| Author | |
pumpkinmom
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2012
Location: Missouri
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1028
|
| Posted: April 13 2013 at 10:15am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
It started with a pile of books that needed to be put away and now I'm in misery! Our school area has not been working for over a year now. I've been putting off an overhaul for that long because I can't come up with a solution. I finally had a solution this week, but it leaves other things without a space. This leads us back to square one. I've been going over it all morning and nothing is working. I did get that pile of books put away and I cleaned off and dusted a bookshelf that was in need, but still left without a solution. I keep wondering if I stare at it if the problem will go away. 
__________________
Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SallyT
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 08 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2489
|
| Posted: April 13 2013 at 11:45am | IP Logged
|
|
|
In what way does it need an overhaul (says someone continually in the same boat!)?
Sally
__________________
Castle in the Sea
Abandon Hopefully
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
pumpkinmom
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2012
Location: Missouri
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1028
|
| Posted: April 13 2013 at 12:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My books (currently being used for school) are not very accessible and I don't have enough room. They are behind closed doors, which I like, but they kept falling over and getting rearranged. I bought something to fix that, but it's a pain. I also have our books that are currently being used in two different spots and we keep getting confused on location and it takes longer to find a book. I just can't seem to organize this area to my liking. I would love to use cube storage which I think would be perfect for easy access to books and making it easier (and less messy) to put books away and take out. The problem is the current unit I'm using has a shelf full of office supplies (bills, checkbook, important papers, etc.) and I won't have a spot for this and I can't find another spot in my house for this stuff. At least not yet.  Oh, did I mention that I think the cube storage that I want is two inches too big for the nook it goes into. I really think I'm going to take the cube storage unit that is in one of the boy's bedroom and move it to the dining room to see if it fits before buying a new piece. The problem is the current furniture is really heavy and this will be a big project to tackle just to have to put back the way it was at the end. My boys are gone today too, so no helping hands. Maybe that is a good thing though. 
__________________
Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
pumpkinmom
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2012
Location: Missouri
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1028
|
| Posted: April 13 2013 at 1:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I went and moved the furniture around for a trial run and I really feel indifferent about it. Not sure where to go from here! 
__________________
Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kristinannie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2011
Location: West Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1363
|
| Posted: April 13 2013 at 5:57pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Maybe I can come do your schoolroom and you can come do mine! I am in the same boat and need some inspiration!!! Maybe we can just switch and we will be able to get it done!
__________________
John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: April 13 2013 at 7:56pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
pumpkinmom wrote:
| I went and moved the furniture around for a trial run and I really feel indifferent about it. Not sure where to go from here! |
|
|
I think that's a good start, Cassie!
I really, really enjoy freshening our spaces. They MUST work practically for us, and with 4 kids working in there, it has to be orderly for me or I feel I'm not a good steward of those material blessings we have. So...practical AND pretty is my goal.
Let me try to tackle a couple of your specific points with some ideas:
pumpkinmom wrote:
| I also have our books that are currently being used in two different spots and we keep getting confused on location and it takes longer to find a book. |
|
|
I would definitely consider and brainstorm how to get everyday books in one space. Can you move resources to the other spot? What if you took each child's daily books off the shelf and stored them in a basket near their workspace instead of on the shelf? Would that give you more shelf space to work with and organize? It isn't practical to have everyday-used books in two different places - so this would be a priority for me! Get everyday books and tools in ONE place so that it's intuitive for you and the kids, and orderly!
pumpkinmom wrote:
| The problem is the current unit I'm using has a shelf full of office supplies (bills, checkbook, important papers, etc.) and I won't have a spot for this and I can't find another spot in my house for this stuff. |
|
|
Ok...before you go any further, decide how this space is to be used! Is it multipurpose? If so, organize accordingly. But, if this is really a space you'd like to dedicate to school work area - pull out all the office supplies and just put them in a bin for a while. You can brainstorm where they work best later. One space at a time!
pumpkinmom wrote:
| Oh, did I mention that I think the cube storage that I want is two inches too big for the nook it goes into. I really think I'm going to take the cube storage unit that is in one of the boy's bedroom and move it to the dining room to see if it fits before buying a new piece. |
|
|
Measuring tape!
Definitely brainstorm ways to re-use/re-purpose furniture you have existing already that you can put to better use in this space! Sometimes one re-purposed piece of furniture can make all the difference in providing a vision and inspiration to work with!
If you rearranged furniture and you're still sort of ambivalent, maybe you could ask yourself some questions to jump start the process a little more to ensure good and workable placement:
Children's desks/tables
:: How many kids will you have in the room at one time?
:: I know you don't have littles, but others reading might, and this is a big consideration in furniture organization/placement - do you have any littles (toddlers/new walkers/crawlers) that need special accomodation in furniture placement?
:: Do you have any children with chemistry "issues" that need to be considered in furniture placement?
:: Any children (boys especially fall into this category!) that are extremely easily distracted? By visual clutter? By excess visual-goings-on? Consider their furniture placement very carefully!
:: Any natural dawdlers? Place them close to your desk so you can offer frequent kind/neutral key-word reminders to stay focused.
Bookshelves
:: Do you have a lot of superfluous material out?
:: Can you identify one pile of books that each child uses on a regular basis? Can you group that child's books? On a shelf near their desk? In a big basket under their table? In a canvas tote bag near their work area or on a special hook?
:: Do you have like objects grouped? For example: art/creativity tools grouped and available? Science/nature study material grouped and available? If these need to live outside your school work space/area, try to store them in portable bins so that they can be grouped, stored, and easily found and brought to the work area. Transparent bins are great for this - label them!!
Books & Tools
:: Can you better organize your book resources by genre so you can find what you're looking for with ease?
:: Perhaps you're in a small space? Can you find hall space/basement space/upstairs landing space for books-not-in-use-at-this-time? This would just be relocating good books that you'll most likely use with children at different ages/grades/subjects/themes, but you aren't using right now. Moving them to an out of the way place allows you to have less "stuff" in a work area, and thus less visual clutter, less stuff to maintain. Less visual clutter can be very necessary for some children that really need work areas to be streamlined and orderly!
:: Have you been saving 18 binders for "one day"? Give yourself permission to keep 3 and put the rest in a give-away pile. Do this with all school supplies that you feel might be collecting and taking up valuable real estate. Be choosy with what you keep.
*****************************************************
Have hope, Cassie! A really good and thorough overhaul could take several days - even a week! And it can be kind of painful to walk down the hall with piles of books and materials - it feels bleak and overwhelming...like, "How did all this stuff come out of this small space???? And HOW IN THE WORLD WILL IT ALL GO BACK IN??" But it is so worth the time investment!
I take this time to wipe shelves and surfaces down, organize nature treasures, set out fresh science tools, etc. This little time investment spent freshening really invigorates both the children and me - so it's absolutely worthwhile!!! In fact, I have to do a deep clean organization ESPECIALLY around this time of year because I'm planning for next year, and I really feel like I can find our books and resources and make better use of them, thus being a good steward of them, if things are orderly, tidy, and fresh.
Come back and tell us if there are specific areas/challenges we can help brainstorm with you!! I love talking learning space organization! Everyone's space should be unique to them....and intuitive for their family and needs! And I really love brainstorming with my friends to think about ways common/ordinary things/furniture/spaces can work well for them! 
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: April 15 2013 at 5:46am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Since part of your problem is a solution for office supplies, I thought I would share this solution, which I've always thought was clever.
I, too, think cube storage sounds ideal, but that isn't going to happen for me for some time, so I did rearrange without it using what I have. I'm blessed in that my husband is the director for operations in the offices where he works, so I get my choice of supplies they are throwing out, and I got a whole bunch of sturdy, flat boxes. I haven't measured them, but they're maybe 11x15. I think they used to hold manuscripts. Anyway, they fit stacked in a low cabinet we had and were great for storing art supplies in our dining room/kitchen, something I really wanted! I agree with Jen that sometimes re-purposing a piece you have is better than a new piece of furniture.
I do have two cube baskets that fit under the old Ikea secretary I'm using as a school cabinet. That is what my boys are using for their every day stuff. However, maybe there is something that will fit inside the cabinet you are already using that would work a lot like cubes?
You might also consider a washtub or sturdy container like this in your current cabinet to organize and label much like you would with cube storage. Those would be easy to pull out and tote to the table or other workplace.
I use these clip on bookends inside my secretary to keep sections of things on the shelves from falling over. I also like magazine files for that purpose with flimsy things like, well, magazines, lol, and workbooks and loose papers.
I know from experience how frustrating this can be. I would keep trying to think outside the box. Maybe cube storage isn't the answer--explore other options and see if you come back to it. The architect, Sarah Susankah, says in one of her books that it is more inspiring and more innovative ideas come when she is constrained in her design. It is easier to be creative within limits than if given a blank slate. I try to keep that in mind when faced with these sorts of challenges, and usually the inspiration for a solution comes out of the blue when I'm least expecting it!
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: April 15 2013 at 7:52am | IP Logged
|
|
|
CrunchyMom wrote:
| The architect, Sarah Susankah, says in one of her books that it is more inspiring and more innovative ideas come when she is constrained in her design. It is easier to be creative within limits than if given a blank slate. |
|
|
I totally agree with this! Whether, you're in a small space, or the constraint is that you've been in a space for 10 years...and it ain't changin'! It's a constraint - a fixed volume of space you have to work with. And it really is challenging, but can be very inspiring nonetheless.
I thought I'd tag team with Lindsay and just list some links to favorite organizing tools that I have used for YEARS! No matter how I arrange or re-arrange our learning space - these tools are always in use:
** Track system wall mounted shelves - we did a little at a time - just one wall a year, and we got them from Lowe's, but most hardware stores have them. You can see ours in some of my learning spaces posts.
** Like Lindsay, I love organizing small collections in magazine file holders. These plastic Princeton magazine file holders are my favorite and I probably have about 20. They're wide enough to function as a holder at the end of a bookshelf, will stand nicely on their own on a table/desk, and are unobtrusive because they have no front lip.
** Clip on book supports - are my favorite thing for keeping collections/genre organized on my shelves. They do take up real estate on the shelf, so I don't use them everywhere, mostly to organize my liturgical year books so I can keep them grouped by month, and also in my history section to group books by century & setting. Demco has many other options that would work here though.
** Peterboro baskets - I love these and use them all over the learning spaces - to organize on shelves, to organize a particular child's set of books. These are wonderful, well-made (in the USA), sturdy and beautiful baskets and they are one of my essential go-to organizing tools in the learning spaces! The 24/7 online tent sale has the best value for the money if you can find a size that works for you. My favorite all-round basket is the square shopper with high sides and handles. I have another favorite, but they no longer make it...but it's basically the open storage basket...only the older version was twice the width and is perfect for holding book collections on a shelf. I found out about Peterboro baskets HERE when I asked ladies to share their source for favorite baskets.
** Re-purposed furniture!!! Here is a good example of that - this post details the re-purposing of an old tv stand to use as an art center. Think outside the box here!
** Thrift store glasses - I prefer the pretty vintage milk glass (for holding pencils on my desk), but I also use several plain glasses for organizing markers, paint brushes, etc. I also use Mason jars for this, but sometimes you can find a neat, wide shaped glass at the thrift store that can be very useful.
Those are some of my favorites. It goes without saying that I use a lot of transparent/clear shoe box bins with lids to help organize other tools, lots of pretty boxes and things (love the Martha Stewart line) because this adds to the "pretty of it all".
Wish I could pop over for a cup of tea and a brainstorming chat while you work today, Cassie! (But alas, I'm having contractions...so I guess I better stay close to home! ) Are you working in your learning spaces today? Did you have any great epiphanies over the weekend? Find any new challenges?
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
pumpkinmom
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2012
Location: Missouri
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1028
|
| Posted: April 15 2013 at 12:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mackfam wrote:
Wish I could pop over for a cup of tea and a brainstorming chat while you work today, Cassie! (But alas, I'm having contractions...so I guess I better stay close to home! ) Are you working in your learning spaces today? Did you have any great epiphanies over the weekend? Find any new challenges? |
|
|
You don't know how much I wish you could pop over here too! New baby on the horizon, how exciting!! It means a lot that you took the time to help me out even during contraction. Thank you so much!
All the posts have given me some great ideas and have been very helpful! I have give up on the cube storage because I didn't like it once I moved the furniture around. We don't have a school room and use mostly the dining room which is open to the kitchen and can be seen from my front door. Even though I spent all day Saturday on this project it is still not done due to spring allergy season. I'm free now to work on it again. All the home office material is put aside because I realized I need that extra shelf for school stuff. With everything sitting on my kitchen table I have come up with some solutions. I'm just moving very slow due to allergies. I did promise that we could eat dinner at the table tonight, so I need to get busy. I'll follow up later.
__________________
Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: Organizing the school area today
