To me, the hardest part of back to school is making sure my children are mastering their homework and studies. I believe the best way to overcome the homework woes is to prepare your home for learning — just as a teacher would prepare the classroom.
Regardless if your child is in first grade, or a freshman in college, they need a place at home to study that is comfortable and functional. Easily setup your child’s homework/learning station in five simple steps:
Step 1: Select a Workspace
After several hours of being confined to a desk at school your child will likely prefer to complete their homework anyplace — except at a desk. Consider setting up a work station that includes a high counter/standing option. If a standing desk isn’t suitable for your home, yoga/exercise balls are also often used in lieu of a chair and many children prefer the movement it permits (especially when completing memorization tasks).
Step 2: Lighting
Often our eyes grow tired long before we do. Since a large portion of study and homework requires reading, it is especially important to brighten the work-space adequately.
The lighting in the learning/homework station should include a combination of ceiling, floor, and desk options. I really like the Verilux SmartLight available at Follett because it provides a truer to life color which results in less eyestrain and fatigue.
Step 3: Headphones
There are several studies concerning music and its ability to help us with our homework. What they have found is that it isn’t necessarily music that helps, it is the tempo and white noise that can aid in calming the mind — clearing it — making it more productive.
There are two methods to making music work for your child. The first, select noise cancelling headphones that will omit other, less helpful noises (like siblings, other family members talking on the phone, you doing the dishes, etc.). The second, choose the playlist for them! The music should not have lyrics. Classical is always a great option, but if your child isn’t overly pleased with your choice, you can consider something more modern.
Reminder: Music should be used with light volume to avoid it becoming counter-productive and distracting. (Nature sounds is another option that is often recommended.)
Step 4: Supplies
There is nothing worse than learning at the last minute that you don’t have the supplies you need for your child’s project. A proper learning station will have all of the necessary supplies for the child to complete their schoolwork at home. Depending on the age/grade level this could include: pencils, pencil sharpener(s), pens, colored pens, colored highlighters, spare spiral notebooks, empty notebook folders, essay folders, graphing paper, colored pencils/markers/crayons, glue and glue sticks, card stock, project boards and colored paper.
Very important: you should never be out of paper and ink for your printer. Essay papers are almost always printed at the final hour.
Step 5: Schedule
Your child’s afternoon schedule is likely packed with extracurricular school activities, part-time jobs, doctor/dentist appointments, family responsibilities, and tutoring. It is important for you to discuss and coordinate with their schedule. Begin by displaying a planner in the homework station that you can mirror with their student planner. Add deadlines, tests, and project assignments to your calendar too. Doing so will allow you to be a backup source preventing procrastination, or worse, being under-prepared.
Follett, a leading provider of education technology, services and print and digital content, is asking EVERYONE to share their best #FallBackToSchool with ease advice. Share how your family is preparing to go back to school on your favorite social media outlet using the #FallBackToSchool hashtag.
Do you have a child heading off to college?
Do you have a child heading off to college? This will certainly change your usual #FallBackToSchool routine. Your new routine will include scheduling video chats and parent weekends. AND If your child is nearby, weekend laundry marathons may be in your future. Learn to love whatever time you have — even if you are chatting while matching socks.
Do you still have items to cover on the essentials list?
See if Follett can help HERE.
