Tip from Marilyn:
A special place for children to study at home shows your child how important it is, and improves his chances for success at school. If you don’t have space or furniture, try a big box or a plywood screen. Make a desk out of boards, bricks, or apple crates. Look for junk or some unused stuff tucked away in grandma’s attic! Let the children paint and decorate it!
To make this space really special — name his/her special spot — No Trespassing Allowed!
Add supplies so it will be easy to get to work — pencils, sharpener, paper, dictionary.
A lamp, cushions, etc. will add a little fun. Try yard sales and flea markets.
Take away noise and activity that may be distracting, especially the TV. Carefully monitor computer and technology use as these tools, although quite useful, are VERY distracting!
In your home, have a designated quite hour where everyone does homework or reads. An old friend of mine referred to this as “DEAR” time in her home. DEAR stands for:
D – Drop
E – Everything
A – And
R – Read
Marilyn and I both agree that 3 hours of homework is too much! Three hours of TV time is too much as well. I would say that 3 hours of screen time of any sort it too much, too.
Build in physical activity and exercise to any study session. Most of us can concentrate much better on mental tasks when we take period breaks with fresh air and some physical movement. (But avoid a trip to the kitchen for a snack!)
Reference:
“Parent Power: Making it Happen For Your Children” complied by Marilyn Love was printed in 1997. Marilyn gives deep appreciation to the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, where she was given the opportunity to complete this project at the Teacher-Scholars-in-Residence program.