Organization and an uncluttered home are necessary for an effective learning environment. While not all families have an extra room to devote to a classroom, there are many ways to have a schooling space within your household. Whether you work at the kitchen table, set up a desk in the bedroom, or use a worktable in the den, you can have an organized schooling environment in which everything you need for teaching is easily accessible. Before you decide the best location for your distance learning, consider the following:

• Is the area clean, well lit, and quiet?
• Is the area comfortable and ergonomic?
• Will the area accommodate the materials, books, and computers you need for your lessons?
• Do you have a shelf for extra workbooks, notebooks, and office supplies?
• Does the area accommodate room for experiments and demonstrations?

If you do not have enough space in a room to keep a permanent set up, then you may need to invest in extra storage baskets and containers. These will allow you to organize all your school materials and keep them easily accessible, but also out of the way when you are not using them.

What about the rest of your home? Are the other rooms well-organized and uncluttered? If not, then it's time to simplify. Get rid of junk and unnecessary items and make sure everything has its own place. If you haven't used an item in two years, it's probably time to throw that item away.

Because you will be spending most of your time with your children, you will want to have systems in place to keep your house organized. Create a system for sorting laundry and establish a routine for tidying up at the end of the day. Also, make sure to get your whole family involved and ask your children if they have any ideas on how to make things run more smoothly. You will be surprised at their suggestions and find they are more likely to keep the house organized if you implement their ideas.

Distance learning is more than just lessons in academics; it is giving your children the tools to be successful in all areas of their lives. A well-organized house is rewarding for everyone and will make for a more productive school year.