Helping parents help their children stay organized is not an easy task! This idea by Farrah, a Kindergarten Teacher, from Nanuet, NY helps promote routines and checklists in a way that makes sense and works for families. Each family is unique, so feel free to adjust the idea to meet your students’ needs!
Promote Positive Routines for Families
“When helping parents help their children to become more organized, I encourage parents to start slow and use some of the same organizational strategies we have in place in the classroom,” explains Farrah.
“This advice helps insure students will practice the same routines at home as well as at school. I tell parents, ‘At home your child should have a hook for his jacket, a specific place for her shoes and a backpack to store assignments, supplies and completed work.’ I also urge parents to work with their children to create a picture checklist they can use each morning and afternoon so that folders, books, supplies, lunch bags, etc., make the trip to and from school each day.”
This simple explanation gives parents a starting point for home-school consistency and can make a child’s experience in both locations positive.
How do you encourage parents to establish positive home-school routines? Share with us below or on the Really Good Teacher forums!
Rebekah says
LOVE the ideas for having schedules and checklists at home. I have parents all the time tell me they can’t get their child to accomplish anything at home but the same child has no problems at school because of the structure. What a great way to carry this idea home to help the parents as well!