Time Management and Organization Skills: A Basic Toolbox for Building a Solid Learning Foundation

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Time Management and Organization Skills A
Basic Toolbox for Building a Solid Learning
Foundation

• Ali Zidel Meyers, MSW
• Meyers Learning Center

www.meyerslearningcenter.com
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Is this your child?

• Impeccably organized
• Absolutely efficient with time
• Plans and executes projects like clockwork
• An eager learner with intrinsic motivation

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A more realistic scenario?
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The Learning Journey

• The greatest thing in this world is not so much
  where we are, but in what direction we are
  moving. -Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Welcome

• Who I am
• Why Im hereand what you wont hear

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The Big Picture
TEACHING TECHNIQUES Role Modeling Directed
Instruction Set Limits
LEARNING TOOLS Organization Time Management Study
Skills
TEACHING TECHNIQUES Role Modeling Directed
Instruction Limit Setting
LEARNING FOUNDATION
SUCCESS FACTORS Learning Self-Motivation Independe
nce
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Roles to Play

• We all have roles we play on our journeys through
  life.
• The work of children is play, through which they
  learn and grow.
• Playground, classroom, soccer field, stage
• Children learn everywhere.

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Teaching Techniques IntroductionParents as
Teachers

• Your childs learning does not stop in the
  classroom, of course, but extends to all other
  spheres of life.
• So, in addition to whatever work comprises our
  days, we are all teachers. Every one of us.

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Teaching Techniques IntroductionYou are always
teaching

• You teach by exampledirectly and indirectly.
• Nervous? Do not fear.
• We are all natural born teachers and learners.
• Your children are teachers, as well as learners,
  too.
• You dont need to have all the answers.

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Teaching Techniques IntroductionHow are you
always teaching?

• Children need models, not critics.
• Role modeling They watch what you do and mirror
  that. They do as you do.
• Direct instruction Show and tell. (Heres how
  to wash my car This is how to do your
  laundry)
• Limit setting Help them understand whats safe
  and not, whats acceptable and whats notwhere
  and what the boundaries are

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The Big Picture
LEARNING TOOLS Organization Time Management
LEARNING TOOLS Organization Time Management Study
Skills
TEACHING TECHNIQUES Role Modeling Directed
Instruction Set Limits
LEARNING FOUNDATION
SUCCESS FACTORS Learning Self-Motivation Independ
ence
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Learning Tools IntroductionThe Basic Toolbox

• We all have tools for our work.
• Adult tools
• Kid tools
• Now basic tools you can teach your kids to help
  them create success in their learning journeys.

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Learning Tools IntroductionThe Basic Tools

• 1. Time management
• 2. Organization
• Study Skills Learning to Learn effectively and
  efficiently

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Dealing with Time Management Challenges
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Learning Tool Time ManagementMastering Time

• We must use time as a tool, not as a couch.
  -- John F. Kennedy
• Some parents think their kids need to work
  harder, when what they really need to learn to do
  is work SMARTER (more efficiently).
• Two sisters in the study
• Slice it up exercise

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Learning Tool Time Management Teaching
Technique Role Modeling

• How do I teach my kids to manage time
  effectively?
• Do as I say They will do as you do!
• If you want your child to learn effective time
  management, you must model it
• Show up for appointments on time (or early).
• Have all materials at hand to avoid wasting time
  during activities.
• Refer to the start time, remind of the end time,
  and pace activities aloud as you move through
  them.

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Learning Tool Time Management Teaching
Technique Role Modeling

• Time chart (you, your child)where do the hours
  go?
• Time estimates vs. real time (chart it for a week
  or two in your planner or on a notepad, then
  examine your time monsters.)
• Time Monsters (you, your child)

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Learning Tool Time Management Teaching
Technique Role Modeling

• Did you know you have to play ping-pong for 12
  hours to lose one pound?
• Examine ping-pong tactics you may use in your own
  life. Look for ways to make your own tasks more
  efficient, and teach your child how to also.
• Perfect formatting
• Buy an old-fashioned (analog) watch and wear it
  have your child wear one so s/he can see the
  ticking away of seconds to hours-- how time
  moves.

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Learning Tool Time Management Teaching
Technique Direct Instruction and Collaboration

• Everyday lessons the world is your playground,
  your laboratory, your library
• Kids can learn effective time management in the
  context of simple, everyday tasks.
• Teach time-saving techniques for computer work,
  document saving conventions
• Enable your child to partner with you in planning
  and owning their time. Empower them to own and
  help manage their time with you.

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Learning Tool Time Management Teaching
Technique Direct Instruction and Collaboration

• Architects of time Practice together--build a
  time management plan for a set time period.
• Discuss the given tasks for a particular day,
  weekend, or week ahead.
• Map it out a plan on a calendar/poster (kids who
  are visual learners can be great illustrators).
  Be specific.
• Build in contingencies.
• Execute the plan. Evaluate its effectiveness.
• Reflect what went well and what do you want to
  do differently next time?

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Learning Tool Time Management Teaching
Technique Direct Instruction and Collaboration

• Teach your child to estimate how long tasks will
  take, then add a cushion (double it).
• Think out loud about time as you move through the
  day. Help build time awareness.
• Time-based word problems managing HW, handling
  schedule demands
• Use blocks and manipulatives (make it real)
• Kids can be clueless about time, and they have no
  access to your internal dialogue.

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Learning Tool Time Management Teaching
Technique Set Limits

• Do you fear limits?
• Some hesitate to set limits, fearful of imposing
  a rigid structure like what they experienced as a
  child.
• Wanting to give kids everything
• Conflict avoidance
• Obstacles to teaching time management skills

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Learning Tool Time Management Teaching
Technique Set Limits

• As kids move from dependence to independence,
  they need limits around time, to teach them how
  to use it effectively.
• Teach First things first! The sooner you do
  it, the sooner youre through it!
• Students should have a regular study routine
  their working hours (no distractions, no
  interruptions).
• A bliss list or time tokens can be used to
  reinforce the notion of working hard, then
  enjoying free time.

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Learning Tool Time Management Teaching
Technique Set Limits

• Decide on priorities.
• Discuss them with your child.
• Problem-solve together when conflicts around time
  use occur.
• Time monsters can be postponed until after school
  work is done, potentially used as rewards.

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Learning Tool Organization What is it?

• organize (ôrg-nz)
• v. organized, organizing, organizes
• To put together into an orderly, functional,
  structured whole.
• To arrange in a coherent form systematize
• To arrange in a desired pattern or structure
• To arrange systematically for harmonious or
  united action

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Learning Tool Organization Organization
Demystified

• The secrets in the system.
• The key to organization is not so much the type
  of system you choose, but in creating a system
  that works for you and using it.
• Does your form your function? Are you wearing
  hockey gear to play tennis?
• How are your living spaces designed? (Or arent
  they?)
• How easy is access to things that you need?
• How often does clutter create an obstacle in your
  life?
• Its not only the stuff of disorganization that
  drains energy and time its the state itself.

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Learning Tool Organization Teaching Technique
Direct Instruction

• Two basic elements to organizing (for kids)
• 1. Their stuff/space
• Planner, binders, study space
• Bedroom/dorm room, household drop spot, crates,
  filing containers
• Weekly Weed-outs, 10-Minute Tune-ups (daily) for
  maintenance
• Tell them directly what you expect and show them
  how to do it. Ask them to teach the teacher to
  check their understanding.
• 2. Their time (this is coming up)

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Learning Tool Organization Teaching Technique
Role Modeling

• You can hire an expert, read books, surf the
  web--but the system you devise for yourself (or
  with your child) will probably be the most
  effective and enduring.
• Find the areas of your life that are most
  disorganized. Figure out why. Develop an
  organizational plan of attack.
• The goal is not to have the fanciest system, but
  one that works well for you.

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Learning Tool Organization Teaching Technique
Role Modeling

• Start with one thing (desk drawer) or one time
  increment for bigger projects (30 minutes a week
  in the closet, garage, etc.).
• Implement some aspect of your organizational plan
  each week. Examples
• File, Pile (to handle NOW), or Recycle your mail.
  
• Go to www.ReduceWaste.org to remove your name
  from junk mail and solicitation lists
• Do a weekly weed-out dump out your purse,
  wallet, briefcase and weed out once a week. Rid
  yourself of clutter you dont need.
• Take an hour each week to de-clutter photo boxes
  and create photo albums.

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Learning Tool Organization Teaching Technique
Limit Setting

• Rescue selectively.
• What are you doing for your children right now
  that they can do for themselves?
• Fast forward any of these behaviors another 5-10
  years. Will they have adopted these behaviors or
  still be looking to others to do it for them?
• Logical consequences, natural outcomes
• Point out discrepancies between goals and
  behaviors.

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Create the conditions

• Be a farmer not a fly

Hover
Buzzz
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Checkpoint

• Wake a sleeping neighbor.
• Get up and stretch.
• Congratulate yourself.
• Youve made it half way!

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Organization and Effective Time Use Go Hand in
Hand

• Direct Instruction
• Teach your kids to
• Think ahead.
• Plan ahead.
• Act now. (A planner is a terrific tool for
  practicing these concepts).
• Gantt Chart
• Empower your child to begin to self-manage these
  skills will be crucial throughout the life span.

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Organization and Effective Time Use

• Gantt Chart
• Tasks
• Timeframe (start/end)
• Milestone due dates
• Post prominently in two places (Agenda/planner,
  wall)

From http//www.kidasa.com/information/solutions/
general/general1.html
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Youve got the poweruse it.

• Consider every single thing your child considers
  a birthright
• Unlimited phone access
• Unlimited kitchen access
• Hobby time
• Cell phone time
• Computer access
• Allowance
• These are privileges, not rights.
• You can grant (or deny) them!

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Learning Tool Study Skills Study Skills

• Strong Study Skills Save Time
• Does your child know how to work smarter, not
  harder?
• Many kids waste time studying the wrong things.
  Study skills create effective and efficient
  learning.
• Study Skills handling homework, note-taking (in
  class and from texts), test-preparation,
  test-taking, reading comprehension, reading to
  write
• Resources books, people

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Misconceptions and Corrections
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6 Common Misconceptions

• Life must be a Juggling Act.
• Multi-tasking Effective Time Management
• I should let my kids figure this stuff out on
  their own.
• Im hopeless Im an organizational/time
  management wreck, therefore I cant teach these
  skills.
• My children are hopeless. Ive tried telling them
  what to do, and its not working!
• The Felt Fishy Syndrome

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Misconception Correction 1 Life must be a
juggling act.

• Do you feel victimized by time?
• Schedule/commitment overload and stress
• We have choices.
• Your time is your life.
• Work on creating balance, teaching balance.
• Become a time manager rather than a time martyr.

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Misconception Correction 2 Multi-tasking Means
Effective Time Management

• We all do it. Is it effective?
• University of Michigan study

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Multi-tasking not all its cracked up to be

• For all tasks studied
• Subjects lost time when they had to switch from
  one task to another
• Time costs increased with the complexity of the
  tasks.
• Time costs of multi-tasking You've got to
• (a) want to switch tasks
• (b) make the switch
• (c) get warmed back up on what you're doing.

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Multi-tasking Takes Time

• Translation multi-tasking can actually lengthen
  task time.
• Other problems distraction, car accidents,
  relationship difficulties, stress
• The real world multi-tasking is a reality of our
  modern society some parents feel its important
  that their kids know how to do it
• Be conscious.

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Misconception Correction 3 Let them figure it
out on their own.

• Developmental factors
• Time is an abstract concept.
• Would you teach Algebra to a 3rd grader?
• Future-thinking
• Realistic Expectations
• Your involvement

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Misconception Correction 4 Im hopeless.

• Start small.
• Examples Each time you walk through a room, put
  something away.
• Each time you sift through the mail, practice the
  OHIO principal (Only Handle It Once).
• Get a large family calendar to post in the
  kitchen. Use it as a master planning tool and
  invite everyone else to do the same.
• Check out www.FlyLady.net

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Misconception Correction 5 My child is
hopeless.

• Dont give up. Do you think that your children
  are un-teachable? Of course not.
• Any kind of behavioral change takes time, effort,
  and lots of practice.
• Have you been a farmer or a fly? Work to create
  solutions that really fit. Your answers may not
  be the right ones for your child.
• Recognize what your child does well give
  specific praise when you see it happening.

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Misconception Correction 6 The Felt Fishy
Syndrome
Theres always someone doing a better job
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You are enough

• Whoever you are as a parent, you bring your
  unique perspective and gifts.
• Celebrate your style and strengths.
• Mistakes (yours or your childs) are learning
  moments, not to be feared.
• "Before I got married, I had 6 theories about
  bringing up children. Now I have 6 children and
  no theories." - John Wilmot

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The Big Picture
LEARNING TOOLS Organization Time Management Study
Skills
TEACHING TECHNIQUES Role Modeling Directed
Instruction Set Limits
LEARNING FOUNDATION
SUCCESS FACTORS Learning Self-Motivation Independ
ence
SUCCESS FACTORS Learning Self-Motivation Independe
nce
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Success FactorsSuccess Defined

• Expand definitions of success (beyond grades and
  sameness)
• Success emerging, developing abilities and
  habits that foster
• Learning
• Independence
• Creative problem-solving
• Effective time management
• Use of constructive learning tools
• Goal setting and achievement

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Success FactorsBuilding Blocks for Success

• Collaboration Student, Parent(s), Teachers,
  (Tutor, Counselor), together comprise the team.
• Clear expectations Student knows whats expected
  and how to deliver it.
• Consistency Only way to build enduring habits.
• Support Student knows s/he has resources for
  support and utilizes them.
• Problem-Solving A method for handling obstacles
  and conflict (more on next slide).

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Success FactorsProblem-Solving With Your Child

• What is the concern behind the complaint?
• Bring the concern to your child at a good time,
  in a way s/he can understand, in a dispassionate
  manner.
• I feel
• I need
• What do you feel? What do you need?
• Lets work together to find a solution that both
  of us can live with (problem-solving process)

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Success FactorsMotivation

• Seek feedback. Say No, sir to Yes, sir
• Kids may Yes you so that they can speed up an
  uncomfortable process (one in which they sense
  they have fallen short of your expectations).
• Make sure that solutions developed are REALISTIC
  for your child.
• Maintain accountability CONSISTENTLY. If goals
  are not met, figure out why with your child, and
  adjust accordingly.
• Explore goals, rewards (intrinsic and extrinsic),
  privileges (postponing until agreed-upon
  activities are met).

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Additional Ingredients
Success Factors

• Notice (to yourself and aloud to others) your
  childrens assets and efforts.
• Give your child one specific, genuine compliment
  a day.
• When other attempts miss the mark, empower your
  child through creative, collaborative
  problem-solving (their ingenuity is amazing).

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Supporting SuccessDealing with Setbacks

• When in doubt, resist the SHOUT!
• Acknowledge difficulty, empathize
• Explain relevance
• Help your child find other options.
• Emphasize solutions, not what the student should
  have done.
• Practice accountability
• Ignite Motivation
• Praise successes, big and small

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When to Consider Seeking Help

• These challenges are all NORMAL!
• Kids need trial and ERROR to learn,
  problem-solve, figure it outexpect that
• In some cases, it makes sense to seek outside
  help
• Tapped out
• Relationship unraveling
• Potential and performance out of sync
• Your child asks for help
• Your child seems depressed or anxious

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Patiencethe Seed of Self-preservation.

• Why havent you quit
• How easy is it to break a bad habit?
• A process, not a light switch
• Any kind of behavioral change takes time, effort,
  and lots of practice.

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Success FactorsPatiencethe Seed of
Self-preservation.

• Create realistic expectations
• Praise progress of any size (baby steps)
  generously (its free!), specifically, and
  sincerely.
• Change takes time. Have faith in yourself and
  your child.
• Plant and nourish your seeds of patience plant
  and nourish their seeds of growth.

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In Summary

• Teaching organization and time management skills
  builds a foundation for learning.
• Our kids learn from US provide tools and
  strategies through Role Modeling, Direct
  Instruction, and Limit Setting.
• Recognize successes. Problem-Solve through
  challenges.
• Collaborate to foster buy-in and self-motivation.
• Consistency provides a platform for success.

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The Journey toward Success

• The student whos developing abilities and
  habits that foster
• Learning
• Independence
• Creative problem-solving
• Effective time management
• Use of constructive learning tools
• Goal setting and achievement
• Nurture these aspects of your childs
  development, and you will witness success.

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Questions?

• Time Management and Organization Skills A
  Basic Toolbox for Building a Solid Learning
  Foundation
• Ali Zidel Meyers, MSW
• Meyers Learning Center

www.MeyersLearningCenter.com