Getting homework done is a battle. Don’t lose the war by forgetting to turn it in! In this post we’ll talk about strategies for remembering homework – regardless of the grade level. Each tactic has multiple suggestions, so there’s more like 27+ ideas. Have fun!
THE WAR OF HOMEWORK
Remembering homework feels like a never-ending war. There’s plenty of debate about it. What age children should be given homework? Should there be a time limit? I’ve been on every single side of this battle. In the end, there’s going to be homework of some sort. Think of it as a great way to stay connected with your child and what’s going on at school.
It seems to me that the biggest obstacle is tied to one word.
REMEMBER.
Did they remember to do it? If they did it, did they remember to put it in their backpack? Once they’re at school, did they remember to turn it in? The following are 9 strategies for remembering homework that I’ve used over the years to help my kids (natural and foster). Each approach is a tool. You can use one, or several.
Here are the tools:
STRATEGIES FOR REMEMBERING
Declutter
Most of the time, when a student has trouble remembering homework, a cluttered backpack is to blame. I can’t even begin to count the number of times my kid has insisted they don’t have it — or they already turned it in — only to find it crammed in the bottom of their backpack, so crumpled it’s nearly unrecognizable. It doesn’t matter if it’s the kindergartner or the senior in high school.
Going through your grade schooler’s backpack once a week and helping them organize it will set them up for success all year. Hopefully they’ll get the hang of it by the time they’re in junior high. By then, reminding them to do it themselves should be enough. (But not always.)
Some people are simply more organized than others. If you add ADHD or other neuroatypical issues to the mix, you’ll need more time, patience, and strategies to keep organization a top priority. Thursdays are a great cleanout day. If there are any missing assignments that pop up, there’s still time to turn them in. And the next week will start with a clean slate — or should I say bag.
Marker
I have to admit that this is the very first tactic I employed. Child #2 could not remember to turn homework in his fourth-grade year. I was expecting Child #5, we’d moved into a 900 sq ft cabin, and . . . well . . . let’s just say it was a hectic time. Using the black sharpie we wrote on moving boxes with was the easy route. In desperation, I wrote a letter H for “homework” on the back of his writing hand.
He was concerned about kids teasing him about it, so I told him to tell them it was for Hunt — our last name. It worked. You don’t have to use an H. Anything that triggers them to remember homework will do the trick: a flower, a skull, a baseball, a frog, a heart. Reinforce that when they see it, they should turn in their homework. When they get home, you simply wash off the marker if they turned in the homework. HINT: Great way to check if it got done. “Hey, did you turn in your math? Can we wash this off now?”
Washable tattoos* might be a fun reminder, as well.
An important point to remember is that if they become too familiar with the reminder, they grow numb to it.
*I do not receive compensation for any products I recommend or show.
Folders
This is by far, the most effective strategy I’ve employed. In elementary grades, they used one folder for homework. When they got to junior high and high school, they could choose to use a different color for each class if that made it easier. Here are several ways to use folders:
One folder
On the left-hand side, I write TO DO. On the right, I write DONE. The assigned homework gets put on the left-hand side and when they’ve completed it, they put it on the right. Some teachers use this method, and I’m home free.
Two folders
For children who struggle with organization, they may not be good with putting the homework on the correct side of the folder. Sometimes a folder for TO DO and a separate for DONE works better. Color coding works great too: RED = stop and do your homework. GREEN = go turn it in.
Multiple class folders
Some of my kids liked to have a homework folder for each class in junior or high school. Others simply used one. Problems arise when only one folder gets too full, and they forget to turn in something because it gets lost in the shuffle. This is when a 3-ring binder comes in handy. You can use 3-hole pocket folders or pocket dividers. I found great options at Walmart and Dollar Tree. They can get as fancy as you want.
Jewelry
Jewelry is an inconspicuous tool to help junior high and high school students in their quest of remembering homework. I found that younger kids couldn’t quite master this, as they lose jewelry too easily, but you can always give it a try. Stress that this is to be worn when they need to remember to specifically turn something in that they might forget otherwise.
Visual cue jewelry
A ring or bracelet is an excellent visual reminder. If you make a special point of buying the “homework jewelry” together, it’s easier for them to connect homework with it, rather than just another piece of jewelry. Maybe it’s a ring with their birthstone. A bracelet with school themed charms might be special. My boys liked the corded bracelets. Whatever will make this tool of remembering useful.
Fidget necklace:
There are a wide variety of fidget necklaces available. For this tool to work, the fidget necklace has to represent homework to them. When they fidget with the necklace, it should trigger them to turn in the homework. Like each tool, you have to discuss this with your child and see if they think it will help them remember. If they mindlessly fidget, this wouldn’t be a suitable option. (But it’s great for the worrier.)
Action jewelry:
This tool works great because it requires action. The jewelry, whether it’s a ring or a bracelet, is worn on the left hand (they have homework LEFT to turn in) and when they’ve turned it in, they move it to the right (they are RIGHT on task!) Silicone wristbands can be layered for each assignment that needs turning in. Ten assignments = ten bracelets. You can order personalized bracelets, too. Mine is going to say, “I love homework” on one side with “and Mom” on the other. Ya, they’ll wear that. Not.
Homework Friend
Support systems are a great way of accomplishing anything. Having someone who checks on us, reminds us, and maybe even helps with our struggle is a widely used strategy for many things. If your child has a friend they’re close to and in the same class(es), suggest they work together to get homework turned in. With one specific child, this approach for remembering homework helped more than any other. Unfortunately, they didn’t have every class together. That’s why using several in conjunction is effective.
Planner
I’m a huge fan of written lists. I have always loved planners. They don’t seem to be super popular with youth these days, but having a daily planner that lists what needs to be turned in and worked on is hugely helpful. When you’ve done it, you put a checkmark next to it or cross it out. DONE. Daily planners are better than weekly or monthly, in my opinion. Getting in the habit of opening it up, writing stuff down, keeping on task, and marking tasks completed is rewarding.
Electronic Reminders
Tablets and smart phones have changed the way kids do things compared to when I was in school. My kids didn’t have smart phones and most foster kids aren’t allowed to either. Even without the apps available on these devices, I can see how using alarms and the calendar could make remembering homework much easier. Set alarms for the due dates of assignments, and voila! (I had to go look up how to spell wah lah.) It seems easy, but your student/child has to be dedicated enough to recording the information into their phones.
For families who use smart phones, there are numerous homework planner apps. The Educational App Store lists ten recommended apps. There are apps for all ages and incomes.
Visual Home Cues
I’ve mentioned using jewelry as a visual cue for remembering homework once they’re at school. But in talking with my foster daughter who will be a senior next year, we’ve decided to include some visual home cues this coming year to help her remember to get the work in her bag. Remembering homework has been a huge struggle for her throughout her high school career, and it’s actually what prompted this blog. Some of those visual cues will include:
Chalkboard message
Decorative chalkboards are a great way to leave uplifting messages and reminders. Thanks to chalk couture, I have a lot of fun creating a variety of reminders: at the shelf at the bottom of the stairs, in the kitchen, and I can even sneak one in their room. The great thing about chalk couture is that it’s washable, so you can change the message and reuse the same chalkboard or whiteboard surface over and over. You can even put it on a mirror or a window. Yes, I’m a distributor, and I’ll benefit from any purchases you make.
Bulletin board
There’s a bulletin board in the kids’ hallway that they can tack homework to or leave messages on. You can also use a magnetic board if you have strong magnet clips.
Door hanger
Whether we put them on the front door, bathroom door, or bedroom doors, homework reminders will find their way around the house to spontaneously remind school-goers to check their bag before they leave the house. You can use a printable door hanger or any sign that has a string. I’m suggesting to my teenager, that when her homework is finished, she put this on the front door, so she doesn’t walk out of the house without it.
Mirror Messages
I’m always leaving myself messages on my mirror: positive affirmations, to-do lists, or reminders of something I need to buy or do. Each bathroom will now have a dry-erase marker so that anyone can leave messages to themselves or others.
Homework Gnome
Like elf on the shelf, this little guy is going to find a place on the shelf by the front door, on the breakfast table, on top of the computer, on the back of the toilet — wherever it’ll remind kids to think about their homework. Maybe he’ll get into some mischief, too.
Any figurine will do. If you have a dog nic-nac, use that – since they can’t use the excuse it ate their homework.
anything with words
Anything you can create or put words on can work as a reminder. Post-It notes, lettered blocks, magazine word-cutouts, scrabble letters, even rose petals. Be creative and fun as you help your child (or yourself) remember homework — whether it’s doing it or turning it in. They can even help make them.
Consequences – Both Good and Bad
When you say ‘consequence’ you think punishment. Consequences can be good or bad. They’re a motivator whether we like it or not. We work so we can get paid or have something we want (garden, clean house, etc). Conversely, the reason we don’t run a stop sign is because we don’t want to get a ticket. Either way, we make choices based on consequences.
When I was learning to train my foal, Bohannan, I learned the concept, ‘make the right thing easy (pleasant) and the wrong thing difficult (unpleasant)’. I was struck by how like parenting that is. It’s how I look at consequences. I’m trying to make life pleasant because of the right decision and unpleasant because of the wrong choice. Horses and kids quickly learn that doing what is expected is a much better place to be.
Penalty
Remember where penalties are concerned, little problem little penalty — big problem, big penalty. Do NOT make a mountain out of a molehill and keep your emotions in check. This is nothing personal, just business. The police officer does not take it personally that you chose to speed. He gives you the ticket and moves on. Do not take your kids’ inaptitude at remembering homework personally (or any of their behaviors for that matter).
Losing A privilege
I don’t know anyone who likes penalties, but my kids agreed that sometimes it’s exactly what ultimately got the job done. These range in severity, of course, and are modified for age. You know your child, so you know what privilege they hate to lose: tv, hanging with friends, early bedtime, video games, smart phone, playing outside, hanging out in their room, no dessert. You get the idea.
If the younger kids forgot to do or turn in their homework one day, they would lose a privilege for that day. Think about the reason it didn’t get done. If they were too busy playing with friends – or gabbing too much in class, then the penalty involved friends. When the tv became the problem, the tv became the solution. No tv. Do they hate to go to bed? Mine did and early bedtime was the go-to penalty at our house. (Reward for parents, am I right?)
Increased time or penalty
When the kids repeatedly forget to turn in assignments, then increase the time or number of penalties. Second day forgetting? Then that’s two more days they couldn’t (fill in the blank). Instead of just that day it basically doubled. i.e. Forget on Monday, they can’t watch tv on Monday. Forget again on Tuesday, no tv on Tuesday or Wednesday. Forget again on Wednesday, they’ve racked up Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Lose it all
For my teenagers, I don’t keep track during the week, but on Thursday afternoon I go online and check. Yes, this takes extra time and effort on my part, but that’s kinda what parenting is. They should be able to govern themselves by now, so I say, “You have missing assignments. Get online and figure it out.” If the assignments are not turned in by Friday, they lose all privileges for the weekend, PLUS they get an extra chore. The more missing assignments and the longer they’ve let them slide, the bigger the chore.
But what if the teacher doesn’t get them entered in the computer right away? Obviously, they probably won’t, so my teenagers have to bring me a note stating that homework is turned in.
Reward
We like rewards. I don’t think kids need to receive a tangible rewarded for every good thing they do. Getting good grades should be the reward for remembering homework and turning it in. But let’s be honest. We all want a reward for doing stuff we don’t really want to do. Remember that. Most kids do NOT want to do homework.
VERBAL PRAISE
This should be the easiest and most definitely the least expensive reward to give. Lavish this on your kids like nobody’s business. You don’t need to put on a cheerleading uniform and do a backflip (though I’ve done that on occasion). Just don’t forget to recognize what they do. At the breakfast table say, “I noticed you’ve been getting your homework in on time all week. Way to go.”
If you have kids who are sensitive to attention, don’t make eye contact. While you’re folding laundry and no one else is around, casually throw out, “Thank you for getting your schoolwork turned in without me having to remind you.”
Sometimes, though, a prize is a great tool to pull out when the extra effort they put forth needs the extra praise. These rewards can vary depending upon the kid. Here are some ideas:
Time with you
Going fishing, to the park, to a movie, or out for a yummy treat, watch whatever they want on tv together. Yes, I realize that movie and treats cost money, so decide how much the extra effort is worth. Time is the important thing here.
Food
What do they like? Candy bar, chips, something they rarely get like steak or shrimp for dinner, their own pizza, etc. What’s their favorite drink? Combine time together and food — maybe a designer soda together.
Money
I rarely used this one and it was usually a surprise I didn’t tell them about before. “Here’s $10 for working so hard on getting that project in on time. I know it was really hard.” This was a great motivator because we did it often enough, that they always hoped it would happen again, but not often enough that they expected it. One kid claims it never happened to them, so be sure to say why you’re giving them the money.
Object
This can be a toy they want, something they’re collecting, a product they don’t usually get themselves (like nice cologne or jewelry), or part of a hobby or sport (like art or longboarding).
Extra privilege
If kids have a strict bedtime, then extra time up can be a reward. Extra tv or video game time. Inviting friends over for movie and pizza. MORE of whatever it is they like.
USE YOUR TOOLBOX
The above-mentioned strategies for remembering homework are meant to be used like tools in a toolbox. My experience has been that kids get desensitized to one method, and so I have to switch them up. Try one, try them in combination, or make up your own. Not every tool is meant to do the same thing.
Our children are different from each other. (In case you hadn’t noticed.) One might be a nail, another a screw, and another a command strip. You do not use a hammer to put up a command strip, but it takes more than your fingers to get a screw in the wall. Wouldn’t it be great if our kids were as easy to figure out?
As much as I would love to say the organization and reminder strategies worked with every kid, it didn’t. My love for structure, crisp pages, and straight As did not rub off on every child. (Okay, hardly any.) Child #5 had an IEP and struggled with memory issues. Consequences forced him to find what worked for him. What was that? Folding his homework into a tiny rectangle and cramming it in his pocket. When he’d shove his hands into his pocket, which he did often, lo and behold, there was his homework. His teachers hated the crumpled page, but hey, the homework was turned in.
KNOW WHEN TO STEP AWAY
Remember, the biggest take away, is to find something that works for your student. Give them the options, and ask them to choose what they think will work. If it’s not effective, try something else.
Here’s something to think about, as well. If they don’t get the homework done, and they get a bad grade or flunk a class, having to take summer classes, or retake a class the next year will probably teach the lesson better than anything else. We don’t want them to fail, but failure is a great teacher.
Let them own their choices. Cheer for success, but let them learn from mistakes, too.
I hope these strategies for remembering homework make life a little easier this school year. As always, do it with love.
LINKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
How to Choose Consequences and Punishment for Kids (verywellfamily.com)
11 Surprising Homework Statistics, Facts & Data (2023) (helpfulprofessor.com)
Students’ mental health: Is it time to get rid of homework in schools? (usatoday.com)
YOUR TURN
Have you tried any of these strategies before? How did it go? What strategies have worked best for you in the past?
My son used to have such anxiety over turning in anything that nothing could convince him to turn things in. It was at the beginning of 7th grade and the onset of ME/Lyme and puberty. Toss in ADHD, and just forget it. So his math teacher would just go through his locker to pull out homework for her class and sometimes other classes. Somehow we made it through the year and then home schooled after that.
Gosh I was too afraid of disapproval from teachers, I turned mine in as soon as. I found having a really empty backpack made things less stressful that’s for sure. Just the things I needed.