One reason why I have an Instagram account is so I can see what other children’s book homeschoolers are reading. That might sound like a very nerdy thing to say – watching what other people read. However, I love that I can quickly browse through and have a bunch of recommendations. Plus, my library often times has the books. Then I request the books, and I have a great time reading them to my kids. Unfortunately, while I am finding books to read, I am also taking in other content. Something I often see are homeschoolers showing their homeschool rooms. When I see someone else’s homeschool room, I sometimes become envious and think that I need one too. I start to think that homeschooling without a homeschool room is hard, but the truth is that it’s not as hard as you think.
One impression I often get after looking at homeschooling mom’s accounts on Instagram is that in order to homeschool well, you need to be rich, organized, and beautiful. It can seem like everyone has a beautiful homeschool room that is bursting forth with artwork, books, and nature studies. I don’t have a homeschool room (You probably already guessed that). Instead, I have a dining room that seems with every passing year to get smaller as my children grow bigger. Even if someone knocked on my door and offered to add a homeschool room to our house for free, I know it would it wouldn’t change who I am as a homeschool mom. It wouldn’t make me a better at homeschooling. In fact, I would argue that sometimes lacking something that others have can make you more resourceful and creative.
Where Do You Do School Without a Homeschool Room?
If you don’t have a homeschool room, then where is school going to take place? Anywhere and everywhere!
- On the porch or patio
- On a bed
- On a couch
- In a tent
- At a park
- At the library (I have never done that personally, but it sounds like fun)
- A coffee shop (Maybe when my kids are bigger)
- On the lawn
- On a nugget couch
- A treehouse (I did that when I was kid)
The list could go on! My favorite place to do school is outside in the backyard. It works out nicely because the younger kids can play while I homeschool. We all get some sunshine and some work done.
Benefits of Not Having a Homeschool Room
Are there benefits to not having a homeschool room? I think so because other skills become necessary in order to function.
- You have to learn to pick up after yourself immediately after you finish a subject (because you need to eat lunch at the table in a few minutes). You can’t leave a mess for very long.
- Decluttering will become necessary. I don’t have a ton of storage space for books and school material. I have to keep decluttering on a regular basis in order to maintain a pleasant home.
- More freedom to spread out around the house.
- One less room to clean!
- You grow in patience. My kids and I bump into each other a lot in our small dining room. Being in a small room with others can be hard, but it also teaches self-control, patience, and good manners.
- You become resourceful. I have our spelling board (I use All About Spelling) hidden behind our couch. I take it out when I do lessons with the boys. Finding ways to store homeschool materials may take some creativity and resourcefulness.
Lies You Shouldn’t Believe About Having a Homeschool Room
When I see a beautiful homeschool room, I start to think things that aren’t true.
| Lie | Truth |
| I need a homeschool room to stay organized | All you need are simple systems to stay organized. Mine is a book shelf with some baskets. |
| Everyone else has a homeschool room. | Most people don’t. I don’t personally know anyone who does. Homeschooling without a homeschool room is a reminder of how flexible homeschooling can be. |
| A homeschool room would make me better at homeschooling | First, comparing yourself to someone else is never a good idea. Second, being content with what you have and doing your best to homeschool within your means is an admirable thing. God can equip you to do your job well. |
| My house would be cleaner if I had a homeschool room. | Well, maybe that is kind of true, but you still need to teach your kids to clean up their school materials. The homeschool room will get messy. |
Homeschooling All Over the House
What I like about my home is that there is evidence of homeschooling in every room. There is artwork on display in the dining room, bookshelves of pictures books in the guest room, a closet book shelf in the living room, and a globe and a basket of weekly read alouds in the dining room. Homeschooling takes over the house, but in a good and bookish sort of way. Books are literally all over the place. Personally, that’s really the only mess I will tolerate. Plus, I like that my dining room kind of looks like a homeschool room. It’s multi-fuctional.
What’s important is to homeschool according to your means. Homeschooling really can be as simple as doing school at the dining room table. You know that saying, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” It’s true because moms set the tone for the household. Being content and able to homeschool within your means is an important skill, but it’s also important to be happy because I think that’s what your kids will mostly remember.
Conclusion
It’s also good to point out that some homeschoolers are well-off, and having plenty of money is a blessing. Naturally, a homeschool room may be one of those blessings for them. However, families who live on a smaller salary and have to give up things for the sake of having one income, also homeschool, and it works out just fine for them too. I think this proves that homeschooling can work in many different situations.
If I could have a homeschool room, I definitely would, but I don’t. That means that I work with what I have and do my best. Do you have a homeschool room? What have you learned from not having one? What have you learned by having a homeschool room? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.