What will learning look like this fall? Will schools reopen? Will my kids be doing remote learning? If you’re a parent of school-aged children, these questions are undoubtedly at the top of your mind. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that very little in life is predictable. And even if schools reopen initially in the fall, it seems likely that kids will be learning at home at least some of the time. Here are a few key tips to prepare your house:
- Designate Space. First, identify where in your home learning can best take place. If you have a teenager, the most important consideration may be a quiet space with privacy and the ability to study and attend Zoom classes without distraction and background noise. Although a desk in your teen’s bedroom could certainly work, keep in mind that it can be beneficial to have a separation between learning space and sleeping space. Younger children likely require more supervision while learning at home; the kitchen or dining room table can transform into a desk during school hours. Consider the learning needs of your child, and identify a space in your home to best meet those needs. And remember: this doesn’t need to be fancy! A flat work surface, a relatively comfortable chair that allows your child to sit upright, and good lighting are the three key elements.
- Set Up a Supply Station. Late summer is the time for school supply shopping! As you check off the items on your child’s school supply list, also think about the items you’ll need to stock your home “classroom.” Think notebook and printer paper, pencils or pens, a calculator, a ruler, note cards, folders, and basic art supplies (crayons, colored pencils, markers, scissors, glue, tape). Gather all items and place them in one easily accessible space in the house, such as a kitchen cabinet or a desk drawer. Come fall, your kids will know just where to look when they need to sharpen a pencil. Bonus: even if kids are in the classroom, you’ll be fully prepared with everything needed for homework assignments—and that means fewer frantic Sunday night dashes to the store to grab glue for a project due Monday morning!
- Put It All Away. This is especially true if your kitchen island converts to a classroom. You need to be able to transition to normal kitchen activities—you know, preparing and eating meals—at some point during the day. And really, even if your home has designated desks and learning spaces for each child, there is still something to be said for a clean break between the school day and the rest of the day. Consider giving each child a shelf on a bookcase—a place to stash textbooks and assignments at the end of each school day. Chromebooks and iPads can be placed at a mini-charging station—a shelf or table with a nearby power strip—so they’re fully charged and ready to go the next day. A simple bulletin board—or even a folder with your child’s name on the front—can be used to store spelling word lists or assignments in progress. You—and your kids—will be able to corral school-related clutter and avoid the mad scramble to find a missing social studies textbook. And best of all, you’ll have a clear transition from school time to family time.
While the prospect of another round of remote learning is daunting, these steps can help you to optimize your house for home school. Dedicate time in August so that come fall, you, your kids, and your home are prepared for any learning scenario!
