Homeschoolers...environment?

[AmyM]

So we finally have the curriculum ordered and all systems on go. Outta there in 2-3 weeks or whenever the books arrive.

I was wondering whether you have a separate room set up for your kiddos or how you do this? I could clean out all my junk from this computer room and set her up in here, but it's kinda small. We could chill at the kitchen table but that seems weird. Do you kinda fly by the seat of your pants in this area or have a structured surrounding? I know definitely no t.v., radio, etc... needs to be around because we both get distracted easily.

Ideas?

[Darcy Baldwin]

We do school wherever we are :)

We sit on the couch, lay on the floor, use the kitchen table, sometimes do it on the bed and in the car.

We do sometimes have the radio playing on a classical station. Studies in the past have shown that it's good for the brain, and my two are a bit hyper, and it can have a calming effect. But never when we're reading or doing anything verbal. Mom can't handle that.

If you feel you need an official 'space' to help make it a designated time, then definitely find a space. But don't leave her there alone..especially in the beginning. This is the two of you doing it together.

[alansrock]

My boys have desks (found them at Goodwill for $3 each) that are in the computer room with me. And we do some crafts at the kitchen table so I think you'll be fine to make work what you have!

[Emmy]

What Darcy said......

I have a kids craft table with kid size chairs that they use for school. But I often have my oldest sitting at the kitchen table because he needs to sit separate from my 2nd son. (Mooooom Henry's LOOKING at me, MOOOOm Henry's poking me, MOOOOmm Henry's making faces at me....etc) For anything that doesn't involve a pencil I like to sit on the couch together. I encourage them to lounge about when reading to themselves (I want them to think of reading as a cozy activity) and they will lie on the floor with workbooks sometimes. I'm not a big fan of the school room thing although I know some homeschoolers love it. I am always loading the dishwasher, throwing in a load of laundry, playing with the younger kids as they are working so I like us to do school in the main area of the house.

[scrapwithnikki]

Couch, floor, kitchen table, desk - wherever dd is comfy, is where she learns best!

[FlirtatiousBrat]

For my 2 schoolage kiddos, I had to be VERY structured..they just don't work so well with a lax attitude about it. I wish they did..but they don't..they are type A personalities like me and NEED organization, structure, balance, etc...Both of mine DID do 2 independent days a week (Monday we all did group, Tues DD worked alone and I worked with DS, Wed DS worked alone and I worked with DD, Thurs both did indep., and Fri was another group day and we normally did tests that day if we did any at all)

GOod luck finding a system that works well for you :)

ETA--haha all that and I didn't even answer the question..we did our work @ the dining room table when I worked with them..on their indep days, one was moved to the breakfast area while I stayed at the dining room table with the other.

[AmyM]

She's going to get so sick of me hovering over her. I just figured that you stick to them like glue or something. Looks like I have a lot to learn! Thank you for the suggestions!

[Sharon Kay]

LOL at Emmy...we have that here too...mine are 13 and 14...what ages are yours?

The boys sit at the dining room table...not touching...and everytime they "he looked at me", touched me, etc. they both get a household chore...so that stopped pretty quickly. lol

They didn't like me hovering over them...so I moved into the next room with my laptop (I can't go off and do housework/laundry or they disappear)...but today I caught them playing a game during school (their curriculum is computer driven)...so right now they are cleaning house...and then we will ALL be sitting in the dining room with me right between them....hey! my son's looking at me funny...make him stop!

Good luck...it might be a few tries before you find what works best for you...and be prepared to change it...just like us.