Back to School Tips: How to Create a Homework Station
Today I’m excited to share with you one of my favorite Back to School Tips, How to create a homework station! If you like this post then you may also enjoy this FREE Printable Back To School Shopping List!
DIY Homework Station and Back to School Tips:
Let me first say that me and organized don’t usually belong in the same sentence, but for 3 school years now this system has totally worked for me, so that’s gotta say something. If it works for me I’m guessing it will work for you too. I’m not one of those “super organized” moms who always seems to know what’s going on. I’m more a “doing my best” mom who occasionally forgets things but tries really really hard!
I have 3 kids, one that is off to college and twin middle schoolers. Over the years we’ve evolved how we handle homework in our house. We have discovered that what works best for us is to have everyone working at the kitchen table together. Then mom and dad are close by if they need help and there are fewer distractions.
This however created a problem in the kitchen. It seemed I always had pens, pencils and paper all over the table even after they were done. When it was time for dinner it would drive me crazy since there was nowhere to eat!
A couple of years ago, I got the idea to create a Homework Station on my kitchen table. Everything they need to be contained in one place and it’s easily moved out of the way when needed. This homework station takes the place of our kitchen table centerpiece, but I’m totally ok with it! I actually find myself using items from it quite a bit.
This year to help with the back to school organization, Martha Stewart Home Office, with Avery sent me a box of supplies! I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them as soon as I got them. Pretty up that homework station!
How to Create a Homework Station:
Items Needed:
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ONE: Magazine File:
The first thing I did was add a file box to the station this year. I used a Magazine file and my VERY FAVORITE product the chalkboard labels to create a “Things for Mom to sign” box on the table.
You see we frequently lose important papers like field trip permission slips, school directories etc.
This way all those items get put in the file, one folder of things to sign and one folder of things I’ve already signed. I also plan on putting some of our math help sheets in there too so they are close at hand.
TWO: Miscellaneous Items
- Pencils in Mason Jar
- Sticky Notes
- Paper Clips
- Mason Jar with Pens
- Scissors
- Erasers
- Post It Flags
- Ruler
The rest of the station has a variety of items, including pencils, pens, highlighters, erasers, and sticky notes. Also in the pile are the Color Coding tabs which are perfect to use to mark places in books, textbooks and binders. My kids love to use them as they study to mark where they left off or things they need to come back to.
THREE:
Actually #3 is a tip. Leave this out on your table for it to be the most effective. I ended up putting all of our supplies into cute containers and got a nice tray from IKEA to hold them all. It will look nice on your table (who doesn’t love bouquets of sharpened pencils?) and it will be easy for your kids to get what they need.
Okay, now help me out a bit. What are some of your favorite Back to School Organization Tips? Just leave them for me in the comments section!
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THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED
I have a clipboard for each of my girls that hangs on the wall. It contains any important papers. Above it I have a frame turned into a dry erase board for any important deadlines or due dates. Last we have two fabric bins in which they keep their backpacks. Everything is in close proximity to one another. Helps us keep all our ducks in a row.
I pinned a photo!
Great idea! I have three elementary age kids and finding pencil, papers, staplers, and all the rest makes for a good 10-15 minutes of our homework time. We will definitely be creating a homework station this school year. I’m glad I still have this week before school starts to get it together!
Wow! My oldest is starting first grade this year. I will be doing this!
I forgot I also Pinned this….
Love the sign here idea, that one is huge for me, the idea of a station gives everyone a place to go to. We have six in school hopefuly I can make this work for us.
Pinned the Sign It box. Thanks. Great giveaway! 🙂
Lunches made the night before is so helpful! I love your “to be signed” box. Those papers always get shuffled around at our house, so I am doing that! Thanks.
Pinned an image here:
http://pinterest.com/pin/243616661066417433/
I bought a big bin that holds my son’s bookbag and anything else that needs to go to school. It is so easy to drop an item in the bin when I think of it and know that it will make it into school. Thanks for the chance to win!
I am so doing this right after I get off the computer. So far I have a drawer close by with school supplies in it, but I love the way the pencils look in the mason jar.. now I will have a purpose for the ones I have saved!
My tip: While I stop in the kitchen and get a snack ready, I have the kids go immediately to the bathroom, then wash hands. They are able to settle faster that way.
I pinned a picture from this post on my Organize category (my username is livetraveleat on Pinterest!)
http://pinterest.com/pin/514114113683031898/
As a practically broke 25 year old heading back to school for the first time in five years I could so use this!
My best tip is instead of having a binder or notebook for each CLASS, have one for each DAY of the week. That way, you can have a three subject notebook for each day, and at the end tear out all the notes that correspond to the same class and make a set of notes. You have less to carry and it doesn’t break your back OR the bank (five notebooks for seven classes versus seven notebooks is a savings of like 10.00!)
Start the year with a decluttered, clean, and organized room.
I love that my kids use a planner. I just started using my husband’s old Franklin Covey and I love it!!!
PS I pinned as well http://pinterest.com/pin/165085142564226496/
Great idea! I have a basket on a bookshelf in the dining room for pencils, rulers, etc., but it doesn’t work as well as maybe having a “homework center” so accessible.
I pinned a picture from this post!!! Gonna do it myself!!!
Love this idea!!! My 3rd grader needs a place for homework and this would be easy for him to switch tables with!!!