Parents advised to prepare homework environment for students

Enrollment, shopping for school supplies and homework are right around the corner as another school year approaches and experts encourage students and their families to set routines that can be followed during another year of learning.

Patty Smilie, counselor at Fort Scott High School, said it is important for parents to establish routines with their children's study habits early in their lives so they will grow accustomed to the schedule.

"Decide the child will spend 'X' number of minutes reading and writing; establish these early in life so they know that's part of their routine," Smilie said. "Set a time. And maybe they don't have homework but they can read and do away with electronics for awhile."

Smilie said it may be difficult for some students to study without the use of electronic devices, given how common the use of digital technology has become in today's society. Smilie said parents can make compromises with their children if they need to listen to headphones or use other devices as they study.

It's good for children and young people to be monitored during their study time by parents or another adult in the house, Smilie said.

"They need quietness, but they also need it where it's not so private and isolated," she said.

Educators at Kansas Connections Academy, a K-12 virtual public school, have offered some tips in a news release that can help improve learning habits at home. Whether students are learning at home or in a traditional classroom, the tips are easy to implement and will improve students' study environment. The KCA also says parents should ensure they are making the home conducive to learning without making studying a chore.

The following are tips to make the home more conducive for learning:

* Reduce clutter and get organized. Stacks of workbooks and papers make studying appear as a daunting task. Help your child organize his or her learning materials and store them in a dedicated place such as a filing cabinet or paper folders - one for each subject. Consider pasting a chart on the inside front cover of the folders to 1) track the amount of time spent studying for each subject, and 2) note what chapters and assignments have been completed. This will organize your student's educational materials within your home and document his or her learning accomplishments for the school year.

"(Organization) needs to start early on so it becomes a pattern in their life," Smilie said. "A lot of times parents don't think about that."

* Monitor noise levels. Whether the child is working independently or together with the parent, phones, televisions and outside noises distract children and pull them out of their studies - even if it is coming from another room. Be aware of when your child is studying and encourage family and visitors to avoid unnecessary interruptions, such as loud video games or conversations. Consider turning off or silencing electronic devices that can interfere with students' concentration during study time.

"Some kids want to listen to music," Smilie said. "It has to do with the individual's style of learning. Let them try. If it's (homework) not getting done, the parent may step up and make some compromises."

* Designate an "education space." Designate a room, or even a table, as the student's learning space. Setting aside a specific area of the home where studying takes place creates an environment conducive to learning, much like a working classroom atmosphere. The parent and child will come to associate that space with productive study habits.

Smilie said designation of a study space is a "very good idea."

"Some kids do it on their own; others need direction," she said. "They do need a study area even if it's in their room. Something they associate with study time."

* Create a routine. Having a set time scheduled each day when learning or homework occurs creates good habits for the parents and child. This also is important for other members of the family, so they can avoid creating distractions during study time. Parents shouldn't allow themselves or the child to occasionally watch a favorite television show or go over to a friend's house during this scheduled time. It must be treated as "study-only" time to reinforce the importance of the learning process.

* Make learning enjoyable. Showing interest in the child's ideas and progress makes learning a positive process. Ask the child what materials or environment he or she needs to effectively learn and study within the home. Remember, learning at home doesn't always have to be restricted to the residence - visiting a local science museum or taking in a play may be related to the child's school work.

Smilie said making learning fun for high school-aged youth can sometimes be more difficult than making it enjoyable for younger students. Studying with a friend can be very beneficial.

"High school kids make it fun on their own," she said. "Early on, parents can get really involved with it. It's hard for high school kids to see it's enjoyable. But many times they'll carry it on if it's started early. And by the time they're in high school, they need to be taking responsibility for their homework and getting it done."

Smilie said high school students go through a "social learning experience" that is both "mental and emotional."

"All the activities they learn; they have to cope with a lot of different things," she said. "School is their job, like us with our jobs. It's not just eight hours of the day.