PRACTICAL ORGANIZING SOLUTIONS, LLC
(603) 315-0334 Serving St. Petersburg Florida
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT
    • Fees & Policies
  • Contact Us
  • SERVICES
    • Services
  • FAQs
  • Before/After
  • Testimonials
  • BLOG

Dreading the Start of the School Year?

8/10/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Parents, are you dreading the start of the school year and its uncertainty? In this age of COVID-19, school districts struggle with their back-to-school plans. Who knows how these plans will work out in the long term?
 
Whatever the situation, it is likely that children will spend a good amount of time learning remotely this year. With that in mind, we can plan ahead to create a calm home atmosphere that’s conducive to learning. How to do this? 
Focus on three basic necessities: a quiet space, necessary supplies and predictable routines. Whether children are in first grade or high school the household will experience less stress when these considerations are in place.
 
First, a quiet study area for each child is essential. Granted, if resources are limited, children may need to share a computer station but ideally each child will have as much separate space as possible. Preferably, this study space is free from distractions and offers an ideal environment for the unique needs of the student. Not all students focus best with quiet. Some need music, television sounds or everyday commotion to stay grounded and focused. The space should, however, be well lit, comfortable and inviting. Request input from your child to design and decorate the space. There should be adequate shelves/baskets/files to store books and supplies. A timer is handy to help students to stay on task. Co-create a plan to organize electronic assignments/files.
 
Second, students can easily become distracted from the task at hand when supplies are missing or inaccessible. Here is a list of suggested items. Identify what you have on hand and purchase items now that they may need in the future. Follow teachers’ suggestions as well! It goes without saying that students need a computer or tablet and an internet connection. Basic desk supplies (depending on a student’s age):
  • pens, highlighters, pencils, markers
  • lined paper, index cards, sticky notes
  • manila folders, binders, plastic storage envelopes (depending on age and need)
  • stapler and staple remover
  • scissors, ruler, paper clips and binder clips
  • file sorters or box to hold papers in organized way
  • flash drives
  • backpack, if indeed children will travel to school
  • timer to stay on task
 
Third, think of the daily routine as the glue that holds everything else together. Routines create structure so that children know what to expect at any point during the day. Routines are especially critical for some children, for example, those with ADHD. Of course, the school will dictate much of the remote learning time blocks. Otherwise, schedule specific tasks according to alertness and time of day. Plan high focused learning for the morning when children are usually more alert and have more concentration power; regular snack times provide welcome breaks and the opportunity to replenish energy; rote tasks can be planned for the afternoon when energy is lower; and reading/general computer time is a good opportunity for students to relax and regroup. Write down and post the routines to keep everyone on the same page.
 
Lastly, why not build in chores so that children learn responsibility and contribute to the household upkeep? Children are more likely to follow a daily schedule if they have been included in the planning process. None of this is easy but the above suggestions can make learning in these extraordinary times more bearable. 

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Carol Martin-Ward,  encouraging practical ideas for easy organizing

    Archives

    March 2021
    January 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    Book Reviews
    Chronic Disorganization
    Clearing Clutter
    Closets
    Coaching
    Energy
    Hoarding
    Home Design
    Minimalism
    Motivation
    Moving
    Paper Management
    Productivity
    Professional Organizing
    Simplicity
    Space
    Time Management

    RSS Feed

Picture

carol@practicalorganizingsolutionsnh.com

Contact Us

603-315-0334

​