Creating a Home Learning Environment
When we send our children off to school, we know they’ll walk into buildings that are intentionally designed learning spaces that encourage students to engage with their work. But with many children still spending all or part of their school days in remote learning situations at home, it can be tough to create a space that is conducive to learning. We’ve put together 7 tips for creating a home learning environment that has a positive learning culture, that promotes focus and engagement, and that signals to your child that it’s time to learn.
Identify your learning space
Designate a single location for each child’s learning environment. It can be a space in your home that serves multiple purposes, or one that is solely used for school work, but by designating a learning space, it signifies to your child that this is where learning takes place and where they are putting their “student hat” on. By having learning sessions in a single spot, kids will quickly learn to recognize this space as a place where they are expected to work and engage in school-related activities and assignments.
Many of us will need to select a space for our kids to work that is used for other things, like the dining room table. That’s ok! The materials students bring with them and the way they set up thier learning space each day is just as important, as you can see in the next tip.
Set up your learning environment
The learning environment ideally should provide a non-cluttered space where children can spread out their belongings. Having a computer or tablet, notebook, and/or other books or workbooks can take up a lot of space. If there is more than one learner in the same room, try to keep as much space between them as possible. With multiple Zoom sessions, even when headphones are used, students can often find themselves distracted by the conversations and activities of those around them. If space is an issue, you can help create individual learning environments by separating multiple kids with a Trifold poster board to create a mini “office.” Allow your child to decorate their “office” so it feels welcoming and personal.
Be sure your child has access to a hard surface to work on that is at an appropriate height and comfortable, flexible seating that meets their needs. Some children will benefit most from being seated in a comfortable chair for long periods, while others will benefit the flexibility of being able to move from sitting to standing, sitting on an exercise ball so they can bounce, etc. You want your child to be comfortable without being distracted. For most, this will mean discouraging working from their bed or from a horizontal position.
Help your child be prepared
Before your child begins their learning, be sure they have access to all of the materials they may need for the school day. This includes having a charging device for their electronic devices and access to outlets for charging.
We recommend that kids keep their daily materials, including any books, notebooks, pencils, whiteboards, etc in a single location. They can be stored in a backpack, put into a drawer in the desk, or in a portable basket that can be brought to the designated learning space. Simulating what a student would do in the classroom is helpful in establishing a routine for kids. At school, kids have cubbies, desks, lockers, or other locations where they have access to their materials. Setting this up for students at home will help them to feel comfortable and prepared for the demands of the day, regardless of their age. This will also boost their independence! When they need something, they’ll know exactly where to find it.
Create a schedule and stick to it
Most teachers and school districts provide a daily schedule that breaks down each subject and when and where the learning will take place. For example, if there is a special that day, this will often be listed along with a link to find the virtual classroom and any other materials needed. A visual schedule, or a schedule that includes images to accompany each item, can help kids visualize what is coming next. Timers also help kids anticipate how much longer they will have to work on something, and assists with mental preparation around transitions.
Each teacher, even within the same school and grade level, will likely have different expectations for synchronous learning. As such, it is helpful to identify in advance what times your child will need to be on a live learning session. Even if there is an adult sitting next to a student during the learning, it can feel challenging to keep up with the amount of meetings and reminders during the day. Setting an alarm for a few minutes prior to meeting times will help to ensure that your child remembers their meetings and logs on in a timely manner. For older students, teaching them how to set an alarm will help them to develop independence and agency.
If you cannot be with children during most of the learning day, try to check-in during transition times to help your child stay accountable and on track.
Include Learning Breaks!
Even the most laser-focused adults need to take breaks! It is a crucial part of the learning environment to build-in both brain and body breaks. Check out our Nora Notes blog post about brain breaks for some ideas! You can also check out sites like GoNoodle for quick and easy brain break activities.
Also remember that not every break needs to be a full and complete break. If you are able to be with your learner and you can tell they need a break, offer an alternative to the learning to give them an opportunity to use their brain in a different way. For example, if your child has been working on math problems on a slideshow, give them a chance to practice their fluency of fast facts verbally. Make it a fun game by incorporating movement like jumps or offer an incentive at the end after setting a goal. If your child has been reading on their screen, offer them a physical book and encourage them to read aloud. Actual breaks from all types of learning to move the body are critical, but in a real classroom setting, teachers use variations of mini-breaks often throughout the day and this can be a helpful trick in your home learning space.
Offer kids tools for success
Picture this situation: A child is on a Zoom or live learning session with their class. They have their headphones on for quite some time. When the session is over, you ask what they talked about and what the teacher would like them to complete next. The child shrugs and says I don’t know or I didn’t understand. You suggest that your student asks the teacher for clarification. They say they do not want to. This phenomenon is all too common with e-learning. In a perfect world, an adult could accompany the student and could listen in on the call and could assist. However, it is not realistic that this will be the case in most situations. A student may struggle to listen for extended periods, may have zoned out, the internet connection may have dropped, or they may have anxiety about speaking on the call. After all, many remote learners have not physically met some of their classmates or their teacher. It can be terribly intimidating for them to speak up. As an adult, it is helpful to understand this and help give your child the tools they need to succeed. Teach your child how to send an email to their teacher or use the chat function to ask a question if they don’t feel comfortable asking aloud. It takes a village. Reaching out to the teacher and providing feedback and asking questions is a helpful way to better understand how your child is doing and what support they may need. By better understanding what your child is learning, where they are excelling and where they are struggling, you can better assist the learning process.
Create your own positive learning culture
Learning isn’t always linear and tends to be messy in the best of times, but especially in these remote learning days. While teachers, schools, and parents are doing their very best for the students, some days it may not seem ideal. We must remember that our learners look to the adults in their lives to set the mood and the tone for their day of learning. Even when it may not seem like there is much to celebrate, offer praise and encouragement even for minor successes. Verbal affirmations that praise the child’s effort rather than their intelligence can sound like, “You should be proud of yourself for trying hard on this assignment!” or “You did a great job not giving up even when this problem got challenging!”.
You can also help to recreate some of the fun aspects of school that kids are desperately missing. For example, positive reinforcement of effort and behavior, such as offering an earned play break or a treat. Creating theme days to keep the day fun and interesting, like: Fun Friday, Wear PJs Wednesday, Tie-Dye Thursday, or celebrating birthdays of classmates, even at home, are a fun way to keep kids invested in their schooling.
Assisting your child with remote learning can seem like a Herculean task for any adult. Add in a job, other children and responsibilities, and it can seem nearly impossible. Creating a positive and consistent home learning environment can be one of the best ways to improve the outcomes of remote learning and ease the stress of schooling from your home. It takes work and time to establish a routine and expectations. However, the more you assist in the creation of a learning environment that is organized, positive, and promotes independence, the more your child will become a self-directed learner. Regardless of if your child is in-person, fully remote, or a hybrid learner, there is no denying the importance of the learning environment.