Tips for Setting Up an At-Home Classroom

Education now looks completely different from anything we’ve ever experienced.  Studies find that nearly 94% of students are learning from home in some capacity, which means there’s a massive push for creating spaces at home that will benefit them.  Whether you’ve ever taught or not, this work can be a lot to take on!  Here are some tips for creating the best at-home classroom for your child so that they can get the most out of this time.

Best Tips For Setting Up An At-Home Classroom

Create a Dedicated Space

All humans focus better when we’ve set clear paths and patterns for ourselves.  With kids, especially, it’s important to create dedicated spaces in your home for studying.  This plan doesn’t mean giving up an entire room or letting them have the couch for twelve hours a day but create a space that will instantly make them want to start studying when they sit down.  You can partition this area off with curtains if you wish to, to make a study cubicle, or leave it as open and airy as you like.  Use this space for studying, completing homework, and attending virtual school. You can even make the space fun by playing learning games like Scrabble or Boggle, and if you get stuck, try an anagram solver! The most important thing to do is to make sure your child knows what space is for. 

Choose the Right Technology

Technology requirements vary depending on age and grade; however, it is certain that all children need a good laptop to attend class, participate in discussions, and complete homework assignments. Be sure to check with teachers and other parents to ensure your student is set up for success.

Bring Some Life In

Greenery offers a lot more than we give it credit for!  Please help your child take an interest in keeping something alive and well, and let them pick a plant to take care of.  You should give them basic guidelines on size, and be careful if you have pets to avoid plants that may be toxic.  Live plants reduce stress, increase creativity, and help give your child a sense of purpose if they help clean up after the plant and water it.

Don’t Criticize Wrong Answers.

Incorrect answers are as much a part of learning as correct answers are.  Unfortunately, for most students, a wrong answer means admonishment or shaming.  There’s nothing product in that.  If your child gets a problem wrong, acknowledge it and then work with them to get the correct answer.  Be patient, understanding, and help them see why the right answer is correct.  This behavior will teach your child how to handle failure and how to find correct answers on their own.

Help Them Understand Reliable Sources

The internet is a vast and uncontrollable place.  Although we may think we can recognize if a site is reliable or not, unfortunately, it’s easy to get duped into looking at lousy information.  Help your child understand which websites are useful for learning and which are opinion based.  Unfortunately, false information is running rampant online, so it’s your job to help your child spot when there’s information they can use.

Steady Protein Snacks To Keep Them Driven

Although kids have more of a sweet tooth than adults do, on average, the go-to snacks throughout your child’s day should be protein-based.  Start your kids’ day with some eggs, toast, and fruit, and then throughout the day, keep to a protein like a peanut butter or jerky.  Protein helps keep us focused for longer while also pushing aside the urge to snack.  Just be sure that you’re even letting your child drink a lot of water, and you’ll avoid the highs and lows that sugar consumption can impart.

Let Them Be Comfortable

Although we’ve all heard about the studies where people work more efficiently when they’re uncomfortable, there’s no need to inflict that on your child.  Create a comfortable and safe space for your child to explore and learn.  Find the perfect seating that will make them happy without letting them sleep, and work to light the room softly.  A comfortable and nurturing space for your child will give them the freedom to think only about their work, instead of focusing on an uncomfortable couch or straining eyes in too-bright light.

Create Safe Online Spaces

As much as being safe fact-checking online is essential, your child’s all together, safety online is vital.  As a society, we’ve moved towards accepting the internet as a significant part of our lives, and for many, that makes us far too easy to trust strangers.  Teach your children the importance of withholding personal information online.  This talk could mean talking to them about privacy and security, but emotional security should also be discussed.  You don’t want anything wrong happening to your kid, and unfortunately, the internet can be a portal to the worst of humanity.  Help them stay on the better side of things.

Exercise Still Matters

Exercise is paramount when it comes to brain development.  Not only do the endorphins from exercise help keep the mind sharp, but they also will help your child keep in high spirits regardless of what they’re learning about.  The best idea for kids is at least half an hour of active play a day and three one-hour sessions a week.  Most children can easily reach this, but if you notice your child is falling behind or is in a souring mood, take the time to exercise with them!  You can go biking, play basketball, or even swim if you have a pool, remember to have fun with them.

Set Goals, Display Them

Make achievable goals with your child!  This goal could mean aiming for a specific grade, or it could mean that you reward them when they reach a massive milestone of work completed.  When you’ve made these goals, write them on a board, or create a decoration!  Seeing the goals every day will help inspire your child and give them something tangible.