Thank you Facebook Marketplace for sponsoring this post. There’s something for everyone!
One thing that homeschooling families inevitably encounter at some point is a storage problem. Where do you put the books, the homework, the supplies, the portfolios, and the manipulatives? Even with just one child, things pile up over the years. With every sibling you add, the problem multiplies.
That’s what I was facing this spring. And I turned to Facebook Marketplace for a “homeschool refresh.” Let’s see how I tapped into this valuable community resource to get our school room more organized!
PS: If you need help planning out your homeschool year and keeping track of grades, I highly recommend Homeschool Tracker.
Separate Small Items in Matching Containers
Previously, our pens and pencils and crayons were stored in a mishmash of different containers. It was messy and unattractive. Even more annoying, the plastic dollar store containers weren’t that great for holding small items. Sometimes they slipped out of the little holes.
I used search terms like “bins” and “baskets” on Facebook Marketplace to find some cute storage containers at a good price. It looks so much better now! My gray chevron bins not only hold more, but they fit the shelves perfectly.
Try Vertical vs. Horizontal Storage
When I think of how our main school shelf looked just one week ago, I shake my head wondering why it stayed that way for so long. Everyone had their own pile of books, but children aren’t that good at sneaking a book from a pile without toppling the whole thing. And, inevitably, piles attract clutter. I discovered while doing my spring cleaning that LOTS of non-school items were in their piles.
What worked best to corral all that clutter? Vertical storage! Through Facebook Marketplace, I found someone who was selling wedding stuff, leftover from the big day. I found her by using the search terms “florals” and “decor.” There were rolls of paper, decorations, and more. For my bookshelf makeover, I bought white and silver wrapping paper and a handy white wooden crate
Instead of paying $5 or more for magazine holders, I made my own using packaging boxes and the wedding wrapping paper. Each container is labeled with the children’s names. Putting everything upright freed up a whole lot of space on our bookshelf and made the whole system look much nicer.
Teach Your Children the System
When no one is using it correctly, any system will break down. I took time to explain to all my children how the new setup would work, and where to put things when they are done. I asked them to let me know in the future if something needed to be repaired, or wasn’t effective, so that I could address it right away. Side note: if the magazine holders get damaged, no worries, because they only take five minutes to assemble!
Make Your School Look Pretty
It helps morale. Trust me.
Homeschooling is a big challenge, so positive thinking (and coffee!) is a must. Whether it’s art work on the wall (like the original oils below from a local community painter), or a vase of fresh flowers on your school table, little things can go a long way in making everyone happier. My school room looks so appealing now that I physically relax as I walk in each morning. It’s a place I actually want to teach in now.
I loved tapping into my local community while using Facebook Marketplace. I helped someone out, and they helped me. It was a win-win! And don’t forget the benefits of repurposing instead of pitching items in the trash.
Facebook Marketplace is dead easy, and convenient! I started my homeschool refresh with simple searches for the items I needed. From there, I narrowed down the field by only searching for items in my price range, and within reasonable driving distance.
Using Facebook Messenger, it took me mere seconds to reach out to sellers and ask questions about the items I was interested in. Since they were local to me, I didn’t have to worry about paying for shipping. To make it even easier, I arranged to meet up with sellers while I was out running errands.
What ideas do you have for reorganization this spring? What types of things would you search for at Facebook Marketplace?
