diff --git a/hw/README.txt b/hw/README.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5392d3fbac7ef5f52ae46f9b0c5332a391394ae6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hw/README.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+The assignment instructions and starter code (if needed) are posted here.
+
+Please place your solutions in the submission directory.  During each
+homework, you should run the following commands
+
+git pull   ... to fetch the latest homework instructions and starte code
+
+...prepare your homework in the appropriate directory hw1/ hw2/ ...
+...as you create files, run these commands:
+
+git add file1
+git add file2  ... [add all the files of your homework]
+
+... occasionally push your work to gitlab:
+git commt -a -m 'this is my homework 3, or any message you want'
+git push
+
+...commit and push as often as you want; we will pull your version right after the deadline.