Let me begin by saying that until now, I didn't really think I wanted a "school room".  I really wanted our learning to be so integrated into our family fiber, that learning would happen anywhere & everywhere.  My problem, however, was that my school materials were stored "anywhere & everywhere"!  This was really challenging when it came time to get busy on our next project.  Part of the supplies would be in the front room, some in the kitchen and others on the back porch.  If we started school in the living room, we may need to move to the kitchen for the project - after searching for all of the components, which really means that many projects were postponed or cancelled because of the hassle.  I simply chose a path of lesser resistance to make the same point and we moved on.   When the opportunity arose for me to centralize - I jumped at it!

 Combination Library and Schoolroom  

This is a photo of the main bookcase which houses most of the materials the children need.  These are Billy Bookcases from Ikea.  The larger corner unit is comprised of the tall bookcases with the additional height extension shelves at the top and just to the left are two of the shorter bookcases.  The Lord truly blessed me when I purchased these (there are more in other parts of the room).  I was able to buy these from other owners on Craigslist for less than half the original price. 

Each shelf is organized by subject matter or type of book.  I even tried to be sure that the younger children have a place specifically for their materials towards the bottom where they could reach them.

My main goal in planning this space was to keep the room from looking too "schooly".  I wanted our family to enjoy being in the room while we were working on school work and especially when we are not.  I made sure to put pictures of the children on the shelves and walls so that they knew this room was for them. 

This photo shows our work table (chairs have been moved for photos) and the other bookcases that complete the library.  The doorway between opens to the living/family room where we gather for group reading and tv.  The family computer is still housed in that room.  Disregard the basket at the top, it serves no purpose there.  That just happened to be an out-of-my-way place for it to land! LOL! I also bought this previously owned conference room table from Craigslist.

My husband and I both enjoy reading, so I put our books on these shelves.  Since we are still training the preschoolers not to destroy things, I also put our Nest Family videos and Moody Science DVDs up high on these shelves.  

This is the most recent professional photo of our family.  I know, I know, its a shame that there are two faces missing!  We're working on that.  Originally, another bookcase was supposed to be put here, but that little light switch is in too far by about 2.5" so the bookcase had to be relocated.

This file cabinet is actually sitting inside of the doorway that leads from the schoolroom to the dining room.  The previous occupants in the home broke all of the glass out of the french doors that belong here, so we took them down for safety reasons.  The file cabinet actually belongs to my husband and he keeps his tools in it now, but he just hasn't quite gotten around to taking it to the basement yet.  I just purchased the corkboard a few days ago and planned to mount it on the wall beside the MOTH schedule, but I forgot that I needed a masonry bit in order to put any hardware on that wall (it used to be a fireplace), so it's just sitting atop the unwanted file cabinet until I can solve this problem.  I need a place to showcase the children's work and accomplishments and this will do just fine.

  Student Central 

The tall bookcase to the left belongs exclusively to our children.  Each one of them has been assigned their own bookshelf to keep their school supplies.  They are responsible for having the necessary writing utensils, paper and Bibles when we begin our school day.  We used to waste so much time in the morning waiting for kids to "find" something.  This is really helpful because everyone keeps their things in the same area, while giving each one of them space of their own.  This bookcase should have been on the other wall (the one with the badly located light switch), but it is actually better over here because it is out of the way.  The yellow & white door leads to the bathroom, which we are ripping out and redoing - eventually.  This is not my paint job, I inherited it.  We'll paint the place later.

and last, but not least...

 The Mommy Corner!

Okay, truth be told, this little corner makes me so happy!  For the first time ever, I have a workspace at home that belongs exclusively to me!  My corner is comprised of the Elfa drawer system to the left, the Elfa desk in the center, and the short bookcases to the right.

This little guy is Brian, my soon to be 4yo!  I don't know exactly what it is he's decided to fight, but he's ready isn't he?  Behind him is my expanded teacher resource center.  The shelves hold my Weaver Volume 1 materials, teacher's manuals and binders and yes, art & printer paper.  On the top shelf are pictures of my students, pointed toward my desk so that I can remember why I am doing this.  Above the bookcases is our master MOTH schedule.  I cut down two large posterboards and wrote in the time slots and squares on them.  Then, I took it to Staples and had them laminated.  The individual squares are cut from cardstock paper and are taped onto the boards.  This is much longer lasting than the paper version that comes with the book and this is much easier to read by my children. 

I like to call this "Control Center" because this is where I spend most of my time.  The desk chair we got free, along with five others that the children use, when my mom's previous employer moved offices.  The laptop was a gift from my parents when they upgraded theirs.  I've wanted a laptop for years now, but it just couldn't find its way into the budget.  This one allows me to lesson plan, search the internet for additional resource material and keep records - all away from the rest of the family.  I can even blog without keeping the children from some important school work.

The organizer unit will one day help me organize their school papers, but I haven't felt overly motived lately to set this up any differently.  Between it and my handbag are some homeschool catalogs.  The wooden blinds were another IKEA purchase - $9.99 in the AS-IS section.  I needed to buy a mount from Home Depot for another couple of bucks and I have a very nice window covering!  The window looks out to the backyard and keeps me from feeling like I really am in a corner!

I've tried to keep my desktop relatively clear so that I can study, write, and use my mammoth sized binders to prepare our next Weaver lessons.  The calendar on the wall is supposed to help me stay abreast of our various church, family & support group activities but I don't know how I will ever write on it.  For now, it is screwed into the wall making it impossible to just snatch it down to write on it and hang it back up.

For Mother's Day, my children bought me the label maker on the higher shelf.  Of course, I'm still trying to figure out how to work the little thing! LOL!

These shelves hold my most used and important binders.  The lower shelf keeps the Math U See blocks (would hate for those to become the family's new legos), the 1828 Webster's Dictionary, my Teacher's Friend binder for Weaver and my Home Management Binder that I put together myself.  The upper shelf keeps the full Volume binders as well as the supplemental Weaver material.

 On the left side of the shelf, I keep my study materials - you know, the things that will keep me from losing my mind!  Since I choose to review the MUS materials, I keep those DVDs close by too!

Well, there are only a few little additions yet to be made before the school room is complete.  The children have decided that we should have school colors and paint the school room accordingly.  I have an area rug for the floor that hasn't been put down yet, the french doors still need to be reinstalled and my pre-readers have their own MOTH schedule that needs to be mounted.  I used pictures and digital and analog clocks for theirs.  I figure we may as well teach time while helping them move through the day. <>!

Thanks for checking out my school room.  I really like it alot and I thank the Lord for teaching me the importance of planning with this room.  I would never have been able to take advantage of the extraordinary sales/discounts on the furnishings for this room if I didn't have a written plan for the space and a budget.  I priced everything brand new, so I knew what was a good deal when I saw it.  You know, only the Lord can teach the "teacher" while helping her put together a space to teach!!