5 Steps to Creating a Productive Home School Environment.

This is a strange time in our lives with so many families starting the school year off from home. Katie and I were not prepared to abruptly transition to a home learning environment in March. Our son, James, did not have a desk or dedicated work area. We learned the hard way that if we were going to succeed in home schooling we needed to create an environment that would be conducive for him to be motivated to learn. As parents we all want the best for our kids and it’s important for us that they thrive. Thats why we’ve identified 5 steps to creating a productive home school environment.

  1. Enroll Your Student

No. I don’t mean enroll them in school. Although thats a good idea too. I mean enroll them in your vision for home school. Take the time to sit with your student and understand their needs. This is a process I go through with my clients no matter what the project is. I keep digging bellow the surface to understand what they need and why thats important to them. Take the time to dream and visualize with them what a successful fun home school day looks like. You may discover something beyond the obvious. Making your student part of the design process will enroll them in your vision and give them a sense of ownership. I like using Google Docs or Pinterest Boards to help organize your ideas.

READING AREA

READING AREA

A CRAFT ROOM

A CRAFT ROOM

USING A LOFT BED TO CREATE A STUDY AREA

USING A LOFT BED TO CREATE A STUDY AREA

STUDENT GARDEN

STUDENT GARDEN

2. Find Dedicated Spaces

You may be thinking, “spaces”? As in more than one? Yes! Your student doesn’t sit in the same spot for hours and hours at school. So why should they at home? Find 2-4 spaces that will allow them to have different environments to complete their work. Some common ideas are:

  1. A zoom/ computer station. This is probably where they’ll spend the bulk of their time.

  2. A reading area. This can be a cozy nook.

  3. A worksheet area. This can be near the kitchen so that you can easily help them if they get stuck.

  4. A Play or creative area. This can even be in a patio to give them some outdoor time.

You get the idea and You’ll know whats right for your student and how many transitions they may need throughout the day. Have fun with this give each space a name and a new theme. This will make the day a little more interesting.

ALTERNATIVE SEATING

ALTERNATIVE SEATING

HAVE ORGANIZED STORAGE

HAVE ORGANIZED STORAGE

LED TASK LIGHTING

LED TASK LIGHTING

INVEST IN A STURDY DESK

INVEST IN A STURDY DESK

3. Consider Creature Comforts

You’ll want to ensure you’re providing the optimal conditions for your student to thrive. This includes comfort.

  1. SEATING Consider a comfortable and adjustable desk chair. This will help your student sit comfortably and not fidget all day. You may even want to consider a standing desk, or sitting on a medicine ball. These different types of seating conditions can help your student stay focused. It’s important to find whats right for them.

  2. LIGHTING Make sure the lighting is appropriate. I prefer small LED desk lamps be cause they get out of the way and provide alot of good quality cool light.

  3. DESK The desk is also a very import element. Consider investing in a sturdy desk that has storage.

MAKE IT EASY FOR YOUR STUDENT TO STAY ORGANIZED

MAKE IT EASY FOR YOUR STUDENT TO STAY ORGANIZED

4. Get Organized

Have all their supplies easily accessible and organized. When you’re able to find a system that is easy your student will most likely be able to follow it. The rule of thumb I find works best for kids is ‘one step organization’. That means there is only one step to put it away. So a folder that goes in a box that gets stored in a cabinet is most likely not getting put away. I love using open shelves and bins. Keep your organization simple.

A MURAL CAN TRANSFORM THE ENVIRONMENT

A MURAL CAN TRANSFORM THE ENVIRONMENT

5. Get Artsy & Decorate

I’ve noticed that this step gets skipped and it’s so important. Let’s create a fun environment that your students would be excited to be in. Things like a wall paper mural or bold paint color can make a huge difference. Let your student select some of the art and accessories. Consider using educational art throughout their spaces to reinforce some of the things they’re learning. The important thing to consider here is that you’re telling your student that home school can be fun and celebrated rather than a task to complete. You can create a culture of enjoying the journey.

CREATE A BEAUTIFUL WORK AREA CAN INSPIRE BETTER WORK

CREATE A BEAUTIFUL WORK AREA CAN INSPIRE BETTER WORK

LET THE DECOR BE INTERACTIVE AND PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS

LET THE DECOR BE INTERACTIVE AND PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS

DECORATE WITH EDUCATIONAL ART

DECORATE WITH EDUCATIONAL ART

map-tapestry-o.jpg

I hope this has empowered you to create an optimized environment for your student. We are confident that if you follow these steps your student will be excited to start the new school year at home. If you need a little help along the way, please reach out to our team. We’re ready to help you get your student’s best year yet.

Ruben Gutierrez