Son in in Adhd/Spec. Ed. - Homework Organization?

Question

9 year old again. Everyone's input was so good on the last question. I need your help again. My son gets 2 colored homework folders; 1)Regular class & 2) Spec. Ed class.

My problem & I hope I am not too confusing in my explanation:.

1) I'm really tired sometimes when I come home from work so I don't remember what homework goes in what folder

Also, this also affects my correspondence to the teachers since the teachers don't put their name on messages they include in the folders I don't know if there is a problem in the spec ed class or the regular class.

2) He loses his homework alot when we look for it I can't tell if it is practice work I got from school last week or later or its his homework for that day and he is no help.

Anyone have any suggestions for me and/or suggestions I can present to the teachers. This may seem like any easy thing for some but when your juggling so much little things seem so frustrated so please understand.

Answer 1

There are several message boards on ivillage.com where you can look, in particular the "Special Education Plans" message board.

Answer 2

ask teachers to put intials on what they send they should be willing the 2 class system is confusing i work in it. We have student date all their work to prevent mishaps. maybe have communication logs that go back and forth for both teachers

at least the spec ed teacher should be willing to do that

Answer 3

First, I would label the different folders.  Have the teachers sign their notes.  A message log with initials would work as well.  Second, have the teacher's labels/dates (or makes sure your son labels/dates) homework.

Answer 4

Have you ever thought of using one of those file folders? They are plastic and have several file slots inside with tabs to label the classes. We used this for one of our students a few years ago and it really worked well. The class instructor can put notes in the appropriate slot and you can see what needs to be done, signed, returned, etc. The instructors should be  signing and dating the correspondence anyway so you know who to write the notes to. Also ask the instructors to make sure the homework/classwork is dated. If they can't do this maybe they can assign a trusted student to "buddy-up" with your child and make sure that's done for clarity sake.

This may take time to get used to the routine for your child but may prove to be beneficial to all in the long run. Good luck!

Answer 5

Does he have a desk at home to work at. You could color code the handles of the drawers, and as he finishes a paper he can place it in the correct drawer. This way you will know where his homework is and what folder it goes back into.

As for the notes the teacher should be putting her initials on it already. Put if she doesn't you could always by two tablets each with colored paper that matches his folders and tell the teacher that all notes they send home need to be written on this (their color) paper so you know which classroom it is coming from.

Answer 6

At my school the resource room teacher has a notebook that goes home with the child everyday and has all of the assignments in it.  I add any assignments from my class and initial them.  I also send home a newsletter every Monday attached to the children's homework packs which are due on Friday.  For students in resource I send the newsletter home even though they turn in work daily instead of on Friday.  It is the parent's responsibility to read the notebook and sign it/initial after every assignment completed.

   Of course your child still needs to be responsible for his work.  I have students who lose papers and notebooks on the bus or leave them on the floor instead of putting them in their backpacks.  We have even found folders on the playground, bus and cafeteria.  Usually a consequence/reward systems helps the child take care of their items.