Ultimate Homework Station

I found this great idea from the Disney Family Fun magazine from September 2009. The kids really had a good time putting it together. I really hope that the station will keep them from bugging each other and fighting and homework can actually be done!

Here is what you need:
Tri-fold display board (48 by 36 inches; makes 2 stations)
Yardstick and pencil
Craft knife (I used scissors)
Con-Tact paper or paint (optional)

1. Cut the board in half horizontally. Set one half aside if you plan to make just one. Lay the other half face down. To make it easy to fold even when stocked with hanging supplies, pencil a vertical line parallel to each existing fold, 2 inches closer to the center. Using the yardstick as a guide, score the lines, cutting through only the top layer of the card board.




2. Fold along the scored lines. Cover the back with Con-Tact paper or paint, if desired.

(I let the kids decorate with paint how ever they wanted.)






Add the supplies:
Use glue dots to affix clothespins to one side for holding important papers and notes. (I used super glue.)
Adhere magnets with hot glue (or super glue) to scissors, the back of a stapler, and other frequently used supplies. Line them up along a ruler/magnet strip, with more magnets and a magnetic clip.
Use adhesive-backed Velcro dots to attach supplies that need to be easily removed: the ruler/magnet strip, a clock, a calculator, a sticky-note dispenser, and a pencil box.
Hang a zip-close binder pouch from an adhesive hook to hold small supplies.
Affix a small cork square for displaying photos or notes, using hot glue or adhesive supplied with the square.

I used a strip of magnet from the craft store and it doesn't hold the scissors, pencil sharpener or stapler. I will have to find a better solution! I also could not find a pencil box, I just put everything in the binder pouch. I used a magnetic dry erase board instead of the cork square. I think it really turned out great!! Here are pictures of the kids working on their stations and the final product.



Mr. A's homework station



Miss E's homework station

So last time I wrote, I said that I would share my homework kit. I was having such a hard time getting my son to do homework a few years ago. He would cry, I would cry. Maybe even more than him. I just didn't know what to do. When I don't know what to do I read and educate myself. I found this great book called Homework Without Tears by Lee Canter. When I read the book the first thing I did was make a homework kit for my son. I put everything into a basket so we wouldn't have to go searching for anything! Which can cause frustration and distraction. Here are the lists for the homework kits.

Grades K-3
Crayons
Pencils
Markers
Pencil sharpener
Erasers
Glue or paste
Tape
Writing paper
Hole punch
Stapler
Scissors
Children's dictionary
Paper clips
Assignment book (3rd grade)


Grade 4-6
Pencils
Pens
Colored pencils
Crayons
Markers
Pencil sharpener
Erasers
Glue or paste
Tape
Writing paper
Construction paper
Hole punch
Stapler
Scissors
Paper clips
White out
Assignment book
Folders for reports
Index cards
Intermediate dictionary
Atlas
Thesaurus
Almanac
Rubber bands

Of course, add or take out whatever you may or many not need. Keep it next to the area where your child does homework. If you love this idea check out the book! It has other ideas for rewards and the 7 most common homework problems with step by step solutions.

Another busy day today! We went back to the allergist. The nurse just looked at my sons back and said that everything looked the same, but the egg patch had some irritation. We have to go back next week to do the scratch test. We both are not looking forward to it. It hurts really bad! Then we were off to get that x ray we didn't get to do on Tuesday. We were in and out of both places really quick! We then tried to do some school uniform shopping, which was a bust. We did find a birthday present for Grandpa Pete! Then we went to Blockbuster and the library.

Before I knew it lunch was over and it was time to head to the school for flight night. My son starts middle school and my daughter starts kindergarten. I can't believe it! We have huge supply lists. I took all of my sons things in first and met the teacher. Of course we had to go around and visit everyone else. Then we took my daughters supplies in and met her teacher. I really love them so far, they are both new. Anyway then we had to return some various books to here and there, pay some fees and get my daughters uniform shirts. I was so excited because they had some matching hair accessories! Oh, the ex-PTA president started a silk screen company. She was selling college t-shirts for $7. You could pick your college and a gray or white shirt. My daughter picked out Colorado with a ram. I don't know who it is, I don't keep up on this stuff. I asked why that one and she said she liked the horns on the ram. Funny girl! At least two things are off my to do list for tomorrow! I am so glad this day is over. After the kids went to bed I got their homework kits together. More on that tomorrow.

Today started bright and early. I got a few chores done and then we were off to take the patches off at the allergist. My son asked the nurse if I could take them off and they said yes. It was really hard. Those band aids really stuck to his skin. I felt so bad, but I used water and soap to help as much as I could, but most of it I just had to rip off. Here is a picture of his back tonight. OUCH! The nurse said that chicken looked the worst and the oats, corn and peanuts looked a little irritated. We will have to see what it looks like tomorrow because it can change over 24 hours.



In the afternoon. We head off to the counseling center. My son meets with his counselor while I work with a behavior coach. I really like her and she has great ideas, not just for my son, but for the whole family. I can already tell a difference for us! We have already set up a contract about rules and chores. It has really helped me to have the kids help with 3 daily chores every morning. We also have set up a "safe area" for the children to sit in when they start to get angry or sad or just need a place to go to think or be alone. We will be adding more ideas as we go along. She will work with us at home and also at school. I don't know what goes on in the counseling with my son. I know they do play therapy and sometimes I see what is going on in his mind. Really neat concepts. He's working it out in his own way! Today his counselor gave us a list of rules for his sessions. We have been seeing her for a year and so I think he was shocked to hear these rules. Pretty much she expects him to get to the room quickly, use the bathroom and get a drink in a reasonable amount of time, and stay in her line of sight. If not he will be having time taken off of their session. I think this is a great idea and are great goals for him!!

Anyone who knows me also knows that I deal with food allergies with my son. We went in for a check up last week and have gotten a new doctor. I find out that she wants to retest all of the food. This includes a blood test, patch test and scratch test. Ugh! It can't be true. My son has anxiety about the blood and scratch test as soon as he hears the words. I have anxiety because I have more to do the two weeks before school starts. But we are both happy to hear that an endoscopy is not needed this time around!
So we got the blood test done right away. I make an appointment to make sure we don't sit in the waiting room forever and my son getting more and more worked up about what is about to happen. A lady waiting tells me she had an appointment for an hour ago. So I decide I am not going to wait that long. I plan my words out carefully. When I am called up to fill out papers I say "I hear there is an hour wait time." I am told yes. "Why is that?" I am told they are short on staff. "Well, I made an appointment. Don't you take people with an appointment at their appointment time? Ahead of the people who walk in?" Then I go on about how my son has anxiety problems and I made the appointment so he wouldn't have to deal with waiting. So guess what? They take me back right away after the lady who had been waiting for an hour! I was so glad that I said something.
Now fast forward to this week. Yesterday we go back to the allergist to get the patches put on. These are sticky paper strips with a metal disk in the middle to hold the food on the back for 24 to 48 hours. We leave after 10 minutes, everything is fine and stuck on well. We then are off to see the pediatrician because asthma has become a problem again. I can't believe what I am hearing from the Doctor! I need to take him in for valley fever tests! Chest x rays and a blood test. Not another blood test! Well, by the time we get home the patches are falling off. It's hot and humid. I try my best to use the extra tape they sent home with me, but it's just not working! I try band aids, not working. After dinner I go to CVS and the pharmacist suggests a super adhesive band aid. It works better, but not perfect (which you know is what I want). But I am so done messing with this. This is what his back looks like tonight.




So today I had to go in for the valley fever x ray and blood test. I have to walk into the x ray place and wait. I make sure to ask them if the patches with the metal disks will affect the x ray. The receptionist tells me they won't. They are really nice and tell me it will be 45 minutes to an hour wait and I can leave and come back. So I take the kids to a McDonald's across the street to play. That was so nice! When I get back we are called in and I ask the x ray tech about the food allergy patches. She told me that she would have to take them off and then to the x ray. I tell her "Oh no! We can't take them off. I will just have to come back." Do you know how frustrated I am at this point? But I don't loose it and I leave and will have to go back later this week now. We do get the blood test done and we are done for the day! By the way, I am super proud of my son! He did both blood tests without going crazy, which usually happens when needles are involved. He got rewarded with a movie rental both times.
More tomorrow because we get the patches off! YIPPEE!!

So, this is my blog! All about me and my perfectionist tendencies. I am hoping that I can laugh at the crazy things I do! I want to accept myself for who I really am. A stressed out (sometimes angry) perfectionist. Can I change and become more happy and relaxed? I really hope so!