"So it’s an hour past bedtime, and the homework is far from completed. What should the parent do? Close up the homework shop for the night. Children should not stay up long past their usual bedtime to finish homework…development of time-management strategies will help to stop late night crises"
- Harriett Cholden, M.Ed., and John Friedman, Ph.D. authors of The Homework Handbook
The Homework Binder: Establishing a System to Get Homework to and From School Successfully
Consider this scenario for your child in Middle School or High School: They are literally carrying a portable office in their arms or on their back as they move from class to class upwards as much as 6 times a day. Between classes they have two to five minutes to pack and unpack, dash to the next class, and sometimes make a stop at their locker to dig out a needed binder or book. Add to it that that each class has a different instructor, they sit in a different seat, and have different requirements for books, supplies, and binders. Is it any wonder that things get lost along the way? The following tips are designed to make that process more successful:
Color Code Notebook Binders and Books:
Choose a different color for each subject and purchase a notebook binder in each color.
Color code the books for each subject by putting on a fabric stretch book cover that follows the color code OR put a paper book cover on it and use a marker to mark the correct color on the spine of the book cover.
Place the books and notebooks in the locker so that the spine is visible.
Let your child choose a color coding scheme that makes sense to them so it is easier for them to learn.
Once your child starts a color code system, they can use that color coding throughout their academic career.
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