10 Ways to Stop the Homework Hassle
Create a Homework Box
One of my biggest homework pet peeves is finding a pencil. We spend 10 minutes looking for a pencil. When we find it, it’s usually broken and then we spend another 10 minutes looking for a sharpener. We have no sharpeners in my house, so then I try to sharpen the pencil with a knife – which I’m not good at. My daughter then does her homework with a stubby pencil and I feel like we just wasted the past 30 minutes.
This year, I created a homework box. 
Not only will this have every supply my daughter needs to complete her homework daily, but there is also a checklist attached to the box top with contact paper. Each night, after she finishes her homework she’ll use a dry erase marker to check off each supply in the box. That way, nothing gets lost.
Our homework box has:
- 1 pencil
- 1 pack of 24 colored pencil
- a pair of scissors (CVS exclusive Caliber Back to School Supplies brand)
- 1 glue stick
- 1 pencil sharpener/ eraser (CVS exclusive Caliber Back to School Supplies brand)
Notice that I only include 1 pencil. I have more pencils, but I found that as a teacher, when kids have more than one pencil, they don’t take responsibility for them. My daughter will count that one pencil every night and make sure it is in the box. When it becomes unusable, I can exchange it for another pencil.
Click here for our homework box checklist or a blank homework box checklist you can print to use at home.
Prepare for redos
Like me, my daughter is a perfectionist and doesn’t like to be told she is wrong. I get this. When I check her homework. I start with all the positives. For instance, “I am so proud that you finished your entire homework packet!” or “That question is really tricky, but I see you figured it out!.” When I find something that needs correcting, I ask her questions to help her find her own mistake. If I see one problem wrong in a row I might say, “Check this row. There is one problem that needs correcting. Can you find it?” When she finds it, the process of checking becomes a huge self esteem boost. I’m teaching her that people always make mistakes and the important thing is that you find those mistakes and correct them.
Create a Homework Routine & Post it
Nagging wears me out. It’s not fun for my daughter either. I don’t want to keep telling her to go do her homework or make sure she puts her homework folder away after using it. This year I sat down with her and we created a homework routine together. We’re posting this routine on the refrigerator so now she can reference it when she wonders what to do next.
I never have to nag. All I have to do is stare at her and then point to the routine on the fridge. No words needed and she knows exactly what I expect.
Click here for a homework routine for you to fill in.
With these strategies, homework is no longer the hassle it once was in our house. My daughter comes home, grabs her snack and immediately starts on her homework. Her routine is so set that she gets mad at me if we have to run a quick errand after school. Although it took a few months, these strategies have saved me so much stress and made after school a much happier time.
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These tips are great! I especially liked the part about keeping only 1 pencil, and prompting your daughter to find her own mistakes. My son is entering first grade and I think he will have homework this year, so I will be using all of your tips. Thanks!
Thanks Lauren! I hope these tips help!
I esp like how you give her positive reinforcement when there are mistakes. My 10 year old is a perfectionist and extremely dramatic at the moment. If I point out a mistake she will say things like “oh so I got every single thing wrong!” Or “I told you I was horrible at__”, even if she got 99 out of 100 correct! This gives me a new strategy to help her feel successful. Great post!
Oh 10 year olds… I was once a fifth grade teacher so I know. I really liked that age in the classroom but kids are so different at home than at school. Good luck!! Let me know if it helps 🙂
I am in love with all of these tips! My oldest son just started kindergarten, and he has homework every night. He has to write his name 4 times. He always gives me attitude that he’s not going to do it, and threatens to erase all of his other work he did at school. I can’t wait to make a homework box. We already try to cut out all distractions, but my 2 year old is a force to be reckoned with ha-ha
Oh ya, Jessica. Make that homework box 🙂 Why do five-year-olds have to be so sassy? I get a lot of attitude over here as well 🙂
I’m in high school and to be completely honest, I use these tips but in a teen modified way and it works for me thus far. LOL, thanks so much!
Woo hoo! Frankly Tammy, I use these tips to be more productive while working as well 🙂
Thank you for this! I had to self-learn several of these steps the hard way, but there is so much good info. I’m going to print out the check lists and that homework box will be such a time saver!
Happy to help Rachelle!
Thanks for these great tips! My son just started Kindergarten this week… so he shouldn’t have too much homework this year. Whenever the homework does start for him though, I am anticipating a battle… so hopefully implementing these tips will make the process go a little more smoothly for both of us!!!! 🙂
Thank you Kristin! If you run into any problems, come let me know 🙂 In fact, I have a great facebook group of moms! Come join us here.