Whether you home educate year-round, start a new academic year in January, or officially head back-to-school in the Fall, home life and learning naturally take on seasonal rhythms. As summer draws to a close, the cadence of our household changes. Evaluating and preparing your home and learning environment now will ensure a smooth transition into the cozy months ahead.

*There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.*

*-Jane Austen*

Home educating allows families to create a tailored learning experience for each individual child in a comforting, nurturing environment. When you’re living, learning, and working from home, it is crucial that your space is prepared in a manner that is supportive and best suited to your family’s unique needs. While The KonMari Method® is an internationally-renowned approach to bringing order and joy to homes, applying its principles to homeschooling can lead to a more organized and fulfilling year.

Written from the perspective of a professional organizer/business owner, home educating mom of two boys, and Certified KonMari® Consultant, this post explores several ways home educating families can organize and prepare their home and learning environment using principles of The KonMari Method®.

Visualize Your Year:

Start by envisioning your ideal year, home, and life. ***Ask your children*** - this is *their* learning journey, after all!
By having a clear vision, you'll be better equipped to make intentional choices about learning materials, supplies, activities, and schedules.

Note: Please don’t over-complicate this process. Simplicity is key. Grab a notebook and a pen or fire up a Google doc, and free write. Some prompts to get you started:

Why has our family chosen to home educate?
What words would I use to describe the ideal learning environment for my children?
What are our core family values? Better yet: What makes our family unique?
How do I want everyone to feel as we live and learn together?
What activities bring joy to each of my learners? What activities bring joy to me?
In our home learning environment, what works well? What would I change?

Commit to Joyful Learning:

An abundance of learning approaches, curriculum, and opinions are available at every turn. Let go of comparison and keep only that which sparks joy - *for you and your tribe*. Select methods and materials that align with your child's interests and learning style, creating an environment where learning is exciting and engaging.

In our home, we live by the motto: less, but better. Start off on a gentle note. Instead of being driven by a particular, schedule, plan, or pedagogy, let your child begin to take the reins. You’re the guide; however, their needs and interests can drive their learning journey. This will ensure you don’t have unnecessary supplies, materials, and expectations cluttering your space and mind. You can always add and adjust as the year progresses and you continue to observe your child.

Declutter Your Space:

Declutter your home learning space and materials. Inventory and remove any unnecessary items or distractions that could hinder focus. This includes clothing, books, papers, toys, electronics, supplies, arts + craft projects, photos, etc.
***Invite your children into the process.***
A clean, uncluttered, and organized space encourages better concentration.
**Tip:** When it comes to your child’s items, organize in a manner that:
you’re able to see all you have at a glance.
your child is able to independently retrieve and return items to their proper homes.

Remember! If clutter feels overwhelming to us, it’s even more so to our children. Free space gives everyone room to breathe, think, create, and learn.

Establish Clear Routines:

Implement consistent routines and habits. Ask your children for their input and empower them to embrace their day and learning journey! This guarantees you establish a natural rhythm that works for everyone. Creating clear boundaries and structure that works for everyone allows for predictability, fosters productivity, and helps children transition smoothly between learning and leisure time.

Enjoy Your Whole Home:

You don’t have a designated homeschool room? That’s okay. In fact, it may be more ideal since learning happens everywhere, all the time - and *our children want to be where we are!*
Families typically operate within just 400 sq ft of one another. Utilize your *whole home* to fully support you and your children as you learn and do life together.
Observe your children as they learn, work, and interact in their home environment. Where are they most engaged? Do they like to lounge on a cozy couch when they’re reading? At the kitchen island when doing math? Puzzles on the living room rug? On the sunporch when creating art?
Encourage your children to utilize different spaces in your home in ways best suited to their learning needs.

Prioritize Quality Over Quantity:

Rather than overloading your schedule, focus on a few high-quality, real-world learning experiences. You can always layer more activities and learning opportunities as the year progresses. Get out of the house, keep the material items simple, and the learning experiences rich.

Don’t be afraid of blank space in your child’s day: boredom is a precursor to creative thinking.

Involve Children in Planning:

Empower your learners to be part of the planning process. Chat about their interests, goals, needs, and preferences. When children feel empowered to take ownership over their education, they're more likely to be motivated and engaged.

Try it! Roll a big blank sheet of craft paper out on the kitchen table. Scatter some fresh new markers. Pop some popcorn, settle in, and allow every member of the family to write down words that describe their vision, ideas, and learning goals for the year! This is your chance to dream together.

*To have a more effective home education, I realized I needed to abandon the trappings of school and harness the energy of home.”*

-Julie Bogart, *The Brave Learner*

Reflect and Adjust Regularly:

Take time to reflect on your homeschooling journey as well as your environment. Periodic evaluations and edits to your space, your routine, and your learning approach are valuable. Make adjustments as needed to ensure continuous growth and foster a true love of learning.

Celebrate Milestones:

Acknowledge and celebrate your children's growth, big or small - and not just academic achievement! Did they set a big goal and meet it? What practical life skills have they mastered? What positive character traits stand out? What challenge did they tackle with bravery? This expression of gratitude and continuous positive reinforcement inspires confidence in our young learners.

Embrace Flexibility and Joy:

The homeschooling journey is about relationship. Be open to changes, adapt when necessary, and find joy in the learning process itself.

By applying principles of The KonMari Method® to home educating, families can create an organized, joyful, and purposeful learning experience.
This practice encourages us to surround ourselves with what truly sparks joy, leaving room for our relationships, passions, and purpose to flourish. This shift in mindset to home education can lead to a harmonious and fulfilling year.

May your home learning journey be filled with adventure, clarity, and a personalized touch to every learning moment.