Our school district decided on virtual learning, exclusively. And, we’re now two weeks in. Mabel is in second grade, and Poppy is in Kindergarten. While we didn’t pick out new backpacks and gym shoes this school year, I couldn’t deny my passion for school supply shopping. Here are a few ways that you can assemble an A+ virtual learning space:
Create a permanent space. When the girls did virtual learning last Spring, I set-up – and put-away – their workspace daily on/from the dining room table. This school year, I created permanent work spaces under their loft beds. This will be a time saver for me and help keep our dining room clutter-free.
To start, we purged a number of of odds-and-ends hanging around their bedroom, and moved some of their small toys to a separate play room. It’s clear – even after a few days into virtual learning – that removing distractions from the kids’ workspaces is critical. I kept their loft bed desks empty except for a lamp, their school iPad and a colorful desk pad to keep marks off the furniture.
- Loft bed – Pottery Barn
- Headphones, desk pads, bleacher seats – Amazon
- Lamps – HomeGoods
- Lounge pillows – Target
Make it comfortable. We already had benches in the girls’ bedroom and there wasn’t room for another set of chairs, so I bought “fancy” bleacher seats. So far, the girls are comfortable in these make-shift chairs that can easily be moved if they want to get cozy on their benches.
Get organized. This rolling cart is the perfect size for for school supplies. Magazine files neatly stand-up folders and notebooks. Paper trays separate lined paper and construction paper for easy access. Magnetic clips allow the girls to showcase their art or important papers. Drawer organizers keep the girls’ pencils, erasers and sharpeners separate from each other – so there is no argument over that “one, special pencil.”
- Rolling cart, magazine files, paper trays, desk organizer – Ikea
- Drawer organizers – HomeGoods
An organized workspace helps me because the girls can be more self-sufficient. But, even with the best laid organizational plans, I’m finding that I need to be realistic about virtual learning. The girls are probably not going to read silently when they see their toys calling out to them. And, they’re going to use Zoom to show their dolls and the inside of their mouths to their classmates. And, that’s ok.
Good luck, families! And, thank you teachers and administrators! This school year will be one like no other.
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