Ensurin your child is well prepared for school is essential. You remember those days, right? Those moments in school when you knew that you had an exam coming up that you needed to prepare for. Based on the particular subject matter and how you felt about it, sometimes the “You have a test next week” announcement brought forth feelings of anticipation, while other times it caused us to be downright fear. After all, it can be a bit unsettling to be expected to recall all that you’ve learned in a class in a few minutes of time.

This is what you have to remember when your child comes to you for help on how to prepare for the exams in school that they have coming up; that you were once in their very shoes.

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Do you want some tips on how to support them in a way that will bring forth great results? We have a few for you below (no test at the end, though):

Plan ahead.

There’s a pretty big chance that your child is not going to tell you about the test right when they found out that they were going to have one. For this reason, it’s a good idea to speak with their teachers so that you can get a copy of their syllabus. That way, rather than only having two days to help them prepare, you can prepare during the week (or even couple of weeks) of time that they were initially given to study.

Set up a schedule.

One of the best ways to learn is through repetition. It’s a lot easier for your child to retain information by spending 15 minutes a day on the required material rather than five hours the night before while trying to cram it all in. So, whether it’s before their homework or after dinner, definitely make sure to devote some time to going over their study lessons with them.

Make it fun.

The test is already going to be pretty “ho hum”, so why not make the study sessions a bit more entertaining? You can create flashcards, you can turn it into a game, you can write a song out of the answers…the possibilities are endless. Just make sure that “fun” is a part of the theme as you come up with ways to hold their attention.

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Consider a tutor.

Some children simply have a hard time taking tests. There’s nothing “right” or “wrong” about that fact; they simply learn and retain differently. However, if your child is consistently doing poorly during their exams, you might want to consider looking for one of the best home tutors in your area; someone who is an expert at preparing students for tests. For more information on how to locate a tutor, visit Tutor.com, Tutors.com or the Khan Academy.

Keep them calm. When a child is preparing for a test or is about the take one, it almost doesn’t matter how much knowledge they have stored away if they are stressed out. For this reason, it’s imperative that as you are going various lesson studies with your child that you also incorporate mind exercises that they can do to calm down such as inhaling and exhaling, counting quietly from 1-10 and thinking about things that make them happy. When their mind is peaceful, they are sure to get better academic results; especially during their exams.

For more examination guidance for kids on Stagetecture, click here.

Whether you are a college student, friend of a college student or a parent, everyone knows that back to school time is officially here for colleges and universities. Creating the perfect dorm room is on everyone’s mind! I remember in college everyone wanted to “hang” in my room because I was the one with colorful bedding, lamps instead of using the awful fluorescent lighting and my room was always clean!

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While a cool dorm room is the end result, how do you make a designer dorm room without having to spend a lot of money to do it? Let’s face it, when you go to the store – there are so many choices! Today’s DIY Saturday, learn how to create a color coordinated dorm room without being a designer. Watch a video where two designers use everyday finds found at big box stores to create a gorgeous dorm room.

Then use the Dorm Checklist to find your favorite finds and essentials you will need for college.

You Tube Video – DORM ROOM Room Tour Decorating Ideas

Dorm Room Checklist – Essentials for Study, Relaxing & Sleeping

Don’t forget your dorm room essentials! From your study area to relaxing and sleeping. Your dorm room will now become your home so make it personable, functional and enjoyable to party, study, and sleep in! Here’s a checklist of important dorm room items. Check them off to make sure you are ready for school!

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STUDY

• Desk – Don’t have enough room, get a smaller desk for organization.
• Furniture Risers – Lift up your furniture to get more space!
• Lounging Bean Bags – Have a place for all your friends to hang out and sit!
• Desk Lamp – Dorm rooms don’t usually come with desk lights.
• Bookcase
• Docking Station
• Book Light – Don’t wake up your roommate while studying late at night.
• Computer
• Printer
• Extension Cord

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RELAX – SLEEP

• Bed Linen (Twin) – Dorm Room in a Box (Comforter, Sheets, Pillowcases, Pillows, Towels all in one)
• Bed linen (Twin)  – (Comforter, Sheets, Pillowcase)
• Bed Risers
• Pillows
• TV
• TV Mount – Save space and mount your tv to the wall
• Lounge Chair
• Wall Clock
• Alarm Clock/iPod dock – Wake up on time for those early classes
• Microwave

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DORM ROOM DECOR

• String lights – Make your dorm room look cool!
• Room Divider – Keep your privacy and still make your room look great.
• Magnetic Bulletin Board – Keep all your papers in one spot to keep organized
• Area Rug – Dress up your concrete dorm room floor with a warm rug
• Full length mirror – Make sure you look great everyday with an easy wall mountable full length mirror

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Personalize your dorm room with string lights, colorful artwork, and bed linen that makes your dorm room uniquely yours!

For more dorm room ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Want more cool dorm room ideas? Click here to visit www.DormCo.com

Now that back to school time is around the corner, have you made sure your kids’ room is conducive to studying? Providing your kids with innovative furniture can motivate them to do their homework and study their lessons. Study room furniture can also add comfort and convenience your kids need while studying and create less fatigue than sitting on the floor or their beds.

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Before rushing to your favorite furniture shop, make sure to assess what they truly need. It is also important to know your kids thoughts and preferences. You may ask your kids to shop with you for better decision making. While you will pay for it, they will need to actually USE IT.

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For your kids study room, consider including:

Study Table and Chair

It is very important to consider a study table that has built-in storage and accessible shelves. It doesn’t have to be wide but make sure that your kids’ hands can freely move for convenience. There are styles that can be folded compartments to cater more space when needed. For chairs, prefer an ergonomic chair. This type of chair is specifically designed for comfort even during long hours of use.

Computer Table

Kids are on the computer today more than ever! Almost everything can be learned and found online. This is why a computer set with well-designed desk is a must. In choosing the right computer table, look for a desk that has plenty of storage. It will encourage your kids to develop their computer skills and do online researches.

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Book Shelves

Bookshelves are essential, even though information can be found online, there is still the the need for books. Books are still your kid’s source of knowledge and a beautiful way to help your kids learn within arms reach. This makes it very necessary to have well-made book shelves in your kid’s study room. From bookshelves on the wall to small libraries in a playroom, never underestimate the importance of bookshelves.

Always choose comfort over style. This will help your kid to last whenever things are getting tough and demanding in school. Your choice of furniture serves as an extension of your care for their studies. Help your children enjoy studying by outfitting their room in essential study furniture.

For more kids’ room ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

]]> https://stagetecture.com/the-best-kids-study-room-furniture-for-back-to-school/feed/ 0 30712 https://stagetecture.com/guest-blogger-tips-to-design-your-personalized-computer-study-area/ https://stagetecture.com/guest-blogger-tips-to-design-your-personalized-computer-study-area/#respond Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:53:53 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=28507 Guest Blogger #575, Entry #1313, June18, 2012

You’ve found either a subject in school or a career trajectory that you’re passionate about, and you want to set up an environment that will help you excel. Well, congratulations! Many people go through their whole lives without finding something that fills them with such a level of interest and excitement that they’re willing to put in whatever amount of work it takes to be successful. But now you need an area where you can stay focused and get the work done, and that’s your computer study room. But if you’re designing it from scratch, you may not know quite how to begin. What turns a spare room, a finished attic, or even an extra few feet of the garage into a proper study room? Here are some design essentials to get your started.

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Give your space a facelift

First off, you should consider painting the space a different color than the rest of the house, as a way of designating it for study. A cool blue or neutral tone could help you keep calm and focus in on your work. Or you could go with a bright, wilder color to inspire your creativity. Outside of the color of the study room, consider additions to the walls that help you work effectively. Chalkboard paint is a great option, so you can keep track of projects or just brainstorm. If you don’t want to give up a whole wall to chalkboard paint, or don’t have the space, you could hang a small chalkboard or use a dry erase whiteboard. Finish off the wall work with posters or paintings that inspire you, either quotes from your favorite public figures, or images that remind you why you are working so hard in the first place.

Bring in inspiring furniture

Now that the walls are handled, it’s time to think about the furniture. It all starts with the right desk. You need a desk that sits at the proper height, and has space for everything you regularly study with. It doesn’t have to be huge, so don’t despair if the room is small. There are hideaway desks that actually have a built in chair, or desktops that raise up to reveal storage for all of your devices. Regardless of which way you go with it, make sure it’s situated so everything you need is within reach. Consider classic, wooden pieces if that’s your aesthetic, or sleek, modern pieces if you want that cutting edge look. The chair should be comfortable for long hours of sitting. You should probably splurge on something that’s ergonomically designed, to avoid neck and back troubles, and make sure it can raise up to position your hands comfortably on a keyboard. Finish it off with an adjustable lamp that you can turn up for reading or turn down for viewing videos or tutorials.

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Choose technology that matches your study lifestyle

Now it’s time to turn your attention to the technology. Choices here will all come down to how you work most effectively. Do you need a traditional telephone, or are you comfortable with a cellphone and a wireless headset? Whichever direction you go, make sure you can silence or turn off the phone when you don’t want to be disturbed. Studying is the focus of this space, not chatting with your friends. On the computing side, you can go for a tower computer or a laptop. That decision may be predicated by the space you have available. Make sure you can fit the computer with a screen protector, not only to avoid scratches, but also to help prevent eyestrain. And if you do go with a laptop, consider adding a wireless mouse and keyboard. You’ll be spending quite a long time at that computer, and you want using it to be as effortless as possible. Finish it off with a filing cabinet that fits your needs and a bookshelf for all of your reference materials, and you should be good to go.

For more home office ideas on Stagetecture, click here.