This is the bookcase and these are the drawers both from Ikea

Thank you so much ladies for all your replies. So many tips, and ideas to get me started, well actually I already started, because after posting my thread I got the tape measure out. Not only that, I started to sort cupboards out in my kitchen, as I felt I could free up a couple to help store curricula/craft. I'm with you Hunter as regards pots without lids, I can't believe how much junk I'm storing! I had a lovely indoor fake tree, doesn't look fake, but it looked pretty with fairy lights around it, I kept looking at it, it's 6 ft high, 2-3 feet across with branches, stuck in the corner next to my welsh dresser. Well no longer, I've moved it outside, where it looks pretty good, and I will wrap solar lights around it, so it looks pretty again. Any how, the space left has opened up for a narrow bookcase from ikea, the hemnes one in grey brown. I'm on my holidays next week (I live in the UK) I'm so chuffed, there is room to slide a very small set of drawers by the side. I'm beginning to look at my home in a different light, what can I jiggle about to make more storage space. The idea about bookshelves near the ceiling is a good one, thank you for that. Those that have had to pare down and had similar feelings to how I feel now, you give me so much hope. For my husband it would be a case of box up and get rid, but the emotional pain I feel in contemplating it really does hurt. It's a much more slower process, yet many have described how cathartic it is. I want that feeling! I always seem cluttered in my mind, no wonder I'm cluttered in my home! I will put to good use the suggestions - if my house burnt down, do I love the book etc. I will read the suitcase thread, thanks for the link, to help me prioritize. I feel I'm at a life changing moment and I need to grab with both hands, on holiday next week so will plan, then I've a week at home to make those changes, before schooling starts in earnest again.

Hi all, First off, let me confess I'm a book junkie - I love to see books on shelves, it just makes my heart sing. I have so many books I don't have room for them, some are boxed as I'm struggling to part with them, partly because just one day I may need it, the other reason is the cost in the first place. I have bookcases in my attic/loft where I store an overflow. I don't even know all of what I own, and find it hard to put my hand on something which will then interrupt schooling why I go look. Think I need to confess I'm a clutterbug too :glare: I have a schoolroom which we use to store books and resources, it's bulging! We tend to home school at the dining table, sofa, anywhere that's comfy really. Well it looks like in the not too distant future, I will have my father come live with us. He will need my designated school room, so my 'stuff' needs to go, I have nowhere else it can go other than the loft. Which needs to be cleared of all the non essential books. So I'm not going to be taken unawares by my fathers sudden arrival ( no date yet, but could happen anytime) I need to plan NOW, and use this as a reason to get rid of books (just typing that is making me choke) Basically I need to pare down from 4 big bookshelves, to a small waist height one with 3 shelves, I may be able to squeeze an ikea expedit 4 cube bookcase where I would want to put the girls essential work in baskets. Can it be done? Has anyone made the drastic change? Any older threads to look for ideas to help, there was one where it talked about all their HS in a suitcase, I couldn't find anything in the search button. So basically, I'll use the internet more, my library more, and I'm hoping the more simplified way will help me maintain my schooling and peace of mind, which has become overwhelmed like my home. Much encouragement needed please, links to blogs, pictures websites you name it, to help me keep on task. Advice on how to choose what I seriously need, as opposed to 'oh I like this shiny book, we may use it' Just typing it out has made me see what a sorrowful state I've let myself get into, but has spurred me on to get boxes and start packing up, I just need to know what essentials I absolutely need . Thanks in advance x

Not so much of a book, more of a website, well blog really. I came across it while researching for information on learning about the body. She does use a book as her spine. http://highhillhomeschool.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html

Thank you Susan, I appreciate your reply - off to join now :001_smile:

Hi Susan, do you have links to the support groups please, are they like a yahoo group? CJ

I agree with the the suggestion of evan moor, I've just subscribed to a years subscription to teachersfilebox.com which gives you access to evan moor for a year, it has grades from k-8. I joined via Home School buyers Coop as I got 30 % off. Another source you may consider and is worth looking at is Easy Peasy - All in One Homeschool a home school mom has put together an online curriculum, it really is worth a look, especially if finances are in short supply. HTH

Thank you so much! Somehow when I looked I couldn't see it, so thought I'd missed the promotion :glare: I've now joined TFB, and just printed off my first weeks worth of science. Thanks again. x

Thank you :001_smile: I'm hoping it will come up again June/July time.

I've just discovered TeacherFileBox.com after looking at some of the EvenMoor products. As I'll be almost certainly using a few of their products, the subscription for a year sounds compelling. I've just recently signed up to HSBC, to take advantage of the MM offer, but what I have realised is that I've just missed out on the discount offer for TFB. I know it's not a given when offers come up, but does TFB come up once a year, twice or being the optimist more often than that. Looking back on some old threads, it appears that TFB had an offer on HSBC about 3-4 months ago? If an offer is likely to come up in the next 3-4 months then I'll hang on. TIA

If you bought the package options have you been happy with your purchase, for example if you bought the basic package do you wish you had bought the complete package. Or vice versa, if you have bought the complete package do you feel that you could have managed successfully with just the basic. I'm from the UK, and from the samples I have seen so far I really like MCT's method, but not only is the course expensive, so is the shipping...ouch! :huh:

Thank you for your reply Starr. :001_smile: I've been thinking, that when she comes out of school it will be easier. I'm thinking of having quiet time straight after lunch, and for reading to be done. I also like the idea of reading before going on the laptop or Wii.

Hi, I'm looking for helpful ideas and some words of wisdom in how to help my 11 yr dd, to enjoy reading for pleasure. She is in year 6 in a UK school (I think that is grade 5 in US) she and her younger sister will be coming out of school shortly to be HS. While her older brother and her younger sister are voracious readers, much like myself, they devour books as soon as they get them. My middle one is just not bothered. She has enjoyed reading The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, although funny, I count that as comic style, she does like Jeremy Strong books, again it leans towards comic style. I've presented her with numerous books to read, she'll just glance at the title and say it's boring without even giving it a try. In fact to her books are boring! Where as for me, if I'm surrounded by books it makes me so happy. She said that about Pippi Longstocking, that it was boring, I then sat her down on the couch and started reading it to her. Her face changed from one of 'if I have to' to really enjoying it, she went off, read it and asked for the other two books which she has promptly read. She has enjoyed them, I thought perhaps it may lead her to try other books - but no they are 'boring' she is a contrary madam! I don't expect her to love books like myself and her siblings, but I would like her to get pleasure out of reading. It seems she has an interest in stories that are funny, but I want to broaden her horizons without putting off books completely with my enthusiasm. I will just add that she is a very capable reader too. Any ideas or suggestions, or do you understand how she feels, anything that would help me, to help her would be greatly appreciated. CJ x

Thank you for the yahoo group name :)

Hello back to my fellow Brits, thanks for the warm welcomes :thumbup: