Posted on: Thursday, September 27, 2007
Spruce up student's workspace
By Beverly Miller
|
MYADVERTISER.COM
See our complete schools guide for everything you need to know about schools in your neighborhood, including test scores, learning environment and reviews by parents online at myAdvertiser.com
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
At school your child has a desk or work area to complete assignments and various school-related tasks. To provide him or her with a quiet area to complete assignments at home, you should work with your child to create a comfortable work space that is completely his own.
Homework can be a struggle for some children. And oftentimes the problem is tied to disorganization and lack of proper supplies. A designated work area will help your child to completely focus on take-home assignments in a positive environment. It will also encourage him to work on creative projects, such as painting or writing, rather than watching TV or playing video games.
Here are a few tips for setting up a creative work area in your home:
Select a quiet, secluded area. The work area should be well-lit, with a clean, flat writing surface and comfortable seating. If your child's work area is in the living room, turn off the television or radio and remove other distractions, such as video-games, cell phones and iPods.
Offer your child access to tools and resources. Stock the area with arts and crafts supplies — pens, paper, paint, glue, etc. Provide older children with a dictionary, thesaurus and atlas. Purchase or create a collection of colorful jars or boxes to help organize your child's work materials.
Decorate the workspace to reflect the child's personality. Decorations may include anything from painting the walls to adding a nice plant or framed photo. A wall calendar, with important dates, deadlines and special occasions, could help your child stay organized in school and keep track of other important information.
Be flexible. Not all children can work productively at a desk. Work with your child to create a portable homework container that can be used to study anywhere. Studying or working at home should be a different experience from learning in the classroom. So, allow your child a little more freedom such as studying outdoors or on the living room floor.
Beverly Miller is a Kalihi Elementary School teacher and a member of the Hawai'i State Teachers Association.
