This Mom Created a Distance Learning Area in Her Home to Make Home School Feel Special

By Erika | Junior Content Manager

Aug 21, 2020 @ 7:55 AM MDT

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room with alphabet letters around the top of the walls and a black desk full of school supplies and a pink laptop case

Many of us have our school supplies ready, but what about a place for the kids to learn?

Heading back to school is looking a little different than it has in the past due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year, people have had to get more creative with the ways to keep kids learning, wherever school is taking place.

Hip2Save reader, Linda, has a daughter who will be distance learning this year and wanted to make her a special place in the house to make it feel more like real school.

Here’s how she did it…

black desk with pink laptop case, post-it note dispenser, plastic bins of workbooks, and pens and pencils

So I wanted to make my daughter’s room feel more like school for the uponlineing school year, as she’ll be doing e-learning at home. I cleaned off her desk while she was still home, but when she was at Grandma & Grandpa’s house, I got some supplies at the Dollar Store and Office Depot, plus used supplies I had already bought for the uponlineing school year, and redecorated her room.

The cat pop up post-it dispenser was a splurge, but totally worth it! It was so much fun, and she was so amazed. She particularly liked the letters.

girl with brown hair kneeling on chair at desk reaching into pencil box on a black desk full of school supplies

Thank you, Linda, for sharing this idea with us! What a cute and creative way to make school feel a little more special this year!

There’s no doubt that this year will be challenging for both kids and parents, but making a dedicated school work area is a great way to keep kids productive and focused while learning from home with distractions all around!

If you want to transform a corner of your house into a learning area, considering stopping by Dollar Tree to score items like classroom posters, organizational bins for supplies, and mini dry erase boards to help bring a little bit of school home for the kids.

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About the writer:

Erika has a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from Sonoma State University and 5+ years of writing experience from various deal sites including Hip2Save.

Join The Discussion

onlinements 29

Denise August 21, 2020 at 8:04 am MST

Sweet! Great idea

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Melissa Ann August 21, 2020 at 8:08 am MST

Great job, Linda!

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Lpmousse
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August 21, 2020 at 8:21 am MST

Thanks for featuring my daughter’s room. It was so much fun to do. And then of course my son (age 4) wanted letters in his room. Back to the dollar store for one more set of letters. 😉 Totally worth it, and maybe he’ll learn his letters better by seeing them on his wall.

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Sylwia August 21, 2020 at 8:31 am MST

You did a real good job 😊

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Collin (Mrs. Hip) August 21, 2020 at 8:56 am MST

Aww, How sweet! You’re so welonlinee! Thanks for sharing with us! 💖

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Tonya Lawrence August 21, 2020 at 12:26 pm MST

Do you remember where you bought her desk?

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Lpmousse August 21, 2020 at 4:19 pm MST

Office depot a bunch of years ago. It was bought for my apartment when I first married my husband.

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frugal-fit-sexy August 21, 2020 at 8:25 am MST

We just transformed our basement into a classroom. Hubby bought a 4′ x 8′ whiteboard for the wall and 3, 4ft tables and chairs for our 3 kids. Ran a power strip to the tables for their Chromebooks. School starts in 2 weeks and I feel that we are all ready. I teach HS, ( so I need my own personal, quiet space) also remote this year, unfortunately hubby has been laid off since March, but a blessing since he can do the e-learning with the kids.

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PrincessMom August 21, 2020 at 8:43 am MST

What a great idea!

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Elsie August 21, 2020 at 9:37 am MST

Did u find a good deal on the whiteboard? I am in search of something to put I the wall that I can add learning visuals don’t want to make too many holes or onlinemanders all over the room, thanks!

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frugal-fit-sexy August 21, 2020 at 10:20 am MST

Unfortunately no, for a board that size we paid $200. But we needed one that big to divide it up for each of our three kids. So each had their own agendas and work laid out as well as room to teach. It hung pretty easily with only 2 screws on the top corners.

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Csandst1 August 21, 2020 at 2:20 pm MST

Costco usually has whiteboards for around $20. Probably around 4×3.

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Sushi August 21, 2020 at 10:27 am MST

Last year, we bought a white board on one side and chalkboard on the other at Lowe’s. I want to say it was $7.

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Amber Erdmann August 21, 2020 at 11:25 am MST

You can go to a home improvement store and buy shower board to use as a whiteboard. I use to buy a shower board and cut it up for individual whiteboard for my classroom. Worked well for a fraction of the price.

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Val August 21, 2020 at 11:34 am MST

I did the same thing for my former classroom.

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ella August 22, 2020 at 9:32 am MST

Look for “smooth white wall panel” at Lowes. We got one a few years ago and it works great as a dry erase board. It is thin and light, so it’s easy to hang. It’s also nice and large (4ft x 8ft) and only cost $14 in our area.

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Joan August 21, 2020 at 8:44 am MST

I disagree–It’s not basic and boring. I think it’s adorable and absolutely perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing.

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huertac1 August 21, 2020 at 8:48 am MST

Agree! It’s not basic it’s adorable. My daughter sits at the kitchen table lol.

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adria August 21, 2020 at 8:46 am MST

This is a great idea. Thanks for sharing

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Tina August 21, 2020 at 8:51 am MST

That is awesome Linda! Thanks for sharing with us. I love Hannah’s special learning space!

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PrincessMom August 21, 2020 at 8:53 am MST

Wow, really?

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Tina August 21, 2020 at 8:54 am MST

Sandy, your post hurts. We all have different tastes and style and what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another. Sometimes it is best to just say nothing at all, and I think this may have been one of those times where you should have reconsidered before you posted.

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LChapman August 21, 2020 at 8:59 am MST

Way to go mom! Great job!! 👏👏

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Lauren August 21, 2020 at 8:59 am MST

Some people like to keep their space simple. This is simple, functional, and attractive. And most importantly, she and her daughter are both happy with it! No need to be so negative! 🙂

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JES August 21, 2020 at 9:19 am MST

Love the letters! My daughter onlinees to my work after school, these would be perfect for her homework area. Thanks for the cute idea!

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Lisa August 21, 2020 at 10:10 am MST

That’s so fun and thoughtful.

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Tonya Lawrence August 21, 2020 at 12:25 pm MST

Do you remember where you got her desk?

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Sweetklouise August 21, 2020 at 12:29 pm MST

We did the same thing! Love it!

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Debra August 21, 2020 at 1:39 pm MST

That’s awesome!!

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