Sometimes a simple and inexpensive solution can work well. My eldest's elementary school gave each student a small
blank bound notebook for homework assignments.
The kids made entries for each day and the teachers checked each one. It ended up looking something
like this (handwriting not as tidy!).
This was a French school, as is evident from the photo, but the method would work as well anywhere.
One of my kids has what I'd call a straightforward EF issue. She's grade skipped and very young anyway. She has trouble remembering to put stuff in the proper folders, which leads to trouble finding finished homework, which leads to not doing it or turning it in, etc. Scaffolding helps her, but there's only so much that can be done until time works its magic.
Alternatively, one of her brothers and another boy we know have always resented homework and refused to do it. For these two, there's clearly some measure of EF challenge, but the
I HATE!!! thing about homework is also a real problem that complicates the situation.
My son is three years older than the other boy, and for the first time, he's starting to show understanding that his homework benefits
him and isn't just some cruel form of punishment meted out for no good reason (okay, there's very little busywork at his school). But it's early in the school year, and we shall see.
We (the school and I) have created a
no stray papers policy for my kids' backpacks this year. This means that backpacks will be checked, and DD/DS can't leave class/go play at home until the stray papers are in their correct places.
