The first virtual start to the school year in Haverford Township has proved to be a difficult adjustment for students. Preparing for this academic year may look different than in the past, but these tips will help you ease into it! 

The most important guarantee for a successful year is a clean work space, void of any distractions. Keep your desk or table surface clean and uncluttered. According to scientists at Princeton University Neuroscience Institute, constant visual reminders of disorganization reduce our ability to focus. When clearing the clutter, people are better able to process information and focus, as well as increase productivity. Choose a work space location that has few decorations such as wall hangings or trinkets.

In physical school, students primarily choose to carry all their supplies in their backpack from class to class. Everything that went in your backpack should be accessible in your work space. Keep papers, textbooks, writing utensils, and binders or folders in your work space. This creates a seamless transition from subject to subject and ensures that you know where everything is.

Stay hydrated! You don’t have water fountains to stop at between classes. Keep a water bottle in your work space to avoid unnecessary trips during class. Hunger negatively impacts one’s ability to focus and learn. Have a snack nearby in case you get hungry. Be sure to be respectful of your teacher’s rules! The five minute breaks between classes seem extra long without the walk to the next classroom. Use this time to refill your water, get a snack, and go to the bathroom.

It can be easy to leave your Chromebook on your desk or table when class is over until the next day. Do not forget to charge your Chromebook every night! Your attendance in class depends on your Chromebook’s charge. With a full school day on the computer, the Chromebook batteries drain quickly. Although phones are a useful tool in the classroom, in your home it’s easy to check social media and talk to your friends. Try to leave your phone out of your work space or away in a drawer. To minimize temptation, turn your ringer off and turn on ‘Do Not Disturb’. Be respectful of individual teacher’s rules about phones. 

Classes can blend together after spending hours seated in the same spot. Take advantage of breaks between classes to stretch, walk around the room, and look out a window. Although lunch block is only half an hour, consider eating your lunch outside, in a backyard, or even on porch steps. Before starting your homework, take a break. You can walk around the block, have a snack, or do a calm activity. In the workplace, the top 10% percent of productive employees take a 17 minute break after an hour of work. Although this is not completely possible with 75 minute class blocks, it is a good idea to take a break between the school day and homework.

This year will be filled with challenges, but you can ensure your own success for a great school year! These tips will be helpful tools in easing yourself into the virtual school environment!