Getting Better Grades with A Proper Work Environment

My Son, almost 14, brought home a progress report last week that I am so proud of. He had a “D” in art class, a “C-” in Language Arts, an “A” in gym, and “Bs” in Science and Social Studies.  I’ll tell you why that is so fantastic and how it happened.

In case you haven’t read here before, my son Drew has some MEAN ADHD.  He is already on a higher dose of medicine than most kids and he could stand to go higher, as far as sitting still in class and focusing on a lecturing teacher goes.  But the higher the dose, the lower the appetite and harder it is to get to sleep at night, so we have found this happy medium that starts wearing off during last hour which is gym class (how perfect is that?).   Homework time is tough for him, but we are figuring out secrets to that too.

School has always been a challenge but Middle School has been killing us.  This is our third year in the big building with the bigger kids, multiple teachers, and higher expectations.  In addition to the actual work done at school, Drew is overwhelmed at the start of each new year by the number of teachers he has, learning his route to each class, etc. Same as all other kids. Just a little magnified.  His pattern has been that his work really suffers the first month of school while he gets comfortable and into a routine, then the grades build up to a nice last marking period set of grades, but not really a cumulative record that reflects his work or his potential. There is no shortage of D’s and E’s in that first marking period.  That’s why the only one “D” was so exciting this year.

By the time the kids get home from school they are antsy and getting tired and when they pull out their homework they are lazy and lay down on the floor with it and don’t have their materials and they bicker with each other and on and on.  You probably know what I am talking about. We have tried different things and in different areas of the house and have found that by setting up a little common area with a mini supply of pencils, erasers, calculator, paper, etc., they stay focused and do better quality work.

I thought the key was the posture and kind of feeling like they are in the classroom so I tried putting them at the kitchen table. I bet that would work for you if you have a place to keep those supplies handy, but we don’t. And it just turned into more distraction… looking out the window and thinking about food.  So for us a set up in the living room is proving effective.

I keep a pretty wicker tray on the coffee table now that has most everything they need for most assignments.  Sitting on the floor working on the coffee table gives them the freedom to squirm in their seats a little, stretch out their legs and get comfortable while still maintaining an active position, as opposed to the lazy laying down.  They have what they need so they are not constantly up and down wasting time and losing track of what they were doing.  And it’s in a cozy area where their Dad and I can sit nearby so they don’t feel lonely and we can provide the gentle reminders to stay on task as well as the assistance they need, WHILE still working on little tasks of our own.  This comfort is its own little reward since for the last few years homework time has consisted of tantrums, crying, and much frustration. We never imagined a quiet cozy family time and doing homework to be one in the same.

Even when we were just in the thinking and planning stages of adopting children I thought about what kind of changes I would like to make to convert our house from the swinging singles party pad to a warm, inviting, and more functional family home.  And I always thought it would be neat to have a room set up similar to a classroom, for studying, playing board games, doing homework, etc.  At the time I didn’t make the connection that it would actually benefit their school work, I just thought it would be fun.  Now seeing the success from just a little organization, I am thinking about setting up a comfy, cozy classroom/art room/play room in the basement again and am on the lookout for discount classroom furniture and accessories.  Our cozy spot now is nice but as they get older and their projects get bigger I am afraid their needs will take over my living room!

I wonder what you all have set up for homework time for your kids?  Any special tips or tricks you’d like to share?