Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth catching? Students need to engage with learning before it even begins. Significant events in our lives are placed in long term memory. That’s why we still remember the smell of new crayons, the feel of new pencils, the excitement of a new backpack, lunchbox, and picking out notebooks in special colors. Why do we need to shop for back to school clothes and supplies when there are no first day of school pictures and friends to meet in the lunchroom?

This is important because it sets the stage for learning to begin. Teachers spend the first few weeks of school establishing the routines and procedures that make the rest of the year flow smoothly. These routines include where to find materials, how to use a planner or agenda, how and when to sharpen pencils, when to take a break, how to ask questions, and where to put completed assignments. Parents need to do the same thing in their rental home.   

It is important to set up a home learning space that makes each child feel comfortable. Each student needs a table or desk, access to good light, sharpened pencils, pens, markers, crayons, notebook paper, and notebooks. Headphones can help minimize distractions.

When schools shut down in the spring, I had my grandson at my house to learn from home. The dining room table, covered with a plastic tablecloth, became our workspace. I taped the tablecloth to the underside of the table with painter’s tape so it would not move around. We added inspirational posters to the wall using painter’s tape. We even hung two placements on the wall because they had maps on them! Sitting down in our classroom space signaled to him that school was in session.  When we took a break for a snack, it was done away from the learning space.  

As a teacher, please do not let your students engage in online learning from their beds.  I have had online meetings with students in bed with a pillow behind their head and covers up to their neck.  I have also had students spinning around in a desk chair, eating a three course lunch, leaving the room and entering again several times, and showing their pets to the class. Most teachers will have a get-to-know you session where the pets can be talked about or shown during a particular session.  Teachers know that the baby will cry, a sibling will run by in the background, and life will happen during learning. 

The computer should be placed close to the height of the student’s face.  The light source should be placed in front of a student computer or tablet when engaging in an online class.  This allows the teacher to see the student’s face.  Teachers are developing new relationships with students through a computer.  Students need to know where to put completed work.  You can have a folder or a tray for any work completed each week.  Students may be writing on paper to draft assignments or working out math problems even though they may be submitting the assignments online. 

A predictable routine including a schedule, a designated place for learning, and a positive attitude will set up a student for success.  Take that back to school picture in front of the new workspace.  Buy special back to school snacks for a break.  Put on a new t-shirt.  Use the new pencils and notebooks.  It is a new year, so let’s get learning off to a great start, even if it’s in your rental space!