I bet at the beginning of 2020 you didn’t think you’d be a homeschool teacher, did you? Well, here we are in August, preparing for a new school year that, for most of us, will be on our video cameras. You’re probably worried about the quality of education, your child missing out on peer interaction, and staying on top of work. Being a teacher myself, I can empathize with all of the parents trying their best to make sure this fall goes as smoothly as possible. I have put together a few tips for setting up a productive learning space for the students in your lives!
How to Set Up a School-Friendly Environment at Home
Separate Work and Fun
I know we don’t all have dedicated office or classroom spaces available in our house, but we can all try and make do with what we have. The most important thing is to make sure you have a dedicated place for your child to do work, and make that space just for doing work. It could be a desk in their room, the dining room table, or wherever you have a little bit of space with some privacy.
You don’t want your child in the kitchen where there is a lot of foot traffic, noise and distractions, you want them to be able to separate their everyday life with school work. Find a space where once they are done they can get up and leave it there to return to when it’s time for school again. This kind of space is so important especially when we are spending so much time at home.
“Your child will need to have some separation in their space so they don’t feel like home is turning into school!”
Make it Welcoming
When kids are in school, they are surrounded by peers and are constantly on the move. Virtual learning limits this possibility so in order to make up for that, make the space as fun and welcoming as possible. When staying inside all day, it’s important to try and connect with the outdoors as much as possible. If you can, set up your child’s desk next to a window so they can have some natural light, and when the weather is nice in the fall they can open the window and get some fresh air! If you have a separate space, make a day out of decorating it and letting your child decorate their own space. Go to the dollar store and get some classroom items like a pencil holder, a calendar, highlighters, and anything else they might want!
“The dollar store is a great place to look for new school supplies. New supplies will make sure your child is prepared and excited for the year to come!”
Make a Habit of Cleaning and Organizing
One of the skills I like to teach in my classroom is taking responsibility for your own space and belongings. It’s easy when you are working at home to just leave the space as is once class is over. Although you don’t need to have it spotless, a clear workspace really makes a difference for starting each day. Make simple routines for each day when school is over to clear the workspace, plug in any electronics, sharpen pencils, and put away papers. Having some kind of organizing routine will not only give your child a clean workspace everyday, but it will teach them the responsibility of taking care of their own space. If you have the energy, keep a chart of the days they cleaned their workspace and treat them with something fun each week. They’ll also feel the reward each morning when they know where things are and they have a fresh space to begin the day!
During distance learning, we are all trying our best to provide an education for our children and of course – stay sane! The most important thing to remember during this time is to make everything as fun as possible. While learning and being challenged is of the utmost importance, make sure that you don’t stress too much about the small things. Remember, we are all doing our best and they are still kids!
