We are so grateful for the expertise in this article contributed by Mikaela Martinez. Mikaela is a mom, a teacher, and the owner of Project Based Primary School, a project-based learning micro school serving preschool and kindergarten students. 

--

A year ago, I made the decision to step out of my public school teaching position and begin a micro school in my home with 6 preschoolers. The thing is, my home is not large, and this school was going to have to be in my living room. (And the living room in question is approximately 300 square feet). With no additional bonus room or playroom, my family of three was going to need to be strategic about how to cohabitate with this learning space while going about our daily life. 

As we began brainstorming, one of our top priorities was that the furniture we purchased for the school blended in with our current living space. We didn’t want it to look or feel like half the space was a living room and half was a preschool. We wanted the whole space to feel cohesive and aesthetically blend together. We also wanted to maximize the small space with furniture that didn’t make everything feel cramped and was also multifunctional. We already owned an adjustable weaning table and chair set from Sprout that had been in our living room for years, so we felt that looking to Sprout to complete this learning space would be perfect! 

When we got ready to design the space, I had to think through all the different spaces in our home that would be utilized by students, and what pieces could meet the functional needs in those spaces.

Shoe Bench: We started with our entryway. As students enter our home they would need a place to sit and remove their shoes, but also storage for those shoes. We LOVE Sprout's shoe bench, and not only does it fit perfectly in our space, but with the storage in and underneath, all their shoes tuck away nicely making the space functional and uncluttered.

Once upstairs in our combo classroom & living room I needed a few things to make the space work: shelves to hold learning materials, tables for students to work at, a place for snack time, a way to hold all our daily used supplies like pencils, scissors, and glue, a place for all the art supplies, and somewhere to hold books. That sounded like a ton of furniture that I wouldn’t have room for, but luckily I was able to find pieces that fit perfectly and did double duty! 

Luce Shelves: We chose one Triple 60 and two High 40 Luce Shelves. These shelves are simple, open, and hold way more than I thought they would! Because of the open concept they help the space look less boxed in and brighter. Because they aren’t sectioned off, I am able to put a wide variety of materials on them in varying configurations, maximizing how much fits for the students to work and play with. They also sit high enough off the floor to tuck baskets underneath, providing additional room other shelves do not. 

MakerWall: The MakerWall was a large purchase, but also a game changer. My hall closet was a nightmare- overflowing with towels, medication, toiletries, board games, and craft supplies. Nothing was easy to find, and definitely not accessible for children. The MakerWall provided a place for students to grab essential everyday supplies, and a place for me to store art supplies we access regularly. It also perfectly fit on a portion of wall that was kind of a worthless space before. I also love that the bins easily pop off and on so we can grab what we need for the day and then slide them back onto the wall when we’re done. 

Chowki Floor Tables: Probably the MOST important item in our school space are the Chowki tables. These 9” floor tables do it all and they stack! We use them for work time, art projects, and snack time. The students (age 3-5) can unstack, carry, place, and re-stack independently and they are out of the way when school is not in session. This is the number one piece of furniture I recommend when someone reaches out about their homeschool or classroom space. If you don’t have a Chowki table yet, here’s your sign!

Lexico Book Shelf: We also have had a Lexico front facing book shelf in our home for quite some time, so it was an easy decision to add one to our school space. Being able to place project-based learning unit-specific texts on display makes them easier to access by students because they can easily see the covers when selecting books to read. It also holds 10+ books which is the perfect amount for our small space. 

Weaning Table, Chair, + Stool: We also added a stool to our preexisting weaning table and chair to provide an alternative seating option for taller students. We use this table for an art table during the work cycle, and then we prepare snacks on it during snack time. It is also used daily for breakfast, activities, art, etc. by our family when school isn’t in session. 

All of these pieces fit seamlessly into our mid century living space. They keep the space looking bright, roomy, and organized- allowing us to both live and learn in this small space.

As we have utilized the space this year, I have often gotten the question, “How do I make a learning space in my home for multiple kids?”  That definitely can be tricky, especially with an age gap, but when working towards setting up your own home learning space I always encourage people to think about how you can define the individual spaces.

Can’t fit more than one shelf? Assign the top two shelves to your older child/ren and the bottom shelf and under the shelf to your younger child/ren. Can’t work at a table together without disaster? Grab some Chowki tables that can easily stack out of the way and be brought out when each child needs it. At the end of the day, my motto, "Less is More," is where I always start. Look at what your space is already bringing to the table, identify the needs that still exist, and then find a solution that can be multifunctional, if possible, and can be used over time.

For us, it was our Sprout pieces. They met our past needs, are meeting our current needs, and can be repurposed to meet future needs. They are an investment that has really made all the difference in Project Based Primary School this year, and as we continue to play, learn, and create we’ll continue to do them with Sprout! 

 --

You can find Mikaela on Instagram at @projectbasedprimary where she shares early childhood education, lesson activities, and teaching tips (with a bit of humor) as well as a membership for early childhood educators and homeschool caregivers where she provides all you need to start learning with your children including scope and sequence, resource lists, free printables, lesson videos, and 1:1 mentorship.