Hello sweet friends! I hope you had a Happy Labor Day. When I was a girl the school year did not begin until after the summer holiday ended. So it is a perfect time to begin Lessons With Laura The Little Schoolroom.
You can find all of the Lessons With Laura posts HERE.
Lessons With Laura The Little Schoolroom
Lessons With Laura is a nine-week series that will include creative crafts, delicious recipes, historical fashion, and much more. Every Wednesday a new post, with an accompanying video, will feature a different Little House book, written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The books will inspire various projects that you can create in your own home.
Would you like to add the series to your homeschool curriculum? There is a new book, The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide written by Annette Whipple, that I will be referencing as well.
For over 20 years Mrs. Whipple has taught children in classrooms, nature centers, and churches. She has written several other children’s books and is the creator of www.WilderCompanion.com. The site serves as a resource for fans of the Little House books. You can also follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
Creating The Schoolroom
In early August I realized that with Sweet Guy headed to college the sunroom, once used for gaming, would now sit empty.
I am always seeking to add joy to the lives of others through this website. Slowly an idea began to formulate. More and more people are now staying at home. Many parents have opted to homeschool. Perhaps a weekly series was just the ticket! But how could I incorporate my love of home, crafting, cooking, and historical fashion?
The answer rang clear as a bell right outside my back door.
As I finished up a calico bustle dress it occurred to me that the Little House books were often about people coming together during difficult times. Making do with often very little. Loving one’s neighbors and building a strong community. We need these heartfelt messages now, more than ever.
Then The Blessings Began
It’s no secret that I am often full of BIG IDEAS! Some may even call me a dreamer. When I ran the idea past treasured friends and family members the excitement only continued to grow. But just like my Ingalls family before me, I didn’t have much money to spend on such a tremendous undertaking.
I turned to social media and asked if anyone had a rustic desk they were getting rid of. A sweet long time reader, Jacki, responded. Her handcrafted desk seemed as it would be pioneer perfect!
As it was my birthday Mr. Decor happily drove the hour with me and loaded the desk into his truck.
The desk was washed down with Murphy’s oil soap and received a coat of lemon oil.
I had also found an antique art easel/chalkboard at a thrift store for $8.
The elements really started to come together. I moved in the two wingback chairs to create a reading area. The tea table seemed perfect for a school themed cloche.
It’s Easy As A, B, C
A friend gave me an Amazon card as a birthday gift and I selected a vintage chalkboard poster to fill the wall space above the desk.
Other Decor To Adore friends sent antique school readers, a brass bell, and more.
Another corner was transformed into the historical fashion area. The double-sided Zoom board worked perfectly as an old-fashioned backdrop.
But what to do about hiding the technology?
One afternoon I was ironing and watching an old episode of Little House on the Prairie. Miss Beadle was happily writing the weekend assignment on the blackboard at the front of the class. That Sunday Reverand Alden created a more church-like atmosphere by pulling the green curtains closed. LIGHTBULB moment!
I would make curtains!
A quick raid through my fabric stash left me a bit disheartened as nothing fit the bill. I sent up a prayer.
The very next morning my friend Michelle asked if I wanted 4 yards of dark green corduroy.
YES! Yes, I did!
I filled the shelves with my favorite Little House things.
Ma’s Little China Shepherdess came from my friends the Schodorf’s. They own the Little House on the Prairie site in Independence, Kansas. You can purchase the shepherdess, Little House books, and more from the museum HERE. Like many museums, they are struggling mightily and any gift shop purchases are greatly appreciated.
To see more of how the schoolroom was created, view my collections, family photos, and more please click on the Lessons With Laura The Little Schoolroom video below.
Next week Lessons With Laura visits the Little House in the Big Woods.
Laura
This is such a neat idea and I love Laura’s blue dress!
Oh my goodness! My husband gifted me all the Little House books when we married in 1971. I’ve read them to my three children. I am now watching all the old episodes on Netflix. Such wonderful, heartwarming stories. I love your outfits you make (so talented) and this Little House Schoolroom is just perfect. It would be my place to “teach ” my grandchildren and my little reading area. Great job!
I’m sharing this with my two sisters! We are all Little House lovers! One sister is a retired teacher and the other teaches fifth grade Social Studies. They will love this!
What a neat idea! I love hearing how things came together.
Laura, Brilliant idea and I wish I had a child to enjoy the school. I don’t so I’m signing up myself. Laura, I was so enthralled listening to you talk that I forgot to go to my doctor’s appointment. I’m not kidding. I was 15 minutes late and I had to wait 20 more minutes as a punishment from the nurse. Laura, I can’t tell you how much I like this idea. I think you could be as big as Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Rogers, Big Bird, and Kukala, Fran and Ollie. This is how history should be taught to children, through food, fashion , crafts, work, and the basics of language. It is the perfect counter-weight to technology learning. Everything is here; I can see it in my mind’s eye. There are so many Laura stories that teach about weather, playing games, cooking, saving, etc. in reference to counting, learning about health, being self-sufficient, being brave, on and on. It is endless. You have the perfect voice, looks and manner.~From, Ginene
I feel as if I’m late to the party, but what a great idea! The school I worked at used Farmer Boy in their third grade curriculum which included farming and house building! I look forward to seeing how you will approach that book!
This is incredibly creative and resourceful, and so well done, Laura! Looking forward to your series!
Laura, this is darling and I just can’t wait till school begins! What a wonderful idea and how clever and creative you are to make our classroom so charming! Now, I’m off to the video!
What a lovely post! Great job Laura! I have referenced my love for LHOP with a few posts too! Loved it! Laura in Colorado
Hi Laura, I love your idea.. I enjoyed your video tour of the classroom and learning about your relationship to Laura Ingalls. Gracie is cute and love seeing her in the video. I look forward to the next in the series. Take care, Joan
This is fabulous, Laura! I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
I have read and re-read the Little House books over the years and was thrilled when my 8 year old granddaughter asked to borrow them. They are tattered and worn, but she is devouring them with the same delight that I did. What a wonderful idea to do with your extra room. I look forward to more in this series.
Well, Laura, you already know how much I love all things Little House since I think that’s actually how I found your blog a bunch of years ago now. I am glad you are doing this series as it gives Little House fans something fun to look forward to this fall, especially for many students who are going back to school via distance learning. Happily pinned and shared your video, which was fun! Love your book collection and the other LIW memorabilia.
Happy creating,
Barb 🙂