Make Home a Productive Place

THE NEW SCHOOL at Home

WRITTEN BY JORDANA TURCOTTE

As much as we don’t want it, for many kids, school will be happening differently this fall. Most will continue as the last term of the previous year – at home. While some will be handed a hybrid model of both in and out of school days. I think the spring closure caught a lot off guard. Most kind of “made it work.” Time to get ready properly for the model your kids will have in the fall. Create a school zone. Separate from play and sleep if possible. This is especially important for the kids that will be doing school at home 100%. When school is done, just like working from home, you want to leave it. There should be on/off symbolism when leaving. This really helps mentally. What does a school “space” need? At a minimum, a flat surface to write on, a task lamp, drawer or table top caddy for supplies and a spot to store books/binders/papers. Have a wall clock to help with day organization. And for younger ones that you may give a task to and walk away, a large timer may help – the Time Timer app is great for this. In addition, have books accessible – consider a bookshelf by the desk or a crate to stand them in just under the desk. If you must use a shared space such as the kitchen table or dining room table for school, get a caddy that loads “school” on it so you can roll it out when needed and put it away when the real function is needed. This will create that divide between school and other. Michaels has a great three-tier metal cart that is strong and can hold it all for one child. Supplies – remember even if not going into school, they are needed. Especially if schooling at home, keep the ritual of going “back to school shopping” in place. This is good for getting ready for the next year and it is a “normal” thing to do. For most kids, this is fun and symbolic. Each subject should still have a system – folder and/or binder and/or wall pocket. Load up on paper and pencils. Organization of the schedule and to-do’s is a must. Parents may be working at home too so management of school should be as streamlined as possible. And each day planned out in advance if possible. Have visibility – put up a bulletin board or magnetic dry erase board above the desk or to the side of it. You’ll need a detailed calendar especially if hybrid. Every Sunday write out the week at a glance. Also, have a spot to post long term projects to keep them present. If the school has a detailed A – X day schedule, print that out and post it. The more information at everyone’s fingertips, the more success they will be. Remember any activities too that may be back open – include that info on the board. If a hybrid system, have a “to school” bin for work that needs to go into teachers. I see this as causing all kinds of issues if this isn’t set up. Try to keep the daily M-F schedule the same if you find yourself in a hybrid system – some days in school and some days at home. This helps with flow within the home and managing it all consistently. Sleep is also the same each night which helps everything, literally everything! One bottleneck I heard was snack and lunch management – too many stops, interruptions to parents, 5 snacks – what? and so on. Decide in the am the snack item and time and lunch – make/prep all that can be done so it is grab and go at the determined times. Lastly, power and connectivity. Can everything be plugged in? Do you need a power strip or extension cord to get to the place you picked for you school zone? Do you need a signal booster to help manage everyone on the wi-fi? And remember the “view” of the screen others will see when the child is on a class. Take a moment to set up the background to be blank or a pic of your choosing. In general, think ahead and try to equip the space for all they will be need and create a daily schedule that ensures success in starting and stopping school.