How the Basket Lady Organizes Homeschool
When the librarian called, he recognized my voice.
Oh, you’re the basket lady.
Should I be offended?
I used to take a backpack to the library and then transfer the books to their place next to the couch, but grabbing my old, wire basket saves a step. It does a great job keeping library books corralled, and it’s the perfect size for our check-out limit.
That library basket works so well, I don’t care that basket lady and bag lady sound so similar.
I have bigger things to battle, things like books and paper.
Organizing Books
Since we don’t have a separate room for our personal library, our living room has three large bookshelves in it. I make space for a few pieces of pottery, because I crave beauty as much as I like books.
Our books are loosely organized by category and size. Curriculum is on the shelf above our binders. Reference books are to the left of my desk. Favorite children’s books are on a separate shelf next to the couch.
Organizing Paper
Besides books, our homeschool fills up with paper. My girls each have an old-fashioned school desk with a bit of storage for their plethora of drawings.
When their desks are full, we sort through and keep their best and favorite works of art.
What we decide to keep goes into a three drawer organizer. I also slip in small treasures, cards, and keepsakes to add to their binders or scrapbooks later.
School papers used to pile in my plan book and languish there.
Then I found a $2 letter sorter to control that disaster. It’s perfect for holding file folders on my desk. Papers that need to be graded and papers that need to be filed are in separate sections. And my plan book fits right in the front.
Organizing Other Stuff
My desk drawers organize all of our office supplies:
- erasers
- pencils
- staplers
- hole punches
- flash cards
- stickers
- paper cutters
- notebook paper
- extra gadgets
- even the bills
I would like a new desk some day, but that might be as strenuous as packing the whole house.
Some of our puzzles, cards, and games are stored in a small dresser that I use as a sideboard in my kitchen.
I even cram things under the couch, but we won’t discuss that right now.
I’m a bit concerned about other nicknames that could arise if I divulge all the places I hide stuff.
What is your biggest organizational challenge?
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the shelves in the living room look familiar. I think “basket woman” is a compliment. You are picking “flowers” of words for your children. Wish I was as organized as you.
Angie,
Yes, those shelves are the first thing I bought for our Texas house. ;) Thank you for your kind words. I like your analogy. Hope you are well. We think of you often…
top pic, in the basket – the quiltmaker book! :D Good story. :)
Yeah, with smaller kids, that’s pretty much par for the course, stuff everywhere. I will say I’m able to clean out a LOT now, near the end.
Books in our house are split. non-fiction are all in the large bookcases, sorted by topic. Loosely.
Children’s books – fiction, are in the upstairs hallway.
Andrea,
Of course, I thought of you when we read “The Quiltmaker’s Gift.” :D
My dear friend,
Even when you write about organizing your post is filled with grace and beauty. Peace and contentment! I so love that about you.
I love baskets, cubbies,&beautiful containers. I enjoy organizing and making the ordinary beautiful…my biggest organizational challenge is my laundry. It takes over everything. It is overwhelming. Simple, affordable solutions for making this part of life more beautiful and orderly are always welcome.
Thanks again!
ps…my girls saw the pictures of your girls and were wondering who they were….I could sense the excitement in their voices. Where these perhaps new new friends that we could some day meet. That would be lovely :)
Nicole,
Oh, that would be wonderful! I do hope our families get to meet one day.
I’m not much help with laundry. The biggest help I’ve discovered is simply to keep clothing minimal. (Of course, it’s extra motivating to get rid of clothes when you don’t have closets to store them.) :P
The next project I want to tackle in our house is the laundry room, so maybe I’ll come up with some ideas when I get there.
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My biggest organizational issue is that I lack follow through. So, I guess I am the problem. I have space, but I do not resist the urge to make piles. *sigh* Your posts makes me want to be a better person. Thank you!
Jenn4him,
Oh, I have plenty of piles, I just try to hide them. Baskets are good for that. ;)
I am not a better person, because clutter bothers me. Our value is intrinsic and you, my friend, are a gift of beauty to the world and, especially, to your family.
“Basket Lady” is much better than “Basket Case,” which often more accurately describes me. :)
My biggest challenge is 1) my kitchen counters – clutter!! and 2) the threshold of ‘overwhelm’. If I don’t have a ‘perfect’ system or way to store, or whatever, I just do nothing. The kitchen towel drawer? ALWAYS folded, organized, fitting. Everything that you can see? Nearly chaos. :]
EllaJac,
Ha! Yes, I resemble a “basket case” on occasion, too. ;)
What a wonderful peek into your home! I have embraced my books as “things of beauty” as they have taken over most of the shelves. It sure simplifies decorating! I think that the fact that the library has a nickname for you says a lot for you and your family. I would wear that as a badge of honor.
Sursum Corda,
Nancy
I love your bookshelves! And how you’ve organized them. I spent a day this week just organizing books, and getting rid of old kids’ workbooks and junk books that have been given to us over the years. Keeping the books in order is a huge task in my house!
now, that is funny…the basket lady.
gee…i couldn’t live without our basket and bins!!
just found your blog from the idaho homeschool blog…we are new to idaho! :)
LOL – I remember seeing a family come in to the library with a laundry basket full of books. Little did I know that would be me a few years later. :-)
Just saying maybe its not a bad thing when the librarians know your children by name. :) Our library rocks now that it has expanded it is even better.