Spaces that Make the Grade

If you interviewed 100 students who are at the top of their class they would likely have a couple of things in common-strong organizational skills, parent involvement and a desire to succeed among them. You'd also more often than not hear that these honor students have a designated space in their homes for studying.


Let's face it, very few kids love homework, but writing spelling words and solving math problems would be a whole lot more fun if you could practice them on a giant black board.




Having all the necessary supplies for homework gathered in one spot prevents the need for daily hunts and cuts down on homework time. Use ordinary household items to corral supplies.

Cover old cans with decorative papers or fabric scraps and organize supplies inside.

Create an attractive display of pencils by drilling holes into a piece of wood. A flower frog would work well for this too.

Clip boards are a fun alternative to the bulletin board and work just as well for holding papers, permission slips and notes.

Get the kids involved in the process of creating their study space by letting them choose accessories for organizing their study supplies. Chances are they are going to choose brightly colored or patterned items.

Sophisticated tweens and teens will love these office supplies from Missoni, available this month at Target.



Think in terms of creating a study area that will grow with your child, choosing a desk that won't seem juvenile as your child reaches adolescence.

This desk could take your child from first grade through college and straight into their first apartment.

A thrift store desk could be updated in an afternoon with a coat of paint.

Whether it's a corner of your kitchen or an entire room, having a designated space for studying and homework takes some of the stress out of back-to-school time.

*All images via Pinterest