As school buses start rolling out, the homework will start rolling in. According to the U.S. Department of Education, kids who complete more homework score better on standardized tests and get better grades than students who do less. Consult any parenting or education Web site, magazine or book, and one of the primary tips offered for effective study skills is to designate a place where kids can retreat to tackle their homework.
Many families choose the kitchen table, so mom or dad can keep an eye on the student while they start dinner or pay bills. However, the heart of the family home may not be the best place for Homework Central, since it is often accompanied by a host of distractions such as the ringing phone, conversations and sibling traffic. The National Education Association (NEA), like most homework resources, recommends a quiet place devoted to study that is well-lit, distraction-free and stocked with the school supplies and resources your child will need.
Quiet Surroundings Contribute to Academic Success
It's not just a theory that studying in quiet surroundings can contribute to homework success. A landmark study conducted by Dr. Arline Bronzaft on the adverse impact of noise on learning and reading demonstrates the importance of quiet in the learning process - in school and at home. In her studies of academic high achievers, Dr. Bronzaft interviewed members of Phi Beta Kappa, all over the age of 50, to determine academic success factors. Interestingly, nearly all of them recalled a specific quiet time in their homes - quiet time to read, quiet time to do homework and quiet time to think.
While school noise may be beyond parents' ability to control, managing home noise is well within their ability, and can significantly enhance a child's learning skills. If finding space for that quiet retreat poses a challenge, you might consider looking in the basement.
Basement May Offer Study Space
In many homes the basement is one of the last places you'd consider for the NEA's 'well-lit and distraction-free' environment, what with the storage boxes, low-wattage light bulbs and musty old furniture that typify many basement environments. But homeowners are finding that basement finishingor refinishinghas come a long way in recent years, making it a great way to create the quiet environment necessary to help your child succeed in school, along with providing extra usable space in the home.
Refinishing a basement was once considered to be a long and messy process, but there are now systems specifically designed for basements that provide a fast and easy transformation. System approaches have some big advantages over drywall construction. Installing a system of insulated wall components and a drop ceiling takes about two weeks to complete, versus the typical traditional multi-month remodeling process.
The folks at Owens Corning have developed the Basement Finishing System product for just this purpose. Installation, performed by trained professionals, is not only quicker and cleaner, but it helps address the mold and moisture concerns unique to basement environments. The system features insulated walls that are mold and mildew resistant, durable and designed to be removed to allow access to the home's foundation, plumbing or electric wiring. In addition, the system helps make rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer and the walls absorb up to 95 percent of sound, helping to provide a comfortable, quiet place for kids to study.
'Our customers have found that the cozy, quiet environment of a finished basement is a perfect, distraction-free place for children to study. And once their homework is done it doubles as a game room or media roomthe social hub of the home,' says Frank Palmeri, business manager, Owens Corning Basement Finishing System. 'Most homeowners consider the installation to be an investment rather than a cost, adding value to their home for the future while creating a bigger, better living space today.'
Supporting your scholar while increasing your home value? Now that's elementary! |
| Author: Orlando Clark |
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Author Bio:
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