Start by obtaining the following items:

1.        Pencils, erasers, pencil sharpener

2.       Colored pencils/markers/crayons

3.       Ruler

4.       Scissors

5.       Clear and masking tape

6.       White glue and glue sticks

7.       Plain white paper & lined paper

8.       A table caddy

9.       Simple filing crate, stacking paper drawers or letter trays

10.    Monthly wall calendar

(Additional items, depending on your child’s age: calculator, protractor, computer, dictionary, thesaurus.)

Most children have some sort of daily or weekly homework.  Children need a clean, organized workspace in order to do their best thinking, learning and creating. The workspace doesn’t need to be very big….just big enough for a chair and a writing surface.  Much like adults, it’s hard for children to concentrate when distractions are looming. Young workers need “white space”…..spaces that are left blank on purpose.  Fight the urge to cover every inch of your child’s room or homework area with charts and posters.

• Start by removing everything in the homework space.  Put back only the above items.

• Have your child help you set up their space.  Preschoolers and kindergarteners can help you organize and sort their school supplies into the table caddy.  They will be responsible for keeping them in good order. Children are natural sorters and thrive in an organized area.  Older children will be able to help sort work and papers into the files or folders. 

• For younger children, try this simple filing system: (I use this in my classroom for first graders.) Have 2 baskets; a green for “In Process/Still Working” and a red basket for “Finished/Stop.” For older children, try color-coding by subject. Science goes in a yellow file labeled “science”, math in the red folder, etc.

• Help your child write due dates on the calendar, which should be in plain view.  For a younger child, it might show which day is show and tell, which day to wear P.E. clothes and when assignments are due.  For an older child who has a lot of assignments in different subject areas, try color coding the assignments on the calendar to match the files: science in yellow, math in red.

Your child will thrive in the organized workspace, practice good study habits, and may even enjoy helping you with the process! Who knows...your child might actually do homework without a reminder!