Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

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Organization

Homeschool Organization – 12 Unconventional Ideas for Storage

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool organization is one of my favorite topics in how to homeschool.

Creating niches and discovering spaces you didn’t know you had can bring your home school area to life. 

And turning unconventional storage pieces into useful tools for those areas can be daunting.

Also because I am not sure what type of stores or resources I will be able to find in South America, I am both excited and nervous to think of ways to create a new learning space when we move.

Switching subjects on you here for a minute, I promised I would update you on our move.  The Mr. is still working on closing some business he has going on here in the states. 

Homeschool Organization – 12 Unconventional Ideas for Storage

So we still have not put our house up for sale.  It would be okay with me if we didn’t put it up for sale until March because the weather would be better. 

Either way, in the meantime I have been hoarding resources that have unconventional storage ideas.  I know my favorite stores like Target or Hobby Lobby won’t be there.

So today I have rounded up a few useful resources to help spur on the creative juices.  Savvy solutions don’t have to be costly either.

Also, though I love to mix the old and the new with unconventional storage. In homeschool, we have so many needs that we want a wide variety of items to choose from.

And storage should look cute and inviting for our learning areas with kids.

And don’t forget about lighting. Most of us prefer a lot of natural light but I love me a gorgeous lamp when I can find one.

It really counts when I can find it in one of my favorite colors. Purple goes in a school room, right?

Simple Solutions to Stop Clutter

Whether it’s ziploc bags, jars or shower caddies going from the conventional to unconventional can still be beautiful while minimizing clutter.

Check out a few unconventional homeschool storage ideas that I have flagged.

Homeschool Organization – 12 Unconventional Ideas for Storage

Looking at them keeps me excited about our move and redecorating. I hope to stay inspired and implement some of these ideas when I have no Target to run to for my latest fix. (scary)

Do you see any ideas you can implement now in your school area?

Other Homeschool Organization Tips

12 Homeschool Organization Unconventional Storage

You'll love these ideas for unconventional storage for your homeschool learning spaces.

Photo Credit: www.nurserydesignstudio.com

21 CLEVER BOOK STORAGE IDEAS FOR KIDS

Brilliant book storage and organization ideas for kids books.

Photo Credit: kidsactivitiesblog.com

12 Board Game Organizer Storage Ideas?

Lack of board game storage can make putting away the favorite game after family game night no fun at all!

Photo Credit: organized31.com

Repurposed Organizing Ideas

I’m also personally concerned about the environmental impact of over-consumerism. I’ve found that using repurposed and upcycled items to organize work just as well and can be just as beautiful as store bought
items.

Photo Credit: allsorts.typepad.com

Some creative storage ideas and a sneak peek

Standing storage is not only good for crafts, but any school supplies you need to store.

Photo Credit: www.iheartorganizing.com

147 March Featured Space: Kids - Perfect Play Haven

Great ideas for book storage and areas for the littles.

Photo Credit: www.pre-kpages.com

Cheap Puzzle Rack Storage Solution

DIY puzzle storage solutions.

Photo Credit: jennifermaker.com

DIY Paper Organizer Made from Repurposed Shutters

Love this way to store paper. And you can actually see what you have.

Photo Credit: homemakingrebel.com

Craft Paint Organizer

What a fun way to store your paint.

Photo Credit: sugarbeecrafts.com

DIY Craft Paint Organizer

Another DIY craft paint organizer.

Photo Credit: tinkerlab.com

How to Set up an Art Cart

You don't need a room for art, just go mobile.

Photo Credit: diyinspired.com

Repurposed Bed Spring Craft Storage

Repurpose the old bed spring and turn to storage.

Photo Credit: dev.alittlecraftinyourday.com

DIY Yarn Wall Hanging Photo Display

Would love to use this to hang geography cards, art cards, or even math facts.

Homeschool Organization - 12 Ideas for Unconventional Storage
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Homeschool Room Organizing + Organizing Tools

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I collect my homeschool room organizing tools from all over and from some of the same places you probably have in the area you live in. Look at my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter for more tips.

Some I order on online because I want some specialty items.

What helps me to focus on a tool and to think outside the box is to have my *needs* not a *tool* in mind.

Homeschool Room Organizing + Organizing Tools

The tool serves the need.

Have you ever come home with a bunch of pretty organizing tools and not really have a place to put them?

Though pretty, they won’t be much use if you can’t put them to work.

Determining your use, determines the homeschool tool.

Homeschool Room Organizing + Organizing Tools

Thinking outside the box too doesn’t mean you have to steer away from traditional uses for a tool either

who really wants to organize with a draining dish

This idea of a dish drainer for books is one of them that, for me, well I have a hard time being inspired to look at every day.

The idea is novel but  I would have to think of a way to hide the drainer, then I may be more inspired when I look at it every day.

Organizing Your Homeschool Room

Organizing does not have to be expensive. It is one of those hobbies useful life skills that can be inexpensive. I decide how much to pay or not pay for items.

And sometimes you just need to add a pop of color to your learning area. Our learning area was the formal dining room turned learning area.

So here are 13 things that make me sing when I did a spruce up from last year.

After, I explained them here, I have a list below.

1. The lamp was on clearance from my one of my stalking trips to Target.

The stencil was a wall stencil I got online too. It is a Moroccan look. I have been looking at it for a year now to determine if I want to do my pantry in this pattern.

Trying it out on the lampshade helps me to look at it for a while longer to see if I still am in love. I am still swooning over it.

The paint is acrylic paint I already had in the house; it’s cadmium orange color. Gorgeous.

2. The orange slices, lemon slices, coral and white mustache bookends are what I spent my money on this year.

You know I told you the longer you homeschool, the less you need curriculum wise. So you get to spend your homeschool budget on other yummy things.

So I purchased all of my cool bookends on ETSY.

They seem to have a variety to choose from each year.

Homeschool Room Organizing + Organizing Tools
Homeschool Room Organizing + Organizing Tools
Homeschool Room Organizing + Organizing Tools
Homeschool Room Organizing + Organizing Tools

I am still swooning over them and have restrained myself for the time being in not putting matching book covers over all of the books.

3. The magazine bins I got from different places.

It is easy to match your decor if you don’t want to take time redoing an older magazine holder. I keep all of mine though because I do redo them as I get time.

I find a lot of them on Amazon.

4. I knew when these binders came out at Target and I was there the first day they were putting them out, that if I waited to get them they would be gone.

I knew I loved everything about these designs. So I made sure to book mark this site Green Room.

5. Use expanding jackets to hold art work or other paper crafts while your children are doing.

I found these expanding jackets to store our art projects in.

Keep the kids organized by assigning each one a color.

Besides the fact they have GORGEOUS colors, they last a long time for the price. I use them year after year.

No sense in having the paper crafts strewn everywhere.

6. Next, use items made for bathroom storage as a pencil holder and scissors stand.

I got mine online from Amazon. Instead of looking at the more expensive storage section, I browse the bathroom section. That is an example of  thinking outside the box.

Homeschool Organizing Tools

The scissors holder they sell as a toothbrush holder and the cup is for a bathroom drinking cup. Who says?

Can you picture that trash basket as a beautiful way to hold maps and other artwork that is folded but needs to stand up? And that is EXACTLY how I used the beautiful trash can. It holds folded up maps.

Instead of seeing a toothbrush holder, can you see a paint brush holder or mechanical pencil holder?

If you see a soap holder, can you see it as paper clip storage?

7. The pink storage bins, I think, I got from Hobby Lobby too.

I have had them for a while upstairs in my school library. But too, don’t forget to measure your area to see how big. Here are some others I’m loving.

8. Here again, I am visiting the bathroom section of Target to find small storage bins with color.

This canister is part of their Room Essentials collection. I heart this container because it has three sections that flip out for easy access of small parts we use on our lapbooks and paper clips.

9. Use a drawer of towers.

Drawers are well not just drawers when it comes to storing heavier books and items. Iris is the brand that is I heart and that is carried by the Container Store.

It is a little more pricey but too the drawer does not fall over at the first minute my kid pulls the drawer open. The drawers are encased inside the unit making it a lot stronger than inexpensive ones that I had bought at Walmart many years ago.

I take a longer time now to fuss over which drawers I buy. They have to not only be pretty but first they have to be sturdy. Here are some others I’m eyeing.

10. The clear hanging file holder I love.

You can get it from Amazon and I love having the bin to fit on a desktop, table or any surface. It’s easy to get in and out of each file.

Homeschool Room Organizing + Organizing Tools

Desk top or table top file holders are the perfect size for holding charts and other material that you need to pick up and take some other place.

We can pick up the chart bin which has our maps and geography printables I make and take it with us to the living room or just bring it to the table.

As your children get older, you move away from all those cutesy things hanging on the wall and look for creative ways to store items that any family member can pick up and take elsewhere.

Table top bins can even be a place to keep your organizational printables for your family at one spot, like a command center. It works good for small spaces or just to keep it all organized.

11. Extra storage for crafts and supplies.

.The pink set of drawers I bought from Bed, Bath and Beyond when they had their college dorm things out. But there are others I eyeball because I’m always looking to update my look.

MORE HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATION RESOURCES

I wanted something that was just for my storage of files and extra supplies like staple, tape, notepads. It had just the pop of color I wanted too

12. I couldn’t resist adding in my free 7 STEP DIY Homeschool Planner.

Where do you store yours?

Mine is on an easel. If I pay money to print the pink ink then why not flaunt it and use it as part of your school decor?

If you love it, show it. I am not sure if my orange and pink crush was my inspiration for our room and planner cover or the other way around. But I love them both.

13. Then, nothing beats a small storage cabinet.

You know I told you I wasn’t going to bother hubby this year on something different for the school room. He still needs much rest.

But I found this beautiful simple storage cabinet from Bed, Bath and Beyond and I could actually put it together.

I like the fact it is versatile and the books I had to go in it measured just the right height when I found it.

simple storage cabinet

Learning spaces are important because I know you spend just as much time in your area as I do in mine.

Find inspiration from the things you love and don’t settle for something like a dish drainer unless you are really taken away with the idea no matter how novel.

In my workshop I share that organizing is about the heart, not about will. You have to want something different than you have now.  Mountains are moved one stone at a time.

HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZING TOOLS

Thinking outside the box too doesn’t mean you have to steer away from traditional uses for a tool either.

Moroccan Tile Handmade Charlotte Laser Stencils,

This stencil has been available off and on .

Gorgeous Book End

They seem to have a variety to choose from each year.

File Holder Organizer Box

Simple Houseware Magazine File Holder Organizer Box
Photo Credit: www.greenroomeco.com

greenroom

Greenroom has proudly established an exclusive partnership with Target
since 2005, when we became their first fashion-forward line of
recycled paper products.

6 Pocket Expanding File Organizer

Durable one-piece plastic construction and reinforced gussets help prevent edges from tearing. Bungee cord closure keeps contents secure.

(Orange+Green+Pink)

Easy to clean,perfect for kids and family use.

Plastic Bath Sets

Instead of seeing a toothbrush holder, can you see a paint brush holder or mechanical pencil holder?

If you see a soap holder, can you see it as paper clip storage?

Foldable Storage

Foldable storage cubes with PU Leather handles are made of durable canvas and waterproof PE coating linner. A sturdy metal rod frame around the top to keep the basket shape.

Rolling Cart with Drawers

3 drawers in one or more colors provide you with much more room for organizing papers, kitchen tools, toys and home office supplies. Compact size also makes it suitable for corners, which helps you save room space.

3-Tier Rolling Mobile Utility Cart

34 inches; Equiped with our utility cart has 3 tiers, 3 Cups, 4 Hooks, this utility cart will help you organize your daily things well and make your rooms look neat and elegant, allowing everything to have its own place.

Hanging File Organizer Box

Hanging File Organizer: This acrylic file folder organizer is designed for convenient storage of letter size / A4 files, folders, and papers, making it an ideal solution for both office and home organization. Please note that quick and easy assembly is required, and the package includes assembly tools.

Arc Desktop File Organizer

Add simple sophistication and style to your desk or office with this unique file organizer in green

2 Drawer File Cabinet

The under desk drawer cabinet with lock, equipped with two keys, can increase the security and privacy of your files.Two drawers can be locked or opened simultaneously. Fashionable exterior design can perfectly blend into your office or home .

Did you make a small organizational change that you heart this year?

I find this quote inspiring today because I think about the changes and sacrifices you make for homeschooling your family. Don’t think they go unnoticed. Especially if your kids are real young, it is hard to feel the homeschooling love.

Look at these other tips:

I hope I can impart a positive attitude and can do spirit even if just a little bit for you each day.

“When you’re happy for yourself, it fills you. When you’re happy for someone else, it pours over.”

~ Sarah Addison Allen~

Hugs and you know I love ya,

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2021 New Year New Goals Setting Beautiful and Practical Form

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’ve never been more happier to say goodbye to a year. However, I always like to take time to reflect not just on the past, but to look forward to the 2021 new year new goals setting.

2021 New Year New Goals Setting Form

I love this form which I do each year because it reminds me to keep goal setting simple and not pen so that I can reach them; most important I remind myself to have Less of This.

It’s important to remind myself that some things I need to let go.

I don’t want to have pie in the sky goals, but to remember to homeschool and live simply.

Letting go of things that are not working at the end of the year is important to growing the next year.

I like something more generic that lets me decide what goals I want to make instead of focusing on only the 4 areas of education or homeschool, health, spiritual, and personal goals which I normally focus on,

I jot down 3 things that I want to improve or do more of and 3 things I need to do less of.

New Year New Goals

Don’t forget, I have 2 other printables too for goal setting.

2021 New Year New Goals Setting Beautiful and Practical Form

One is Goals for the Year and the other one is an End of the Year Flashback for the kids. It has several color choices.

2021 New Year New Goals Setting Beautiful and Practical Form
2021 New Year New Goals Setting Beautiful and Practical Form

To download the Goals for the Year go to my page Step 3. Choose Goal/Objectives.

2021 New Year New Goals Setting Beautiful and Practical Form

For the End of the Year Flash Back for your student planners, go to my DIY Best Student Planner page.

You’ll LOVE these other planner forms.

Download the 2021 New Year New Goals Setting Form here.

2021 New Year New Goals Setting Beautiful and Practical Form

What about you? Have you thought of something you want to change this year? I know I can think of a LOT of things.

Hugs and love ya,

10 Best Ways to Transport Homeschool Curriculum {Gift Ideas Too}

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Life is busy and learning is spent more and more on the go. Too, learning should be flexible and can happen anywhere. Whether you want to change the place your kids learn like to the park or are planning a vacation, you’ll love these 10 best ways to easily transport homeschool curriculum.

ONE/ Not just any old backpack.

A backpack is a good option for each kid and each kid can keep his books and supplies separate. Besides we all love school supplies and backpacks are great ways to pack it all up and head to the park.

If you’re going on a longer trip like we did overseas we used the Coleman and Swiss Gear backpacks. They were large, sturdy, and I carried our mobile printer and big laptop in the ones we bought.

Too, if you’re going to do a lot of traveling, a sturdier backpack to hold laptops and printers is best. An inexpensive one works elsewhere and is perfect for park days.

10 Best Ways to Transport Homeschool Curriculum. When learning on the go, grab one of these nifty tools for transporting homeschool curriculum @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus.

TWO/ Reusable canvas tote/grocery bag.

You can use those plastic bags you get at the grocery store, but I love the canvas totes and some come with pockets so you can have a place to store your supplies.

Transporting Homeschool Curriculum

Put the books and supplies in the tote and we’re off to the park or beach on a pretty day to learn outside.

THREE/ Not just any old milk crates, but collapsible milk crates.

Milk crates are an inexpensive option to carry your curriculum, but when we did that we still had to find a place to put our milk crates. That meant they normally took up space on the picnic table top.

It still works, but I love the collapsible milk crates. Take out your supplies and collapse the crates to put out of your way. Nifty!!

FOUR/Clipboards with storage.

Clipboards with storage are hard to beat when you want to pick up and go for the day.

Clipboards are built in desks and make for a great tool when your kids won’t have a table or don’t want to learn at a table.

When my kids had to spend long days at the hospital with me as I took care of my sick husband, we changed out activities each day in the storage part of the clipboard.

Pick up and go and your homeschooling on the go is ready to move with you

Storing Curriculum on the Go

FIVE/Small free standing tote.

Then I love this storage tote because it’s both free standing and has handles. When you don’t need to carry a lot, it’s the perfect size.

If you need just a few pads of paper and a place to store your supplies upright, this expanding paper folio is the perfect answer.

SIX/ Nifty storage tote with a divided tray.

This next storage box is great for keeping supplies organized. It has a removable tray which is one of the best features.

You can put crafts or small supplies in the divided tray and take out the tray to use while learning on the go. I used something like this when we rented a house in the mountain for a month.

It was small enough to pack in the car, but kept small things organized for easy reach.

SEVEN/Wheeled cart.

I have owned so many of these wheeled carts through the years, I can’t even count. They have been worth every penny I spent on them.

This one we used at the park too when we wanted to stay longer.

Since it’s plastic and sturdy I didn’t mind rolling it around the park. You can easily add dividers to it.

Eight/Wheeled cart, but better for teaching a co-op.

Depending on your needs, I found that the wheeled cart with storage pockets below was better when I was teaching a co-op.

The pockets on the outside are perfect when you need to easily put your hands on your supplies. It’s the perfect desk on the go.

Portable Homeschool Curriculum

NINE/ Clear project cases.

These project cases have two advantages. They are clear and 12 x 12.

I love clear containers so we can see what is in them and then we don’t need something real big when we take a project on the go.

This is great for carrying a lapbook or notebook that is work in progress. It stores all the small pieces.

TEN/ The deluxe of them all.

This last rolled storage tote has to be the most deluxe of all portable storage with tons of pockets to organize all your homeschool curriculum.

Don’t forget to grab all the fun ways to organize school supplies on the go. I’m eyeing this nifty pencil storage for older kids. I love the fact that it’s not baby-ish.

Homeschool Learning on the Go Tools

These chair back pockets are great to take on the go and fill with your supplies.

I love them for vacation. It gives us a place to store our art supplies and few books. Fold and go and then store when you get to your “home for a week or month”.

Last, but certainly not least you can never have enough dry erase reusable pockets.

You can use them for activity pages, but also there is no limit to how you can use them. They store paint brushes, wipes, erasers and writing supplies.

Learning outside four walls is the best way to learn and our homeschool curriculum is important. Packing it for a short move or longer move requires the right portable storage tool.

You won’t have a problem finding the perfect fit with this round up of fun ways. You’ll also love these other tips.

10 Best Ways to Transport Homeschool Curriculum. When learning on the go, grab one of these nifty tools for transporting homeschool curriculum @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus.

Hugs and love ya,

10 Adorable and Lovely Ideas for Your Homeschool Walls

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m not saying you can’t homeschool without these 10 completely adorable and lovely things for your homeschool walls, but you may be missing out.

Besides being beautiful, they’re timeless. I wished I would have invested in more timeless pieces for my homeschool area instead of so many new and modern pieces.

Homeschool Room Favorites

Don’t get me wrong, I love the new and modern, but some of these things just scream childhood celebrations and homeschool memories. Too, learning is timeless; some things never go out of style.

I love, love all of these posters. You can get them either already framed or not.

I prefer the ones not framed because I don’t want the bottom with the text cut off.

10 Adorable and Lovely Ideas for Your Homeschool Walls

It seems like the frame can cut off some of the text. Adding them to a frame you buy when you have the posters in hand is better.

This is the Mineralogie poster and the Dandelion chart poster.

Also, look at the beautiful Mushrooms poster and Ocean Life Illustration poster.

Look at this awesome way to teach U.S. geography with this vintage USA Map poster and teach about Butterflies with this chart from times past.

Homeschool Wall Ideas

I love this perpetual calendar which I just purchased as MunchKing begins his preschool journey.

As he grows, this calendar will still be usable and never turns baby-ish. I wished I had bought something like this when my kids were young. I would have kept it longer. What a timeless and beautiful piece to use for years to come!

Perpetual wooden calendar which is perfect for homeschool!
{pic. attribution: © MirusToys. Please pin from original sources.}

Here are a few more timeless items to make your homeschool walls lovely. Look at this Plumes Feather Illustration and Color Wheel.

And this last thing I love is this huge calendar for the wall which everyone can see.

When homeschool life is busy, putting up a visual and beautiful reminder of your homeschool routine reduces stress.

{pic. attribution: © ShopSimplyPerfect. Please pin from original sources.}

Which ones do you like the best?

10 Adorable and Lovely Ideas for Your Homeschool Walls. Don't get me wrong, I love the new and modern, but some of these things just scream childhood celebrations and homeschool memories. Too, learning is timeless; some things never go out of style.

Add one or two of these beautiful pieces to make your homeschool walls lovely because learning is classic. Your kids will never outgrow these one of a kind pieces!

Hugs and love ya,