How do you organize for homework?

[Anonymous]

My children are still very young - son is 6, daughter is 4 1/2 - but the homework assignments have started to roll in, not to mention all of the papers for fundraisers, activities, etc. I want to develop good habits now, and so we've built "work time" into our after-school schedule. My problem is that I need to come up with a system for organizing all of the paper! We have a small house, and so for now all of this work takes place at the kitchen counter. Does anyone out there have tips for containing and keeping track of everything? I was thinking of buying an office-style in-box/out-box tray with one slot for each child, but do you think that provides enough room? Should I have a basket for each? Should I do some sort of filing/folder system for the wall? Any advice is appreciated. We also keep a box of crayons, etc. on the counter but it's not in any permanent place.

[Anonymous]

What I do is this. Deal with every single piece of paper the minute you take it out of the backpack. If it's a notice, write it on your calendar then throw the paper away. If it's something to sign and return, do it and put it back in the backpack. If it's artwork or class work, do whatever you would normally do with it (which for me is usually the trash, possibly take photos of it before it goes in). That should leave you with only homework. As far as the homework, I put it back in the folder and then into the backpack every evening after we get done. I never leave it lying around at home.

[Anonymous]

OP - how are papers organized where you work?

[Anonymous]

Ugh. The papers! I agree with the other PP. Deal with things immediately. I'm in Fairfax with the dreaded Tuesday packet. I come home, change my clothes, and sit at the table and go through all of it. I'm able to either trash or return what is needed and the packet goes right back in the backpack. We also keep all homework and library books in there when not being used. It's the only way I keep my sanity with a DS who loses or forgets things A LOT! Still working to train DH on my system though. He's the weak link

[Anonymous]

OP here - YES, the dreaded Tuesday folder is what we're dealing with . My issue is that I can never make up my mind about what I'm going to commit to (volunteer work, permission slips for clubs, charity walks, donations) and what I'm going to pass. I guess I need to get better about making those decisions on Tuesday instead of waiting until later in the week.

For PP - you know, I've been "paperless" at work for years. On the rare occasion that I print something out, I use it for its intended purpose and then recycle it on the same day. I used to have a filing system with an in/out box and cabinet, but I don't have that in my kitchen. I'll keep toying with things. Maybe I'll start with some of those disposable, wall-hanging folders to see if they work?

[Anonymous]

What I do is this. Deal with every single piece of paper the minute you take it out of the backpack. If it's a notice, write it on your calendar then throw the paper away. If it's something to sign and return, do it and put it back in the backpack. If it's artwork or class work, do whatever you would normally do with it (which for me is usually the trash, possibly take photos of it before it goes in). That should leave you with only homework. As far as the homework, I put it back in the folder and then into the backpack every evening after we get done. I never leave it lying around at home.

This. Don't start making piles that you plan to get to "later." Deal with it and toss it, immediately. If you must save things, just get one file folder labeled "school" and keep everything in there. That will force you to keep the saved notices, forms, etc. it to a minimum - then go through it at least once a week to purge what you don't need. I also have a small, flat artwork storage box for each kid, and every once in a while if something really cute comes home, I will put it in there. Otherwise all the artwork, tests, school papers go in the recycling bin.

I'm surprised you have much homework at this point. Is your older one in 1st grade? That should be no more than 15 min. of homework, and a 4.5 yr old should not have any.

I have a 5th grader, 3rd grader, and kindergartener, and the older two have a fair amount of homework, esp. the 5th grader, but they are responsible for putting it back in their backpacks when they're done. They know that if I find papers lying around I will throw them out, even if it's their homework.

[Anonymous]

OP, we are in private so our packet comes later in the week. Deal with all paper immediately. I say no to virtually everything. I have been doing this for 3 years so I know to expect the Halloween party order form in early October, the wreath order form in December, etc. Volunteer stuff is mostly handled by email at our school.

I take all the papers out and go through them. This past week it was -- 1. Halloween party pre-order form. We go every year -- major event at school. I put the date and time in my bberry, filled out the order form for food and tix, wrote check and put it in an envelope and stuck it in the return to school folder in the back pack. 2. School pictures -- picked out my package, wrote check, envelope, backpack. It is already in my bberry. 3. Flier for some 5K - toss 4. Flier for some speech to attend - toss 5. Reminder to participate in yet another fundraiser -- toss. Done. If you wait to make a decision later, you make a minimum of twice the work for yourself.

I keep checkbook and envelopes in the kitchen for this purpose. I do the sort as soon as I get home while I am heating up dinner. I check over homework at the same time and sign her assignment book.

Homework is done at our kitchen table. I have a standup magazine holder where I keep homework supplies -- tablet paper, a pencil box with colored pencils, set of crayons, set of markers, pencils, kids scissors, paperclips, etc. I also installed a regulation pencil sharpener in the kitchen -- $12.00 at office depot I think. Child and nanny pull the homework supply caddy off the shelf and they have everything they need. When they are done, they fill the holder with the supplies removed and place it back on the shelf. It is quite efficient and it has really helped my daughter to become quite independent.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you for the advice. I guess I will just need to deal with the paper immediately and face the facts that my volunteer time is limited. I'm also going to pull together some sort of portable supplies caddy or container that the kids can access and put away on their own. I'll also implement the stand-up magazine holder. That's a great idea. Even though the volume of homework is not great, we do have monthly homework in addition to daily assignments. Daily assignments are easy to handle, as we've been stashing them in the backpack as soon as they are done. But the papers that contain reading logs, "monthly homework" checklists, and journals I think need to go into some sort of an easily accessible and simple storage area. So we can pull it out every day, do the work, then easily stash it back until the end of the month!

[Anonymous]

I love this thread!

OP -- say no to everything, and then if you find you can, you can always call the school and figure out whose in charge if you lost the paper.

[Anonymous]

OP, this is 15:34 again. I forgot to put in that I never ask for my husband's input on any of this stuff. Ever. I pick the picture package -- just not worth the time to consult him when he doesn't care and I don't care what his opinion is. His concern is only that his mom gets pictures. I make sure she does. I don't ask him what his opinion is about the food order for the Halloween party, how many wreaths to order, what lunches will be bought or brought. It takes far less time this way.

[Anonymous]

I went to a homework seminar last year, and the consultant (who was trying to drum up business, but still had a lot of great ideas....) recommended a scrapbooking caddy for homework supplies.

I got this one at Michaels and love it: http://www.etsy.com/listing/32796093/scrap-paper-scissor-mini-accessory?ref=cat2_gallery_1

There are others too: http://www.organizeit.com/po801374neatnix.asp?cmpid=bzRate
Several here: http://www.franticstamper.com/storage.htm

I use it to keep all the supplies my 4th grader needs handy. For her it was very distracting to have to stop and find a supple (scissors, tape, glue stick, etc.) when she needed it. Having everything she needed at her fingertips is great.

[Anonymous]

Son in high school, In elementary school I devote several shelves in a bookcase to homework supplies paper (construction, tracing, graph) and pens and pencils and a protractor and rules and stapler and all the rest ... So, I didn't buy anything new, I just moved stuff around. I also have a school in-box, for forms, etc. It's pretty basic stuff and you will feel terrific when you get organized, you have to find what works for you, of course. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

This doesn't really apply to homework, but I keep a 3-ring binder for each of my kids every school year. I label dividers for the various sections (each subject area, plus sections for notices/general info. pertaining to a specific kid/classroom). When graded work comes home, it goes immediately into the binder. I always put the most recent work at the front of each section. I also keep a smaller binder for general school notices that come home (again, most recent on top). I love binders...every paper has a place

[Anonymous]

FYI There is a lot of new research around people learn/remember things by attaching the learning to a space. But, its a bit debunking do homework in the same set up spot every day. Your brain can remember things better if you were actually at different spots. (Ok not that you need a different spot every time but rotating places through your house is ok) So the caddies or organizational space that are moveable is probably better if you find your child reacts well to this

I've seen some of the underlying validity of the work so its not something I'd just toss as a new fad. My sense is that it works for some learning styles better than others

[Anonymous]

5:42 You mean studying in one place? The NYT just had an article about studies that found that it was better to move around!