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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Love your idea. Wish I had a tip for you. The best one I have is to take a picture of all your kids work you “kinda” want to keep then post it on Artkive and toss the paper copy.
Got get that fridge calendar.
Love the family week planner and everyone adding to it. Families should be able to all do homework together.
I enjoyed all ideas.
Love your tips for homework! We have three boys and the oldest starts 1st grade this year. I like everything on this post but especially the box for holding papers to sign or other important papers or even homework.
I’m a wannabe organizer…I try hard:) but I don’t stress over it.
Blessings
Julie
Love this idea I need to get organized ASAP. Definitely pinning this 🙂
Great ideas…thanks for sharing!
As a teacher I LOVE getting organized for back to school. My oldest will be in second grade this year, so I need to step it up at home. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea. Everything in one place and neat and tidy!
The best organizing thing I ever did for the school year in our home was to put a shoe bin with the kids socks in it at the door. It goes under the height appropriate hooks on the wall for the girls to put their coats and backpacks. This makes it so much easier to get out of the door! Everything is right there and at their level so I can get all of my stuff at the same time.
Pinned image of homework center and left tip.
Faborite back to school organization tip: I have a three trying binder. Each child has a pocket divider with thier name on it. Documents like class list, forms to be kept with school passwords etc., ribbons and certificates earned and more go into their individual pocket divider. Monthly class calendars get hole-punched to go in front of this pocket divider. Important class dates and deadlines are added to the master family calendar in the clear front cover of the binder (updated monthly). The binder is kept on the counter in the family “drop zone”.
I have learned to pack her lunch the night before, make sure her backpack is packed, and clothes are picked Out.
Pinned! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/469992911090650413/
I love the box for things to be signed. I am guilty of misplacing those papers but this is a sure fire way to keep them at hand.
it was very helpfull TO me!
I hope it is for more people!
Tessa
Love this . Could you tell us where you got the containers and tray?
I love the entire work station. I currently have my sons school supplies shoved in a cabinet since I couldn’t think of anywhere else to put them. My son is my first one going to school and he’s just starting Kindergarten so all of this is new to me. The work station is a great idea so everything is neat, tidy, and in one place.
My tip is a command center for all the electronics! My son is vision impaired and has extra equipment along with the iPad and iPod for school. Both kids charge equipment at night (ensures they aren’t awake playing too!) and then it’s ready for the back pack in the morning! This has saved us many a days from me charging them in the morning and running them to school!
I love this entire post! It gave me a great idea about how to get a work station organized for my kids for school! Thank you for your awesome pictures and ideas! This is going to be such a big hit at my house!
I love this, especially the idea to have a spot for papers to be signed! We created a similar homework station for our kiddos, and it has greatly reduced the amount of time they waste looking for the materials to complete their work. I used a decorative caddy from Homegoods that has a handle and is easily carted around or put out of sight to keep everything in. I like that everything is easily portable 🙂