We have been in school for 5 weeks this year so far - and this is what our Kitchen Counter often looks like:
To tell the Truth - it almost ALWAYS looks like this.
Homework never gets done in one sitting, so the homework supplies stay out all afternoon, and night and usually the next morning (for those last minute study sessions).
I decided it was time to Tame the Beast and Take Back our Kitchen Counter.
Ta Da...We Now have a Designated Homework Station!
I would have loved to fill it with Fun Bright Colored accessories - but since it's in the middle of the Kitchen - and can be seen from all over the first floor - I decided to keep things neutral.
Everything essential for homework has it's place.
Text Books are covered with Newsprint Wrapping Paper (I added clear Contact Paper for extra durability).
The books were covered - but not yet labeled - for at least a week.
I thought it was fun searching for the right text book - Little K....not so much.
I used Red bordered labels - and my Old Fashioned typewriter - to make the Subject Labels.
Baskets of all different sizes are used to corral the clutter.
Each one has it's own clever hang tag:
PLUG IT IN (electronic devices and chargers)
TAKE NOTE (note cards and sticky notes)
GO AWAY (erasers and white out)
KEEP IT TOGETHER (paper clips and glue sticks)
Cans of different sizes are wrapped with Scrap Book Paper (you could also use the same wrapping paper from the Text Book Covers).
Look at these happy colored rubber bands - tucked inside one of the cans.
Colored pencils add another splash of bright.
Smaller baskets keep little bits in place, and cardboard magazine holders hide notebooks and paper packs (I plan on covering the white holders with more newsprint paper).
Another wrapped can holds a supply of sharpened pencils (that will somehow disappear completely within a few weeks).
The bookcase that holds it all - is right next to the kitchen counter where homework is done.
I didn't expect that everything would be neat and tidy all the time, and the counter is still filled with books and papers most of the afternoon and evening. But our Homework Station has kept a lot of the little bits in place and made it much quicker to put things away (for her, and for me).
Now I need to do the same kind of organizing for the other place that homework gets done....the car.