Hi! I am new to the group and hoping someone out there has similiar issues to what we are experiencing.
I have a 9 year old daughter that is finishing her second year in the gifted program at the local public school. We are grateful that the biggest issue we have is her lack of organization. At least that is what the teachers are calling it.
Since the second grade she has had an ongoing issue with homework. Sometimes it isn't written down, or it doesn't come home, or it doesn't get turned it.
Her teacher this year did start to check her assignment book everyday to make sure that it is written down, but then it doesn't always come home. What is brought home, it's done, and then doesn't get turned in at school.
She will be entering 5th grade next year, and we are looking for ways to correct this issue before "homework" becomes part of her grade. She currently looses recess if she doesn't turn in her assignments, but that doesn't seem to phase her. As she approaches middle school, I can't see multiple teachers reveiwing and signing her assignment book every day.
Sometimes I feel like I am fighting a loosing battle since I am not at school and have no control over the situation, but I have to deal with the notes and phone calls from the teacher when she gets to 7 or 8 missed assignments in a week.
Are there any suggestions out there of things that worked for your children?
Here are some of the things we have tried:
We took her homework folder and wrote "to school" on one side and "home" on the other. The papers that had to go back to school were placed in the "school" pocket and her homework was supposed to be placed in the "home" pocket. This worked with some success in 2nd & 3rd grade, but they do not have homework folders in 4th and 5th.
We bought her a flexible binder to hold her school work; packets, worksheets, etc. At the beginning of the year it worked nicely, but then it stopped coming home. She was still bringing her homework home most of the time, but not the binder.
She also doesn't seem to be effected by the consequences either. I have taken things away - books, music the computer -but she can entertain herself with imaginary play.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Innabottle
