" Recent educational research has shown that when parents become involved in their children’s schoolwork, children do better in school. They become more effective learners, and they become more willing learners. By deciding to help your child with homework, you will do more than end the Homework Wars. You will give your child the tools he or she needs to succeed. "
- Marguerite C. Radenich, Ph.D. and Jeanne Shay Shumm, Ph.D., authors of How to Help Your Child with Homework
Locker Litter: The Final Frontier
Most lockers just don’t seem to have been designed with students in mind. With few shelves and narrow openings, many students choose to carry all of their books with them all day for fear of not being able to find them fast enough between classes. For some younger students, the locker is the repository for everything from art projects and gym clothes to uneaten lunches.
Locker Visit: For younger children, plan one day after school when your child can ‘show you their locker’. You may want this to be an unscheduled event so that you can see how your child is doing. It will also give you an opportunity to see what the space limitations are in the locker and to determine what accessories might be helpful.
Checking In: A younger child who finds keeping their locker in order challenging may benefit from a monthly “Locker Visit” with their parent. Bring two bags – one for garbage and one to tote the items that should come back home. Your child should be the one to actually do the sorting and cleaning (with your guidance). Otherwise, they will not have the opportunity to learn this important organizational skill themselves.
Work Together: Most parents would agree that addressing Locker Litter with older children is a much more delicate issue. They may be embarrassed to have their parent coming into school with them for a “Locker Check”. Working with your child in a mutually agreeable manner to determine if they are able to use their locker appropriately is the goal. Offering your child some accessories to help organize their locker may be the key.
Use Color Coding: Encourage your child to put textbooks and binders on shelves so that they can see the spine and use their Color Coding system to easily identify books and binders by subject.
Class Schedule: Have your child tape a copy of their schedule (that has been color coded by subject) on the inside door of their locker.
Spare Supplies: A pencil box with spare supplies to be used for projects should be kept in the locker. Oftentimes a student has the opportunity to work on projects in a study hall but lacks the proper supplies.
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