Organizational Skills for Students Marcia Laus [e-mail]

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Organizational Skills for StudentsMarcia Laus
marciala_at_thewatsoninstitute.org
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Why Are Kids Disorganized?
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Frontal Cortex Executive Function

• Provides executive control all purposeful
  actions
• A neuropsychological process in the pre frontal
  cortex

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This process underlies purposeful behaviors such
as

• Planning organizing
• Attention concentration
• Flexibility to try new problem solving strategies
• Abstract complex thinking
• Decision making

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And More

• Self-monitoring for accuracy
• Progress towards a goal
• Emotional responses
• Judgment reasoning
• Inhibit incorrect/inappropriate responses

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Why is Organization Difficult for Adolescents

• Changing classes no home base
• More teachers with different teaching styles
• Expectations for independence and self-regulation
  higher
• The Adolescent Brain

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The Adolescent Brain

• Just prior to puberty a lot of grey matter is
  created, neurons develop, myelin is formed
  transmission of electrical impulses speed up
• This takes place in the frontal cortex of the
  brain essential for such functions as response
  inhibition, emotional regulation, analyzing
  problems and planning Executive Functions
• Executive functions continue to develop through
  young adulthood (earlier in girls than in boys)
• Synaptic pruning use it or lose it
  eliminates weaker synapses strengthens stronger
  connections

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Teaching Organization

• Labeling
• Model organization
• Options involve student in planning
  organization
• Frequent checks (binder, planner,)
• Routines
• Where to do homework
• When to do homework
• Get ready the night before

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P.A.C.K.

• Purge
• Accessorize
• Categorize
• Keep It Up

The Organized Student by Donna Goldberg
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Key Organizational Skills

• Organization at School
• Time Management
• Organization at Home

The Organized Student by Donna Goldberg
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Organizing Tools

• 3 ring binder or accordion file
• Desk organization
• Locker organization
• Planner
• Desktop filing system

The Organized Student by Donna Goldberg
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The Binder(s)

• Tools (dividers, pencil pouch, 3 hole punch,
  pockets)
• Color coding
• Schedule
• How many? AM/PM one for each class one for
  entire day?

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Tools for Binder Organization
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Locker Organization

• Zones
• Books
• Supplies
• Personal Belongings

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Locker Organization

• System
• All books start on top shelf in AM
• When putting books in after class they either go
• on bottom shelf OR
• In backpack (homework)

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Locker Organization
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Locker Organization

• Include
• Schedule
• Color coding
• Organizing tools

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Locker Organization
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www.organize-everything.com
Tools for Locker Organization
www.amazon.com
www.lockerdog.com
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Other Locker Organizational Tools
www.boarddudesdirect.com
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Desk Organization
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Other Desk Organization Ideas

• Chair sacks
• Loose paper folder or envelope
• Boxes or office trays for books
• Mailboxes (gets loose papers out of desk)
• Accordion file folders
• Other????

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Locker and/or Desk Organization

• Periodic Checks
• Checklist
• Motivators
• Assistance with decluttering

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Locker ? ? No loose papers ? Books on shelf or in
backpack ? Coat and backpack on hook ? All small
items in containers ? ____________________________
____
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Assignment Planner

• Teacher check or
• Peer check
• after giving assignment have each student
  explain it to a peer
• Peers check each others planner
• Parent check at home
• Routine and Time
• Teach to abbreviate
• Teach to prioritize parents help at home with
  this!!!
• Work to do checklist
• Long Term Assignment Planning

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Work To Do Check-list

• Work To Do
• ___________________________?
• ___________________________ ?
• ___________________________ ?
• ___________________________ ?
• ___________________________ ?
• ___________________________ ?

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Long Term Project
Assignment ___________________________ _______________________________________ Assignment ___________________________ _______________________________________ Assignment ___________________________ _______________________________________ Assignment ___________________________ _______________________________________ Assignment ___________________________ _______________________________________ Date assigned Date assigned Date assigned Date assigned Date due Date due Date due
Steps to complete Steps to complete Steps to complete Steps to complete by when by when by when ? when complete ? when complete Notes Notes Notes






Monday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Friday Saturday Sunday
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
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What Can Parents Do?

• Begin slowly. Focus on one problem at a time
• Start with stuff management
• Make sure your child has a proper study space
• Help your child develop a study schedule
• Have your child study or read even when she has
  no homework
• Check the planner, check the backpack and folders
• Teach your child to take (approp) breaks

From Get Organized Without Losing It by Janet
Fox
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Organization at Home

• Homework Area
• Desktop File Box
• Toolkit
• Calendar (where is everybody?)
• Habits and Routines!!
• Avoid the Morning Rush
• Visual supports schedules, checklists, post
  its, etc.
• A place for everything and everything in its
  place
• Schedule times for regular decluttering

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Desktop Organizer for Homework Desk
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How to Study

• Mnemonic devices
• Repetition
• Variety of ways
• Movement breaks or movement while studying
• Music? On or Off??
• Ongoing (rather than cramming)

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Websites

• www.howtostudy.org
• www.studygs.net

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Schedules

• After School Schedule
• Tell Me About Today
• Mini schedules
• Work To Do Checklist
• Work Systems
• Schedules you can purchase

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Tell Me About Today
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