If you dread the thought of back to school (and back to a huge inflow of paper!), consider joining my online class Organize Your Paper Clutter. This class is a self-paced online class which means you can start today and make progress at the pace that is right for you!
Back to school means back to homework! Make it all a notch easier by setting up a simple homework station. Stock it with supplies your child will need to complete homework and other at-home projects throughout the school year. Allocate or purchase age-appropriate supplies such as:
- Pencils and/or pens (plus, have a reliable pencil sharpener close at hand!)
- Markers
- Crayons
- Ruler
- Stapler
- Hole punch
- Transparent tape
- Scissors
- Construction paper
- Notebook paper
- Glue and / or glue stick
- Eraser
The above list was provided by my son’s former first grade teacher. Ask your children’s teachers their supply recommendations based on their curriculum and planned projects. My additions to the list include white poster board and empty shoe boxes, but your list and needs may vary.
My son’s first grade teacher also had these suggestions for homework success:
- Remember that homework is your child’s responsibility, not yours. You can help your child embrace this responsibility by setting up a designated homework spot, and creating new routines.
- Give your child something in which to carry schoolwork back and forth, such as a backpack and / or a designated folder.
- Designate a spot for your child to place his backpack and / or folder every day after school. You’ll easily find your homework—permission slips, newsletters and other school info—and your child will know where to put his homework assignments when they’re completed.
- Establish a set time to do homework each day, and let your child help decide the best time for him or her. Setting a specific time and sticking to the schedule will help reinforce the importance of homework to your child.
- Help your child create the habit of placing his completed homework in the same spot each day, such as returning it to his homework folder or backpack. You’ll save last-minute rushing in the morning if the homework is always in the same place!
What are your tips and ideas for homework success? Do you have any can’t-live-without supplies that aren’t on the list? I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks Aby – I had used your shelf plan to make a nice arts n crafts shelving space for my kids – space is limited for us, so I bought one of those multi drawer units (on casters) for our homework spot. It sits in the dining room (where we do homework)and has the following drawers : current, supplies, games & activities, writing, reading and Math. it’s worked very well for us – and my son’s backpack sits right on top.
Keep those tips coming – I’m addicted! 🙂
Hillary
Great tips…thank you!! I have a little one starting kindergarten this year. Do kindergarten kids have homework??! Hmmmm…
My kids had simple homework in kindergarten, things like looking through a magazine and finding pictures of three things that start with the letter A…stuff like that. We also had some fun, craft-type homework project, like making gluing 100 items onto a piece of posterboard for the 100t day of school. The supply cabinet came in handy for those types of projects. At that point in time we had a stash of magazines on hand, too. Great question to ask your child’s teacher though.
Aby
I set up a homework station a few years ago and it is wonderful! Some other things in our stash that are not listed…Dice and something to use as counters for all those elementary math problems, a small timer for timed math or reading homework, small pencil sharpener and a small dictionary. These have come in really handy and help my kids to try and figure things out first before they come and ask for help.
Great ideas! When my oldest DD (now 15) was going into Kindergarten, they recommended a similar set-up for us. One thing I always try to stock up on are note cards… I can never seem to find these when I really need them. Happy Back-to-School!
We have a go to supply shelf for the same things plus index cards and
marble composition books. We refill every so often when we find we are at a store and there is a sale. Sure beats the rush….I keep “oak tag” on hand too for projects.
pve
This will be my first year with a child old enough to HAVE homework… so thanks for the list!!!
The note about shoe boxes made me laugh! After 7 children and 24 years of public school parenting, I still can’t let a shoe box go without first examining its potential for a school assignment!
We have a sack lunch “kit” — a plastic box (shoe box size) that lives on the most convenient shelf in our pantry. It has sandwich size plastic bags, napkins, plastic spoons, peanut butter and honey, a few paper lunch sacks (though we usually use re-usable ones). As I put it away each day, I add juice boxes and little packages of applesauce for the next day. For a quick sack lunch, all I need beyond that is bread!
We add other things for variety, but the basic supplies are all together, to the counter in one motion, and back in the pantry in one motion.
My two tips are first CONSISTENCY and like you said, set up a time for homework. It is important that you stick with that time though each and every day.
Second, my kids like a snack when they come home from school. I have fresh fruit cleaned and cut and sitting on the counter ready for them. I find they reach for it (because it is handy and convenient) rather than raiding the pantry for chips or something unhealthy. Healthy foods make healthy minds.
Nancy
I bought some plastic containers for my son to use for all his stuffs and his closet is now all organized with shelves and they are all labeled for easy access.
These tips you have are helpful as well. Thanks much.