Looking Well

As promised, we are continuing on the topic of possible schooling at home on a widespread level this year.

Multiple people in one house all day long. Everyone trying to get work done. Each person has a list of stuff to fit into the day. How can it all fit smoothly?

Space
Where we do things matters, so let’s talk about assigning space in the home.

Physical location can help as a cue for getting in the groove. If I always work at my desk, sitting in my desk chair gets my mind ready to focus on work. This is easily done if you have a separate school room with individual desks, but it is still possible in other situations. If you do school work at the dining room table, assigned seats help with the mental transition. A habit of each student having a designated area in the available living space does the same thing. Basically, if your body is in this spot, your mind knows it’s time for school.

Separate areas can help with quiet focus. Younger children may need separate rooms for activities. Be careful about distractions in bedrooms, if easy and unsupervised access to devices and toys is there, but that can be a solution for multiples.

Set space for schooling also allows easy access to tools. It may not be a desk, but you can stash pencil boxes, and possibly even books, nearby instead of assembling what is needed each time.

Finally, assigning space once cuts out fresh traffic direction each and every morning.

Time
Boundaries don’t just work for physical space. Set times for different activities can help keep focus sharp.

Whether you just set aside the morning, or the day until late afternoon, or you map out 50 minutes of every hour, labelling time helps keep schooling where it belongs. When it’s school time, it is clear what is the priority. When it is break time or lunch time, everyone relax! School time will come again soon enough, and tasks can be tackled then. Focused time is more effective, and breaks set that time apart. When the school day is over, it’s over — just as much as when students left the school building.

If you are a mother of school-aged children, this post is for you. While the main principle applies to a lot more than the new school year, we will be specifically discussing that situation.

We all vividly remember how the last school year ended, even if we are trying to block it out for the summer. Whether your district closed down completely or successfully went online, whether changes came early or late, things were different across the board. Many families ended up schooling and working and living together 24/7, without the normal breaks in routine and location.

Now, we are looking to start all over again. There is a wide variety in the plans of school districts and businesses, but this fall may include similarities to the spring. If you are planning to continue schooling at home — in whatever form — how are you preparing for that?

We will continue in future posts to discuss some specific tips: boundaries, preparation, and perspective. But before we go there, let’s stop and think.

What worked last time? We try different things as we adjust. Some things work well, and some don’t. Sometimes success is accidental, but take advantage of it anyway. If the research is already done, don’t waste it. Take note.

• Did you have sufficient internet service? Did you up your service to a level that did work?
• Did everyone have a place to work that had enough space and quiet?
• Was the revised daily routine smooth and productive for everyone?
• Were you able to revise meal plans and make them work?
• Did you find ways to continue important relationships outside the home without spending time together in person?

We all have things in common, but we have just as much unique in our lives. Know what worked for you. If it was helpful to you before, plan on using it again this fall.

What didn’t work? There were probably some pain points that never got solved. What was aggravating for you? What was frustrating to your students? Take a minute to identify these points. That’s the first step in solving the problem.

• Did your schedule have enough quiet time and active time?
• Is everyone comfortable with the required technology?
• Do you have enough devices to cover work and school?
• Are you aware of assistance you may need and where to access it?

Now we can address those things and — hopefully — eliminate them.