Readying Our Learning Room

I've spent a good deal of time this weekend getting our *learning room* back in shape for our soon-to-start new school year.

The kids voluntarily offered to clean out their desks. I took them up on it right away, in case they changed their minds! So many old papers, etc., finally made it to the trashcan.

(our art tray and coloring basket)

My main goal was to rearrange the room though. Last year I had their desks very close to each other. And I'm sure that any parent with children two years apart will agree that this isn't a good idea. I'm not sure why I thought it was at the time. I think it was because the arrangement looked good. But if it really doesn't work, then it's really not good, is it?

Plus, we have a new pet mouse whose home is in that room and her place for the summer was not going to work for the fall. So rearranging was definitely in order.

Since (sadly) my kiddos are not using their little table & chairs set much anymore (I can't believe they're out-growing it), it has become Reepicheep the Mouse's spot. We moved it underneath the wall-mounted TV.

(Reepicheep's new spot under our vhs/dvd player)

The next thing was to separate the kiddos' desks. They were moved to opposite sides of the room (tiny though it is) and centered. This way they can easily be positioned toward the chalkboard or the vhs/dvd player.

(Mr. B's desk, baskets with children's magazines, art tray)

(The Princess' desk and our bookcases)

Here are Mr. B's vowel cards and handwriting chart, all ready to go. Directly below are his Shoebox Phonics games. These have really been fun for him and I plan to use them again this year, at least at the beginning.

(vowel cards, Shoebox Phonics games and our art tray)

Here is another view of our chalkboard area and art tray area.

(our toy chest~which holds play dough, musical instruments and puppets~
art/coloring things and our chalkboard)

Oh~and here is a peek inside the closet: there are lots of craft supplies, tons of games, more children's educational magazines, their keyboards and much, much more.

I still have a few little things I want to get finished before our first day. One thing in particular is to make a calendar and weather chart. I'd love to have something like this, but I don't want to order one. I plan to make one using some downloads I've found. I promise to share all about it when I'm finished.