Creating a Homeschool Classroom for Virtual Teaching

I haven't had my sewing machine out in years but since life has changed, I am now teaching my preschool class from home.
Whiteboard on tabletop

My DIY projects as of late have turned to creating activities and ideas for teaching preschool online. 

I also had to create a space in my home to teach from.  
I had been transforming our den into a home office for myself, until I needed the space for a classroom. 

I had been painting cabinets, creating organizers and decorating the space in farmhouse style. 

The room was just about where I wanted it to be, cozy and comfortable. 
View of the den before classroom renovation
But then life as we knew it changed and my office became my classroom. 

Like many teachers all around the room, we are now doing live classrooms from their homes. 

This is the state of my home office most afternoons.
Crazy messy home classroom
I needed to change up my cozy space with things that will help me engage preschoolers from my home.
A paper roll sign
Here are a few things I did to flip my home office into a classroom...

A few weeks ago I refinished an old cabinet for my teaching supplies which keeps everything I need in one spot and looks nice while doing it. 
A craft cabinet with a peg board door

Then I had this table I wanted to use for my classroom. 

It is a very small room so a small card table is the perfect size. 
Vintage green card table

The table really needed a facelift, so I'm going to show you today, how I created a quick table cover. 

Below this quick tutorial I will show you more ideas for the home classroom. 
paint cloth table cover

I measured the length and width of the top of the table and added an inch, 31". 

I cut the square from drop cloth fabric

Next, I made sides that were about 4" long and the same length as the top, 31", I hemmed the bottoms then sewed the side pieces together in one long strip. 

After that I pinned the raw edge all the way around the square top, matching the corners. 
ironing the fabric

I grabbed my handy dandy sewing machine and sewed all the way around the square top then ironed the seams flat. 

If you follow the bold link you will see the sewing machine I recommend. 

It is a simple, no frills machine that works beautifully!
DIY table cover

Now the drop cloth table cover keeps the table clean and creates a neutral pallet for my DIY home classroom. 

The table and cover are a great place to stand up my whiteboard easel. 

A table top easel holds up the whiteboard.
Whiteboard easel on top of tablecloth and card table

The calendar is held up by my camera tripod. 

I added a shelf and now it's an easel. 

Necessity is the mother of invention!
Calendar on an easel

A DIY chalkboard made with a pre-finished piece of chalkboard from Home Depot.
Wall chalkboard with white frame

I created all kinds of games to teach the children the skills they will need for September using a printer, home laminating machine, and plenty of magnet squares
pile of classroom games to play

We celebrated my birthday this month with birthday games and activities to get the children excited, it really made my day!
Birthday decorations for the classroom

I'm using a smaller easel I created to hold cookie sheets for more project display. 
cookie sheet magnet board

I store my projects in plenty of bins to organize everything,
Bins for activities and a Home School Classroom

and a rolling cart full of supplies I need for the day.
A rolling cart filled with supplies

I added a top to my rolling cart by attaching an old cabinet door with wooden blocks under the board. 
Rolling cart with board on top

Update: As September draws near, I have retired from teaching at a school but now have more children I will be teaching virtually. 

Here is the classroom set-up I've created for myself using shelves from Target and a table from Ikea. 
Classroom set up with table, whiteboard and shelves.


Here is where I'm going to work from home for this unprecedented school year! 

I am using an Ipad to teach individually on FaceTime. 

This great Ipad stand is useful and can even show a downward view! 
IPad shot of me and the view the children have

After 35 years of teaching this is a new adventure. I'm looking forward to the future and pray that you are all safe from harm and find peace and goodness in your current situation. Please stay home until the danger is past. We can all do this together.
DIY classroom pinterest pin with overlay

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Homeroad
Homeroad

I am Susan, the author and creator at Homeroad. I am a wife, mother of 4 daughters, and a grandmother of 5 and counting. I am a retired teacher, a DIY blogger and an artist at heart. .