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:
(this post contains affiliate links)
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
We have a large calender that takes up most of the area of the freezer door of my refrigerator. There is room for everyone to write anything important from their daily schedules. I like being able to see what is going on for the whole month with one glance.
We recently moved, so organization is key for me. Love the idea of a homework center and would love the removable dry erase calendar
We are just hitting the back to school phase with a Kindergartener, so I’m not a pro at this yet. So far, lunches are the challenging thing: Definitely plan those out when I plan our weekly meals.
I pinned: http://pinterest.com/pin/205828645442906237/
Make sure clothing, homework and supplies are laid out the night before and this becomes the routine. Saves on last minute scrambling and frustration!
My best back to school organizing tip is to create a special place for all those papers that come home from school. Some need to be kept and others need to go right in the recycling bin.
I have grown-up kids, so no back to school tip to give, but nevertheless, I am a super-organized person and this giveaway would definitely help. Thanks.
I always used a chalkboardand calendar in my fridge the rest of the mess I tried to store neatly in a bookcase in my kitchen by the homework table. Now that I have a stainless fridge I am planning on using a 2ft x almost 2ft square column in my kitchen. One side I am painting with magnetic paint, one side with chalkboard paint, one side will have a dry erase board and on the final side I am going to use cork squares. The bottom half of the column will have wainscotting topping with a piece of trim that is wide enough to hold chalk and dry erase markers. I love your idea of the table tray – that would free up the cluttered bookcase shelf!
My favorite tip is to have a central location for all supplies so one does not have to hunt the house for a pencil or a piece of paper. This location needs to be well organized, neat and well stocked. When something is used up, i replace it on my next shopping trip.
I think my favorite back to school organization tip is to have a set before bed routine that incorporates making the morning easy and calm. We lay out our outfits (including socks and accessories) make our lunches, and place backpacks water bottles and keys by the door so we can grab and go… The kids help set everything, choosing the clothes, making their lunches etc so they learn how to prepare themselves without the early morning rush to stress them out.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Just pinned this! love the idea. I have a drawer in my living room with stuff
like this would love to have in one spot more accessible
I have a dry erase calendar and file holders on the wall under the calendar to keep my to-be-signed folder, homework, etc. ❤ the idea of having all the homework tools in one place! Pinned it on my “Genius” board!
My oldest starts kindergarten this year, so I’m new to this school thing. I love this idea!!
I repinned your pin!
I approach school organization from a different perspective because I am a middle school teacher. My favorite strategy this year is to use remind101.com to send my parent text messages about class assignments and announcements. It’s great for keeping parents in the loop!
Love this idea-I have a planner calendar on the fridge too so everyone can see everything that’s going on.
Oh – and you are now pinned to my board. 🙂 Thanks for the great idea!
Best tip – buy extra school supplies when they are on sale before the school year starts. Put them in a tote and throughout the year the kids will have plenty of stock to replenish their supplies from without spending a fortune!