Get Organized

“The more you can help your child to develop habits and routines that make sense for (he/she), the more likely (he/she) will  be able to manage demands independently…” from Late, Lost and Unprepared by Joyce Cooper-Kahn, Ph.D. and Laurie Dietzel, Ph.D.  

!     Back Pack Landing Zone: Choose an area in your home where your child must place his/her backpack when they come home from school. This is the same place that your child should put their backpack when they are done with homework so they are prepared to leave for school in the morning.

!     Create a Daily/Weekly Schedule: Working with your child, create a Daily/Weekly Schedule which includes all of their weekly activities. Identify blocks of time each day which may be designated for Homework and Study time. Click here for a template of My Schedule 

!     Establish a Start and Stop Time: Some children tend to rush through their homework. For these children, we recommend that you designate not just a start time but an end time for homework. If your child finishes homework with time to spare, he/she can read a book that he picks out or review flash cards. Only homework and reading are allowed during the designated time. That way, he/she is less likely to rush through work to get to other preferred activities.

!    Same Start Time Every Day: Ideally, studying the same time every day will help build a routine.

!    Being at Their Best: Homework should be done before your child is too tired to do their best.  They should be doing their homework while they still have energy and ‘Brain Power’. 

2. Set the Stage: Set Up a Homework Space

!     Lighting: Good lighting is always important.

!     Seating: Good posture helps concentration. This isn’t to say that your child can’t slump into a beanbag chair to read a story, but for optimum attention to homework, a ‘desk’ chair or straight back chair at a table or desk works well. A comfortable chair with proper support is ideal.  

!     Noise: It’s better if the study center is relatively quiet.  If possible, it should be kept away from the distractions of siblings running by, TVs and radios blaring, parents conversing, etc.  Although some children can do their homework amidst these distractions, they “…will be functioning at a level far below (their) potential just because of where (they) choose to study.” from Study Smarter, Not Harder by Kevin Paul.

!     Work Surface: A smooth tabletop or desktop is best suited for homework. They need enough cleared surface to land at least one open book at a time as well as their opened notebook.

3. A Place for Everything: Create a “Homework Caddy” 

!         Limit Interruptions: Having the right supplies at your child’s fingertips will

minimize distractions and allow them to complete tasks without the   interruption of leaving their Homework Space to find what is needed.

!     Discuss Use of Supplies: Having the right supplies is a first step, and reviewing how to use these tools with your child is a second and equally important step.                                                                       

!     Create a Homework Caddy: We recommend putting all of the supplies in one place to create a portable supply kit for your child’s homework. We have created the Homework Buddy™ as a convenient and inexpensive solution to storing and organizing homework supplies. 

!     Supply Lists: We have created a detailed description of the Supply List for you to review with your child. Some of the supplies are very obvious as to how your child should use them like paper clips.  Other supplies are not so obvious and you should spend some time with your child to ensure that he/she knows how to use them.  For example, colored pencils are usually the best choice for coloring worksheets while markers are better for coloring poster boards and projects.

Click here for a printable Shopping List which also includes a Family Supply List to consider.

4. Using a Planner: The Homework Road Map

If your child’s school uses a Planner, you should spend some time first orienting yourself to their Planner and then sitting down with your child to have them explain to you how they should use their Planner.  If your school system does not provide a planner, we recommend purchasing one. See below for recommendations of what Planners should include.

Why aren't they using their Planner? Some children don’t write homework assignments down in their Planner because they are confident that they will remember without writing anything down. Sometimes a child will not write down their homework because they are in denial or feel overwhelmed by the amount of homework they have.

!  Using the Planner: Teach your child to write down upcoming tests, quizzes, and projects, as well as daily assignments, to help your child schedule and plan ahead.  Highlight Tests, Quizzes and Deadlines.

!  Making it Easy: Show your child how to use a binder clip as a bookmark in their Planner so they can easily flip to the right page.

!  Choosing a Planner: If your school doesn’t provide a Planner for your child, consider purchasing one or you can make a simple planner yourself.  The sample that we’ve shown you above is a “Teacher’s Planner”.  Click here for a template of My Weekly Planner. 

!  Taking the Right Books and Binders Home: Create a system with your child of using the Planner at the end of the day to help your child know which books and binders to take out of their locker or desk and put into their backpack.

!  Class Schedule: Have your child tape a copy of their daily class schedule to the front of their Planner and highlight each subject with the same Color Coding system that they have created for their binders and textbooks.

5. The Homework Binder: Establishing a System to Get Homework to and From School Successfully

Consider this scenario for your child in Middle School or High School: They are literally carrying a portable office in their arms or on their back as they move from class to class upwards as much as 6 times a day. Between classes they have two to five minutes to pack and unpack, dash to the next class, and sometimes make a stop at their locker to dig out a needed binder or book.  Add to it that that each class has a different instructor, they sit in a different seat, and have different requirements for books, supplies, and binders.  Is it any wonder that things get lost along the way? The following tips are designed to make that process more successful:

!  Color Code Notebook Binders and Books:

o       Choose a different color for each subject and purchase a notebook binder in each color.

o       Color code the books for each subject by putting on a fabric stretch book cover that follows the color code OR put a paper book cover on it and use a marker to mark the correct color on the spine of the book cover. 

o       Place the books and notebooks in the locker so that the spine is visible.

o       Let your child choose a color coding scheme that makes sense to them so it is easier for them to learn.

o       Once your child starts a color code system, they can use that color coding throughout their academic career.  

!  Use a “Homework Binder”: One system to consider is to create one binder with a tab (color coded) for each class.

o       The Homework Binder would accompany your child to each class. Any new homework handouts are put into a pocket in front of the binder to be completed.

o       The Homework Binder is always brought home in lieu of bringing home every binder for every subject.

o       Using the Homework Binder System: Once at home, handouts, reports, and assignments should be completed, holes punched and then filed under the class tab so it can be found easily to be turned in the next day.

o       With this system, your child may be able to leave their individual Subject Binders at home to be updated with corrected papers and handouts rather than bringing them all to/from school each day.  By leaving them at home, your child is also assured that they will have what they need to complete homework assignments and study for quizzes and tests,

o       Some teachers/subjects don’t lend themselves to this system since the Subject Binder is needed in class to refer to previous handouts or assignments. In that case, it may make sense to leave the subject binder in school and use the Homework Binder to get work to and from school.

o       An accordion file can be used in lieu of a Homework Binder.

o       The Homework Binder should also be stocked with extra lined paper and graph paper.

!  Class Schedule: Have your child tape a copy of their daily class schedule to the front of their Homework Binder. Use colored pencils to identify each subject with the same Color Coding system that they have created for their binders and textbooks.

!     School Supplies: Using the Homework Binder concept, consider a zippered pocket that can be placed securely in the rings of the Homework Binder to be “Classroom Ready” all the time.  The zippered pocket should include the following items:

  Handouts, homework, sports schedules, corrected papers, dance class notices, school announcements, field trip details, and more….  Your child needs a system to reduce the paper in their binders and backpacks and have an easy way to find papers when they are needed. Filing the papers will assure your child that their corrected work and reference material can easily be found for test review.

!     Filing System: Provide a file box and hanging file folders for each subject. Here are some suggestions:

o        Math

o        English

o        Science

o        Social Studies

o        Spanish

o        Art

o        Sports

o        Music Lessons

o        School Notices

o        Class Schedule and Report Cards (Keep a copy of the Class Schedule on File)

!     Color Coded Labeling: Help your child use the same color coding system that they have chosen for their books and notebooks to match a color to each subject tab in the filing system.

!     Monthly Maintenance: Once a month, assist your child in going through each of their binders to file unneeded class notes, tests, returned homework, etc.

7.    Five Minute Fridays™: How to Avoid Sunday Night Meltdowns

It’s Sunday evening and your otherwise cheery child becomes a teary child when   they realize that they don’t have what they need for a project or homework assignment, or maybe they are overwhelmed with the amount of homework they have without enough time to complete it. Spend 5 minutes on Fridays to help your child plan their homework schedule for the weekend, and avoid Sunday Night Meltdowns!

!     Empty the Backpack: When your child comes home on Friday, ask them to empty out their backpack.

!     Re-Write Weekend Assignments: Using their Planner, have your child re-write all of their weekend homework assignments and/or projects on a separate piece of paper that gets posted on the refrigerator. 
 

!     Schedule Homework Time: Parents need to work with their child to help them schedule their weekend homework based on the family’s schedule of activities. For example, your child may not know that the family is spending the day visiting relatives on Sunday, so they should plan to do their homework on Saturday.

!     Weekly Backpack Maintenance: Emptying the backpack weekly is also needed to remove crumpled paper, part of lunch, lost gloves, candy wrappers, and other items that account for the “Backpack Bulge” and will help them keep their Backpack organized and lighter.

8.    The Backpack – Managing the Load:

As described in Five Minute Fridays™, emptying the backpack regularly is a good start to Managing the Load. Here are a few more suggestions:

!     What’s Inside: Talk to your child to determine if they are emptying their locker into their backpack at the end of the day to avoid forgetting a book or binder. If that is the case, review strategies for identifying the correct textbooks and binders by using their Planner at the end of the day.

!     Is the Backpack Working: Assess the Backpack to determine if there are enough pockets for your child to organize the contents: a separate pocket for their cell phone or MP3 player; a place for their lunch; add a pencil box for small items that find their way to the bottom of the pack.

!     Packing: When packing, books and binders should be put into the Backpack from largest item (that will rest on your child’s back) to smallest item (like a paperback).  In this way, your child can see what is inside easier and keep track of small paperbacks rather than having them ‘lost’ between large binders or textbooks.

!     Duffel /Tote Bag: Your child will likely need a separate tote bag for gym clothes, sneakers, and sport supplies. Young children may need to carry (rather than wear) bulky items to participate in outdoor recess during cold months. They should carry their boots, hats, snow pants and mittens in a duffel bag or similar bag with a zipper and keep these items separate.

9.    Locker Litter: The Final Frontier

Most lockers just don’t seem to have been designed with students in mind.  With few shelves and narrow openings, many students choose to carry all of their books with them all day for fear of not being able to find them fast enough between classes. For some younger students, the locker is the repository for everything from art projects and gym clothes to uneaten lunches. 

!  Locker Visit: For younger children, plan one day after school when your child can ‘show you their locker’.  You may want this to be an unscheduled event so that you can see how your child is doing. It will also give you an opportunity to see what the space limitations are in the locker and to determine what accessories might be helpful.

!  Checking In: A younger child who finds keeping their locker in order challenging may benefit from a monthly “Locker Visit” with their parent. Bring two bags – one for garbage and one to tote the items that should come back home. Your child should be the one to actually do the sorting and cleaning (with your guidance). Otherwise, they will not have the opportunity to learn this important organizational skill themselves.

!  Work Together: Most parents would agree that addressing Locker Litter with older children is a much more delicate issue. They may be embarrassed to have their parent coming into school with them for a “Locker Check”. Working with your child in a mutually agreeable manner to determine if they are able to use their locker appropriately is the goal. Offering your child some accessories to help organize their locker may be the key. 

!  Use Color Coding: Encourage your child to put textbooks and binders on shelves so that they can see the spine and use their Color Coding system to easily identify books and binders by subject. 

!  Class Schedule: Have your child tape a copy of their schedule (that has been color coded by subject) on the inside door of their locker.

!  Spare Supplies: A pencil box with spare supplies to be used for projects should be kept in the locker. Oftentimes a student has the opportunity to work on projects in a study hall but lacks the proper supplies.  The following are suggestions of items to be stored in a pencil box in the student’s locker:

o       Colored Pencils

o       Scissors (if allowed by your school district’s safety policies)

o       Markers

o       Glue Stick

o       Tape

o       Small (6 inch) Ruler

10. Tidbits

!  Getting Organized is a Process: Be patient with your child and remember that developing Organizational Skills is a process, not an event. They may slip back into old habits easily or find the ‘system’ that you created together isn’t working for them. Reassess and adjust the system together to find what works best for your child. Remember that they must take part in creating the organizational routine to better understand how and why it works and to be able to incorporate it into their behavior. 

!     When You Need Help: This website and these tips and steps are not meant to be a substitute for professional or clinical guidance. For parents of children who believe that it is “More than just disorganization”, your child may be challenged in what is described as “Executive Functioning” in which case you will want to pursue a professional assessment and further guidance for your child.

A resource on this subject is: Late, Lost, and Unprepared by Joyce Cooper-Kahn, Ph.D. and Laurie Dietzel, Ph.D. where they write:

“The Executive Functions are a set of processes that all have to do with managing oneself and one’s resources in order to achieve a goal.  It is an umbrella term for the neurologically-based skills involving mental control and self-regulation… (The list of executive functions includes 6 major categories – 2 of which involve organization)

    Planning/Organization: The ability to manage current and future-oriented task demands…

    Organization of Materials: The ability to impose order on work, play, and storage spaces…”

!    One Bite at a Time: Have you ever heard the old question - How do you eat an elephant?  The answer - One bite at a time! There are many steps to getting completely organized. If your child is already feeling overwhelmed, implementing these suggestions by approaching each step slowly and methodically will be important not to overwhelm them even more. These suggestions are meant to help you and your child find order, not create more anxiety!