Today was pretty productive day.  :)  I find that if I relax, follow a tentative schedule and bring out lots of new manipulatives and books, that I can re-spark and interest in my children.  Todays favorites, a book made by an old Kindergarten teacher my older two had.  I pulled them out the year my dd was in Kindergarten.  Mrs. R. loved my children, but dd was also the 8th child she had taught from this family.  She was very supportive of my homeschooling and wanted to give me tons of resources.  She also was a very devoted teacher whom spent hours at the school making up new "books" for the children.  All that she made up with her Word program.  I have color books, site word books and alphabet books.  Today I handed my son an alphabet book so he could put it in his desk. He was so excited.  I gathered together some other resources I have that teach the alphabet and brought them from my storage filing cabinet, to the new classroom.

Speaking of classroom and desks.  I have never thought that homeschooling had to look like a classroom, but this year we decided to give it a try.  Since we could not build and extra room onto our home. We moved furniture around, turned the porch area into a t.v. room, and turned the living room into a classroom.  There is not much room for entertaining, but it seems to really work for us.  The children love the classroom and they all wanted their own desks.  The older two have some old fashioned desks that went to storage last year.  My oldest ds was given his when he was 3.  It is a special desk to him.  One of those old fashioned desks with the wood top, and metal storage area.  The top is hinged.  Well my uncle and cousin found them at an sale of old school furniture.  It was not in great condition, so they bought it, brought it home, sanded it all down to the fresh wood, and the clean metal and painted it just for my son.  He felt so special.  Later we found one that needs work for my dd.  It is pink and has some paint peeling that we want to refinish but she loves it.  The children really wanted to get those desks from storage and use them in the classroom.  The only thing was I did not have one for youngest ds.  He was very upset by this.  So last week while visiting another homeschoolers house, I saw that she had four very nice desks, that were a bit different and newer than what we have, but along the same lines.  Another mother asked her where she found them.  It was a local business that often gets in old school desks and sells them.  Dh and I had been by there many times and not seen any.  But lo and behold we ran by there that evening, in the rain, and sitting outside were some desks.  This one is made from a durable plastic resin and metal.  The business was closed but dh went by the next day and was able to purchase one for $5.  What a deal!  He brought it in, we cleaned it up, and I think ds has been sitting at it every second he can since.  He loved being able to keep all his books in one place and having his own place to sit to do his work.  How long will this last?  I don't know, but I am glad to find something that makes my lil man feel special.  :)

So this all got me to thinking.  What types of areas do you have that you do your schooling at?  Do you have a classroom area?  Do you all sit around the kitchen table?  Or on the couch?  We still curl up with books on the couch.  And some activities are still done at the table.  :)  Since I have a new table, we tend to bring in a folding table for art projects.  Do you have a seperate table to eat at and a seperate table for school?  Do you have reading areas?  Quiet areas?  Play areas? 

I think sometimes we do need to have different areas, partly for us, and partly for the children.  Having different areas helps us to focus on whatever it is we need to do at the time we are in the area an not be distracted by other things.  :)  I found if we school in the kitchen than I want to do dishes and clean my counters.  And of course the kids love it if I get distracted.  :)  So tell me about your homeschool environment!  I would love to hear all about it!