Living and Schooling in Small Spaces, Part I

I am SO excited to bring you a series this week written by my sweet friend Dana.  Dana and her family live in a small house on walnut acreage her husband farms.  They homeschool their four children with grace, joy, and a terrific use of space.  I hope you enjoy what Dana shares!

p.s.  She pronounces her name "Danna" :)

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Our home isn’t a matchbox, but for this family of two adults and four growing children it takes some creative organizing to make school and life fit. Years ago, a homeschooling mom of four told me that her goal was to have a home that didn’t show any signs of schooling. Ha! Ha ha! Totally unrealistic for me.

Here are the big ways we use our little spaces. Our kitchen/dining/school area/bedroom (just kidding on the bedroom part):

We have two tables in this area. Both are used for school but this one holds the daily stuff. The other one we keep clutter-free for dining.

The picture above was taken during a busy school day. What is out on the table can be easily put away in a just a few minutes. (The second computer is awaiting its permanent home in the mudroom.) For inquiring minds, that black thing on the right is a treadmill. Think: very active boys on rainy days.

The book shelf above holds only what we are currently using and reference material. I attempt to make it as uncluttered and coordinated as possible. I don’t have an office, so a little corner of the bookshelf holds binders that contain info that I need weekly.

Underneath the shelf, we keep baskets of books by subject. This makes it easy for me to retrieve what I need quickly and keeps things from being scattered in every direction.

Each child has a cubbie, a box and book slots to keep them organized.

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Good stuff, isn't it?  Part two to come on Wednesday.  Please feel free to comment or ask questions about Dana's organizational systems (and that cute apple-- what's in it, Dana?)