter green plaid, and there is a tear on the arm exposing the wood underneath, tears on other areas, the springs are sagging, and it's just not very nice!
I do rotate what is in the baskets, depending on the season or what we are currently studying/interested in.
Have fun setting up your new school room! 🙂
Holly says
Just stumbled across your blog through the Modest Mom link up. Love your school room. I've worked at a private christian school for 3 years with prek and k. I've recently decidied to be a stay at home wife and planning for children soon. I have dreams of homeschooling. Seeing your schoolroom makes me miss being in a classroom. Do you have teaching experience? From the looks of your resources and organization it looks that way 😉 What a wonderful set-up! Your children are blessed!
Joy Kincaid says
Hi Holly! Thanks so much for your kind comment. That's wonderful that you're going to be a homemaker and mother. There's nothing more rewarding!
The only teaching experience I have is teaching my own five children for almost 13 years. 🙂 I always wanted to be a teacher, though, and teaching my own is such a blessing.
Thanks again for taking the time to leave a comment!
Karen Andreola says
What care you put into your learning space – so organized, colorful and inviting. The quilt on the couch is so cheerfully bright. We had learning corners and play corners but mostly we wore the finish off of our "used" circular dinning room table – as it seemed everything was done there, eating, studying, artwork, etc. And it was oft-scrubbed. When our first child was married we passed along the table to the happy couple. They refinished it to a beautiful gleaming golden oak color. The table may have changed but this mom's memories haven't.
Karen A.
Joy Kincaid says
Thank you, Karen. I enjoyed hearing your memories of your dining room table and all that took place there. We have one of those, too (which was my great-aunt's, and then I grew up with it, and now we have it–it is quite worn and desperately needs to be refinished)!
Up until we moved to this house (over a year ago), we always sat at the dining room table or the couch in the living room. But we actually spend more time in the basement than anywhere else here. My husband's office is down here and also the laundry, my desk, etc. In the warm weather it's the coolest place. It's very cozy.
Thanks again for sharing your mothering memories!
Katelyn says
How wonderful! This is like what I dream about having one day! I am getting married in a few months and we plan on having lots of little ones and homeschooling them. I will definitely be getting some ideas from here!
Joy Kincaid says
Katelyn, thank you so much for your comment! Congratulations on your coming wedding–what an exciting time!
Aidyl Ewoh says
Your origination is amazing! Wow… And I really like your couch. =)
~Aidyl
Joy Kincaid says
Thanks, Aidyl!
Michele says
What a beautiful room! Everything is so nicely organized. I love how you have made such a well-equipped space using a lot of thrifted/gifted items.
We do not have children, but as college students, I would love to create a nice space for my husband and I to study and for us to use for crafting (me) and tinkering (him)
Thanks for the great inspiration. I found you via the Barn Hop and I will definitely go follow your blog now 🙂
Joy Kincaid says
Thank you, Heather! That's a great idea to make a space for crafting, studying, etc. It's always fun to use free/thrifted things, isn't it? Thanks so much for visiting!
Debbie says
Your room is beautiful and the quilt is to inviting to wrap up in and read a book.
Joy Kincaid says
Thank you, Debbie!
Heather says
Hi! I found you through Modest Mom…
I love your school room; and wish I had one of my own. Right now, we use our dining room. Our book, game, craft, and video shelves kind of line the dining room and living room. Perhaps one day… But we enjoy our school days, and can sometimes be found reading on the couch.
Joy Kincaid says
Thanks for visiting, Heather!
We had all of our school stuff in our kitchen and living room for years, too! We still use the kitchen table for messy art projects like painting. Thanks again for your comment!
Charlie Leger says
Oh what a beautiful and inspirational classroom! I love the nature discovery basket. I've got a daughter going into 2nd grade and a son starting kindergarten, and these are just the kind of ideas I need.
Joy Kincaid says
Thank you Charlie! I'm so thankful if something here was useful to you. 🙂
cestMoi Sandy says
That is an absolutely well organized working homey space.
Like it very much…
Sandy
p.s. I am glad you are back again!
Joy Kincaid says
Thank you so much, Sandy! Your comments are always encouraging. 🙂
Lily says
What a lovely room. I have one little boy and so only need supplies for his current educational stage. I keep mine in plastic tubs with carry handles so when we go to our caravan or away visiting I know we have everything we need without having to pack it separately. I keep stationery, workbooks, projects etc. in these and also have a cupboard to keep the extra things like future workbooks. Little Son has a book case with all his non fiction books in it and a couple of shelves for his unread chapter books. Craft supplies and toys are kept in what used to be my dining room but has been re-purposed as little Son's 'office' where he has a table, stools and his collection of cacti!
Joy Kincaid says
Lily, I loved hearing about how you organize your school items. The plastic tubs sound like a great portable idea! Your son's office sounds very special!
Collette says
Beautiful job, Joy! You have thought of everything!!
I'm bookmarking this for when it's time to get our area ready for next year 🙂
Love how you have included things like the play kitchen & dress up clothes in your school area…..very helpful with the little ones, I'm sure!
Looks like a very cheery and cozy place to "do school", too.
Have a blessed week 🙂
Collette
Joy Kincaid says
Thank you so much, Collette! I hope your week is blessed, also! 🙂
Heather says
What amazing resources you have! I love how everything is set up! We do have a school room in our house. Right now it is more of a play room, since my kids are just 4 and 23 months 🙂 But, i do have an armoire with all of their "school books." I foresee making it into a very special space as they get older though! Love seeing what other people do!
Joy Kincaid says
Thanks, Heather! Enjoy your days of playing with your little ones! ♥