How to Help Your Student Get Organized

One of the most critical skills for school success is organization, but for many children, learning to organize doesn't come naturally. While children of the same age have varying abilities when it comes to organization, here are some general strategies that can benefit all students.

At School
Have your children stock their backpacks with the necessary supplies, selecting a specific location for each item. Be sure to include:

• a clear plastic pouch, located in an easily accessible place, to hold items such as pens, pencils and rulers;
• a plastic three-hole puncher that snaps into a binder so that students can put holes in teachers' handouts and immediately file them;
• a separate three-ring binder for every subject, each a different color;
• pocket-file dividers to separate the binder into sections, such as for notes and tests;
• a daily assignment notebook with a separate section for each subject's homework and due date.
  Insist that your child record all assignments daily.

At Home
The following strategies can support your child's organizational efforts at home:

• Keep a complete set of school supplies at home.
• Buy an erasable planning calendar so your child can keep track of due dates on long-term assignments. Use this as a communication tool between you and your child.
• Show children how to break down large projects into smaller steps and how to develop manageable plans, instead of doing the work for them.
• Have children pack their backpacks the night before and leave them in the same place every day.
• Keep a checklist at the door of essential items, such as lunch money and physical education clothes.
• Try to keep routines similar for children who divide their time between two homes. If possible, keep a set of supplies at each home.

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