Creating a Productive Study Space
Students are busy during the day switching from one class to the next, collaborating with peers, and learning new information. When they get home, they need an effective space for completing assignments, working on projects, and studying for exams. Sitting at the kitchen table doing their homework may have worked when they were in elementary school, but once they hit middle and high school, these tasks likely require more time and focus. Having a dedicated study space can be beneficial.
Help your child set up a study area that fits their needs and enables them to be as productive as possible. Here are a few tips to get started.
Provide plenty of room. Your child needs space to spread out their materials. If everything is piled up and crammed together, it makes it harder for them to quickly find what they need. It can also be frustrating and distracting constantly having to rearrange and try to balance everything. Get a spacious desk or table where they can work. Putting up a bulletin board or white board can help too.
Stay organized. To help combat limited space, make sure everything has a place. Use stackable paper sorters, bins, and other containers to sort their materials. This also makes it easy to grab what they need and not waste time searching.
Make it comfortable. While sitting on their bed may sound ideal to your child, it’s probably not the best spot to get work done. Instead, give them a cushioned chair at their desk or table. Check that it is the right height for their arms to rest on the desk and their feet to sit flat on the floor. You may need to put a small box under their feet to help.
Depending on the weather, equip their study space with a small fan if they get warm, or a cozy blanket or sweatshirt if they get cold. Don’t forget about a desk lamp so they can adjust the lighting, too.
Limit distractions. Students are often glued to their cell phones. When they are studying, have them put their phone on silent, or better yet, leave it in a different room. You can put a clock in their room so they can see the time, and they can set the alarm or use a timer if they need to break up their work sessions. A traditional calculator is a handy tool as well and probably what they’re required to use in school.
Try to keep noise to a minimum as well, situating your student where they can’t see or hear the television, or turning the volume lower. Avoid putting them right next to busy areas in the home too where there is a lot of activity going on or siblings making noise. Noise reducing headphones can help. If your child has trouble focusing when it’s too quiet, letting them listen to soothing instrumental music or a white noise machine can provide just the right amount of stimulation.
Offer healthy snacks. Make sure your child has a bottle of water on hand to stay hydrated, along with some healthy snacks such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, cheese, or yogurt. Giving them something nutritious to munch on can help improve their focus and energy.
Partner with a tutor. Working with a tutor can help your child learn more about their learning style and develop effective study strategies. This can enable them to set up a space at home that fits their needs and allows them to be more productive. Contact Crafting Scholars to learn more about our process and available programs and maximize your student’s potential.
Originally published at https://craftingscholars.com on March 13, 2024.
