Last week I received the first few boxes of materials from a retired teacher with the knowledge there was more to come. I also found another retired teacher who wanted her stuff to go to a new home so I accepted this treasures with plans to incorporate some into our classroom , some into our co-op library, and some into the hands of homeschool friends and teachers. Thus began the repurposing of the space formally known as our classroom. The boys and I decided the room would be a library/ resource center/ activities center.
Step 1; clear out.. Below are a few of the before pictures.
So the desks came out first, then we started sorting out the garbage and the keepers... And yes, the classroom is/ was in the laundry room, the door in the bottom picture leads to the mudroom and then outside.. Someday the mudroom will house the washer and dryer but for now this is how it looked.
Next we started moving some of cubby boxes around , the game bench moved across the room and a literature rack moved in.
Empty Binders to be filled with unit studies and planners and whatever else needs a home.. the CD player on top is shared between this room and the boys' bedroom until we get another one for this room.
Literature Rack full of resources, workbooks, planners, lesson, etc.. under the pile of other books is the bench that houses board games from now.
The cubbies in the above picture are full of various phonics/ grammar activities. I used Target itso wide trays and Avery Name Badge labels for 2 of the sets (I have 2 more ITSO trays coming)
Finally our magnetic wipe off board. I have a list of sub projects written on the board for us. The white chart is actually part of a set from Primary Concepts it is a word building activity and I hung it there as an example for the boys (they are excited to try out the letter tiles) This was one of the many wonderful resources we received this past week .
The garbage can is full, the goodwill bag is full and 2 piles are ready to take to the co-op library in a few weeks.
This coming week we will finish sorting and cleaning up the floor, build a bookshelf or bookcase, and arrange books along with set up the math cubbies and begin planning for the new school year... (We are still 1 1/2 weeks before this year ends...)
