Organizational and Homework Help

Developing good organizational skills is a key ingredient for success in school and life. Although some people, by nature, are more organized than others, anyone can put routines and systems in place to help a child "get it together." Here's a list of strategies that you can use to help your child get -- and keep – his/her life under control.

• Use checklists. Help your child get into the habit of keeping a "to-do" list. A homework assignment pad is essential. Crossing completed items off the list will give him/her a sense of accomplishment.
• Be positive about homework. Tell your child how important it is to be successful in school. Offer personal stories so that he/she sees that you DO understand. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires.
• Organize homework assignments. Before beginning a homework session, encourage your child to empty his/her entire backpack. Then, have him/her number the assignments in the order in which they should be done. Have him/her give an estimate on how long he/she thinks each item will take, and keep track of that timing. It will help your child to develop time management skills. Have your child start with an assignment that is not too long or difficult, but avoid saving the longest or hardest assignments for last.
• Check over homework assignments. Take time to review your child’s homework with him/her, but make sure you are not doing it for him/her. Point out errors; help your child correct them. Being familiar with your child’s work will help you identify areas of weakness.
• When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers. Giving answers means your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him/her.
• When the teacher asks that you play a role in homework, do it enthusiastically. Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team. Follow the directions given by the teacher.
• Designate a study space. Your child should study in the same place every night. This should be a quiet place with few distractions, and a bedroom may not be the best choice. All school supplies and materials should be nearby. These supplies should include a large dictionary, a thesaurus, a world atlas, a rhyming dictionary, and a foreign language dictionary. Pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, markers, crayons, colored pencils, extra paper, etc. should also be available. It is likely a better choice to have your child study and do homework with you nearby. You are better able to monitor his/her progress and encourage good study habits. When sitting with your child, do some reading. It is a great model for any student to see.
• Set a designated study time. Your child should know that a certain time every day is reserved for studying and doing homework. The best time is usually right after school, but some children benefit from time to unwind first. If your child is involved in sports or other after school activities, there may not be a choice. Include your child in making this decision. Once the decision is made, be consistent and stick to it. School should always come before other activities.
• Keep organized notebooks. Help your child keep track of papers by organizing them in folders. It may be helpful to unpack the backpack every night for awhile and review the material for each day's classes. Then model how to put everything back in the right places. Do not get upset if you see something you do not like. It will make the organizational process torture. Eventually, have your child unpack the backpack daily as you observe.
• Conduct a weekly clean-up. Encourage your child to sort through the backpack and notebooks on a weekly basis. Old tests and papers should be organized and kept in a separate file at home. Save old tests as study guides. Once daily organization (#9) becomes habit, you may find that a once a week clean-up is less time-consuming.
• Create a household schedule. Try to establish and stick to a regular bedtime. This process will help your child fall into a pattern at home. Children with a regular bedtime go to school well-rested. Try to limit television-watching and computer play to specific periods of time during the day, and be watchful of how long your child is participating in these activities. Pay special attention to “IMing” and MySpace on the computer.
• Keep a master calendar. Keep a calendar that lists the family's commitments, schedules for extracurricular activities, days off from school, and major events at home and school, and large school projects. Note dates when your child has big exams. This idea will help family members keep track of each other's activities and avoid scheduling conflicts.
• Prepare for the day ahead. Before your child goes to bed, he/she should pack schoolwork and books in a backpack and leave the backpack in a central location. The next day's clothes should be laid out with shoes, socks, and accessories. This timesaver will cut down on morning confusion and allow your child to prepare quickly for the day ahead.
• Provide needed support while your child is learning to become more organized. Help your child develop organizational skills by photocopying checklists and schedules and taping them to the refrigerator. Gently remind him/her about filling in calendar dates and keeping papers and materials organized. Most importantly, set a good example.
• Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration. Let your child take a short break if she is having trouble keeping her mind on an assignment. A snack, a stretch, and a pleasant conversation can help the process be more positive.
• Reward progress in homework. If has been a week filled with homework, but you know your child has worked to the best of his/her ability, reward your child. Celebrate that success with a special event (e.g., pizza, a trip to the park) to reinforce the positive effort.
• Take your child’s struggles seriously. If you notice your child is struggling with assignments in particular subjects, be sure that you discuss this with your child’s teacher. Early help works and will save your child the pain of falling behind in school.