Minimizing Distractions - SLO Classical Academy
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Welcome to Down Home, San Luis Obispo Classical Academy’s blog! We are a classical school offering several options to make our education work for families with infants through high schoolers. Our signature hybrid program, which is part-time classroom and part-time home instruction, provides an engaging education for preschool through middle school (with full time options available). We also have a university model high school. This blog is meant to support and encourage on the home front because, in so many ways, the heart of what happens at SLO Classical Academy happens down home.

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Minimizing Distractions

{photo by Mary Knudson}

Around our house we tend to slide into well-deserved and fully-authorized lazy habits during any kind of holiday break, and it’s just what we need. But that means we also require a little help to get ourselves focused again when school starts back up. It’s a new year and many of us want to begin it with a fresh resolve and good study routines, especially for our home days. Our character trait for January is Diligence (more to come on Thursday!), and what a fitting trait for jumping back into school and being purposeful with our learning time! 

While we can’t eliminate ALL distractions on home days, as we get back into routines this week perhaps a few of these suggestions for minimizing distractions at home will help you and your students stay focused and diligent:


Tidy up the workspace – Whether this is the kitchen table, a school room area, or an individual desk, start the new year with a clear surface to work on, and reduce the visual clutter. 

Have basic supplies ready and nearby – If you’ve gone through a lot of the pencils, markers, glue sticks, paper, etc. that you bought at the beginning of the year, re-stock and make the essentials easy to reach. The less time hunting around for things, the better. 

Provide a quiet space, or play soft music – This one depends on your kids, and they may have different needs. If one desires silence and another works best with some background music, try to have separate areas that fill these needs. When you have littles, it’s obviously going to be hard to remove all the noise. In that case, provide activities to keep them engaged, include them in what you’re doing when possible, and… it will get easier as they grow! 

Keep devices (even yours) out of the room – Maybe this one is obvious, but older kids and teens who have phones are easily distracted by them, and banning them (if not needed for school) during study hours is a good idea. What may be harder is resolving to keep your phone in another room while working with your younger kids. So often a text or phone call disrupts homeschooling… haven’t we all been there? Try keeping your phone in another room during home learning hours and see what happens. We know of a few SLOCA moms who are trying this, and who even let their friends know that they won’t have their phones nearby during homeschool hours. (Sounds like another great way to do life together!)

Be a prepared home instructor – We all know that sometimes the kids are distracted because we aren’t ready! It always helps to read the grids ahead of time, look at the math HIG, and make sure you have all the books you’ll need that week ready before your first home day. 

Give adequate breaks – I often start the school year with a loose schedule that includes breaks, and slowly over time we creep away from it until mom just wants to get everything done as quickly as possible. January is a great time to re-focus and remember that besides lunch and outside time, kids need quick 5-10 minute breaks throughout the day to give their brains a rest, grab a snack, and stretch.

Allow movement – Sure, we’d love our kids to sit still in a chair and quietly work through their grids, but many kids learn best while moving. If this is your student, allow fidgeting when needed, or let them lay on the floor, or run laps while you read, or work quietly on something with their hands. As you engage in discussion you’ll likely see that they are listening even when they are moving around. 

When needed, just go outside – There are days when the weather is so enticing, it’s just hard to be indoors. When this mood hits and you can’t fight it, give in and take school outside. (See past blog posts here and here for more about how to do this!) Or enjoy a longer break outdoors before returning to focused work. Sometimes you just have to. 

Don’t clean (or work) during homeschool hours – This primarily applies to those with younger kids who need to sit side by side with them. While it may sound appealing to do the dishes and grammar at the same time, usually neither gets done very effectively when we multitask! We know there are times when you just have to do a few chores during school, but whenever possible, schedule cleaning, laundry, or other work for before or after school hours, or on another day altogether. It will take the pressure off yourself to be “getting things done” and allow you to focus on learning with your kids, which will help keep them focused as well. 

Consider offering a reward for focused work – For those kids who really have a hard time staying focused, or for times when your kids need to show extra diligence (like working through their Invention Convention projects), it might be a good idea to let them work toward some type of prize. Use a sticker chart, marble jar, or something similar to track smaller accomplishments while working toward a larger reward. A few ideas for rewards: a date with mom/dad, a new book, a snack card at the SLOCA store, an app download, a picnic with all their favorite foods, a Fred & Betty’s shopping spree… Most of all, make sure they know that you notice their hard work!

And finally, here’s a handy article: Tips on teaching highly distractible kids

 

How have you learned to minimize distractions in your home? Do you use sensory tools, incentives, brain snacks…?  Anything else we didn’t mention here? We’d love to know how other SLOCA families keep kids on track on home days, so share your tips in the comments!

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