Have a dedicated homework space in your home where children can store all of the necessary equipment for completing their assignments. The space does not necessarily have to be an entire desk or table but be sure there is ample space available for your student to work comfortably. The space should be well lit with at least one comfortable chair. If possible, the space should be located away from the main living area in your home in a quiet location.
Create a homework box or basket to keep near your child's workspace. In the box, keep pencils and a pencil sharpener, pens, markers, crayons, a ruler, lined and unlined paper, index cards and any other supplies your student may need. Check the box often and replenish supplies as they run out. Create a checklist for your child to keep track of his homework supplies.
Create a binder or a folder for each school subject. Allow children to decorate the binders and folders any way they wish. As completed assignments come home, place each in the correct subject's binder. These completed worksheets and papers can be invaluable tools when attempting to finish a homework assignment. Often, teachers will assign homework that reflects the lessons taught in class, and these completed school assignments can help children remember what they learned earlier. Use dividers to separate assignments by month or by subject matter. Keep these binders in or near the homework box.
Purchase an inexpensive school year calendar to keep in your child's workspace. You can use the large type that stays on a desk and functions as a desk blotter or the notebook type. Whichever type you decide to buy, be sure you can see an entire month at a glance. Ask your child's teacher to provide test dates, field trip dates and other important events in advance. Have your child write each of these dates on his calendar. As a test date approaches, have your child come up with a study plan and write it down on his calendar. For example, three days before the test, he may write, "Read chapter four in my science book and do the study questions" on the calendar day.
At the end of each month, review the completed assignments binder and the monthly calendar. For those assignments that the child scored well on, decide what worked best. Read through the calendar and notice how much time your child allotted for studying each particular subject. If she struggled with an assignment, discuss whether the assignment was just difficult or if she could have spent more time studying. Make a plan for the following month, keeping in mind the successes and difficulties of the previous month.