It’s not just us adults who have been spending more time at our desks at home in recent weeks, but the little ones have also shifted their daily workplace there.
While some children are able to work at their desks in a concentrated manner, other students find this quite difficult.
What is the reason for this? What should not be missing on the desk and what should be considered when working independently?
Distraction – we know it all too well. If the cell phone is within reach, the eyes wander to the display more often than desired. Magazines or toys have no place at the workplace for this reason.
Lighting – every workplace should be well lit, so a desk lamp is an absolute must-have for our desk, if it’s not in front of a large window.
Chaos – if you have to struggle through high piles to find the right material, you will quickly lose the desire to work and waste time unnecessarily. So it’s better to tidy up properly once and then get started in an organized way.
Deco – feeling good comes first. Nevertheless, our desk should not be overloaded. If you like, you can focus on one or two favorite decorative elements that make the workplace more personal.
Encoding specificity – a term from psychology. It means that we can best recall information in the context in which we have stored it. So if you’re not writing your next exam in your pajamas on the couch, you should probably avoid this workspace….
Pencil case – an indispensable basic. In addition to fountain pens or ballpoint pens, pencils, rulers and erasers should not be missing. Depending on the grade level and subject, colored pencils, set square, compasses and highlighters are also basic.
Drink – if you don’t want to run the risk of spoiling your day with concentration problems or headaches, you should make sure you drink enough fluids. That’s why our drink is also welcome at the desk.
Cell phone – quickly asked again in the class chat or googled this one term, the cell phone is nowadays also an important part in the life of the little ones. But if it leads to distraction too quickly, you might want to think about setting a screen time or banning the smartphone from the study altogether.
Snack – or even the little snack in between. As tempting as it may be, food should be kept away from our workspace as much as possible to avoid uncontrollable eating on the side.
Index cards – can be used in many areas. Besides vocabulary, definitions or technical terms can be learned in a sustainable way. They are best sorted in a card index box.
Laptop – in this time hardly to be imagined without. Whether via Skype or moodle, lessons are mainly held online, which is why the laptop is welcome to find its place on the desk.
Music – a much-discussed topic to which even experts have no clear answer. Basically, everyone has to find out for themselves whether the music is a distraction or whether a certain basic tone contributes to an optimal working atmosphere.
Tutoring – in the current situation also possible at your own desk via Skype.
Organization – a good filing system is half the battle. Folders or magazine holders allow for a tidy work environment. Many items can be quickly repurposed to keep things tidy. Others can be easily upcycled from “trash” like a pen holder from a tin can or a magazine organizer from an empty cereal box.
Break time – break time is not only important at school, but also at the workplace at home. You can romp around and fortify yourself so that you can concentrate again afterwards.
Make nonsense – but preferably only in the break 😉
Eraser – mistakes are human and should never be negative. So the eraser is allowed to stay.
Scratch paper – collected in an extra Utensilio, old one-sided prints or failed print jobs become the perfect, sustainable scratch paper.
Stapler – hole punch and co. At home, we need a bit more equipment than at school to be able to file everything in an orderly fashion.
Utensils – such as the writing pad, the vocabulary book or even the textbook must not be missing, of course. A roll container or shelf provide enough storage space under the desk.
Preparatory work – if the material can be divided up yourself, you often tend to skip over supposedly simple topics. Even at the desk at home, it is advisable to work through all the points, and you can set the pace yourself.
Alarm clock – those who work too long without a break, often make careless mistakes. The Pomodoro technique and our alarm clock can help.
X & Y – are welcome to add. I am happy about any comment on the topic 🙂
Paperwork – as already said… Unfortunately not a good idea….