Creating a Home Study Area

Where do your kids do their homework? While my kids have a full-up kids office, complete with computers, kid-sized office chairs and supplies, I prefer they do the bulk of it at the kitchen table.  They are more focused there.

So what do you really need to create a home study area at your house?

Start with a well-lit, solid surface with plenty of elbow room. In my house it is the kitchen table, but a desk would work well too. Just make sure there is enough room to spread out and write. Another reason I like the kitchen table for us is NO TV. The kitchen is pretty distraction-free.

In addition to the supplies you buy your kids for school, middle school expert, Joe Bruzzese recommends keeping the following supplies at home for all those homework project needs:

• 2 packs of loose-leaf paper (a.k.a. binder paper, usually found in packs of 100 or more)
• 1 Box of pencils (24 pencils)
• 1 Box of pens (12-24 pens)
• 2 packs of Post-it notes (2-inch square notes)
• 1 Stapler (Buy the desktop size. The mini-size version holds about five staples.)
• 1 Box of staples
• 1 Box of paper clips (Look for the large size.)
• 3-hole punch (Buy the heavy version and it will last for years to come.)
• 1 File crate (The traditional egg crate variety will do the job.)
• 1 Box of hanging files (The hanging files fit neatly into the egg crate.)
• 1 Desktop calendar (Check the date on the calendar. Look for a calendar that begins in the summer months and continues through the new year.)
• 1 Pack of index cards (3×5 or 4×6)
• 1 Pencil sharpener (handheld or electric)

I keep a large basket in the study area stocked with these types of items year round. Joe recommends printing out the list and keeping in the home study area. As you use certain items up, note them on the list so you can replenish them before that last minute project appears!