Who knew organizing for homework would be so challenging? I had no idea. My 1st grader is coming home with some serious work. Granted, the teachers told me it should only take 30-45 minutes each day – but keeping track of what needs to get done each week and turned in every Friday was initially overwhelming.
So I had to get organized. First, I got some file folders and put my 1st grader’s assignments in a folder designated for each day of the week. For us, we only needed to have folders for Monday through Thursday. Then, I took the assignments and put it into each day-of-the-week folder. I added other extra work like math addition problems and handwriting practice. I’ll probably add other work like flash cards for addition problems later on in the year.
Our homework center
Days-of-the-week homework folders
Homework folder assignments
I did the same for my 4 year old so he could feel like a big boy and have homework too. I’ve filled his day-of-the-week folders with mazes, letter recognition, handwriting practice, early math concepts like counting, more and less, and number recognition. I’m working on printing a movable alphabet from Montessori Print Shop and other cool Montessori-inspired printables.
So far it’s been great. We wavered a bit in finding a suitable time. My kids are fried after dinner but doing homework right after school just seemed like torture. So I let them play when they first get home and we do our homework before dinner around 5 or 5:30 pm. If they do their homework with no complaints or goofing off then I let them watch 30 minutes of TV after they take a shower.
What’s your best homework organization tip?
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Tracey Black is the founder and editor-in-chief for Don't Mess with Mama, the sassy mom's guide to parenting, green living and travel. She is a regular contributor to Redbook's Mamarama blog, and a social media strategist working with eco-friendly brands such as Stonyfield, Juice Beauty and others. She has three boys and lives in San Diego, Calif.
We have a caddy with three slots marked, Library Books, School and Church. My son is in second grade so homework and reading is now daily. We do keep his math book at home and a sheet is torn out and turned in about 4 days a week.
His reading log is on a bulletin board above his desk.
I need another piece for the setup for his Kumon and Reading activity book that we do on our own because the class sizes are so large in California that I want to make sure he is getting as much education that as I can allow. We do not do the extras every day, just when homework is light.
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Great advice. I find myself giving my 1st grader a bit of extra work to do as well – and he goes to a private Montessori school where class sizes are small. I feel like repetition and routine has really helped my boys stick with homework every day. The only thing I struggle with is the time to do it. I find they’re burned out right after school but anything after 5 pm and they are drained from the day.