Better Organizing=Better Grades
Every year when summer begins, we bask in the glory of the warm weather and the days of freedom from the rigid school schedule. Then it seems like we barely have a chance to enjoy it before it’s time to plan for the next school year. Where does the time go?! At the very end of the summer, many families make a frantic effort to squeeze out every bit of summer fun in the last few days by heading to the pool or sleeping late just one more time. Then try as we might to postpone the inevitable, it’s time to shop for school supplies and make plans for that first day.
How is the summer over already?!!
There are so many emotions associated with the beginning of a school year. For everyone! Parents are worried about everything from paperwork and packing lunches to bullying and report cards. Children can feel excited one minute and terrified the next about their first day in a new grade. Teachers may be anxious trying to add the final touches to their rooms and frantically planning those crucial first few days. Clearly it’s a busy time packed with activity and planning.
Even though my children are grown, I (Angie) still get excited about the beginning of a school year. It takes every bit of restraint I can muster to not go out and buy things I really don’t need. As a student, I took the selection of items on the school supply list very seriously, making sure that the color of the notebook corresponded in some way with the class subject. I’d write especially neatly on the first page of a spiral notebook, knowing that I’d be looking at that page all year. After the first few days of school though, the excitement of new supplies was soon replaced by anxiety as I began to worry about my grades. I was (and still am) very driven and competitive, so good grades meant everything to me.
For students and parents alike, grades are usually the biggest worry throughout the school year. This worry starts early and continues throughout all grade levels, even into college. It can often seem like so much is riding on not only the grades themselves and how they compare to classmates’ grades, but on standardized test results as well. Amidst the anxiety we might be wishing there was a magic formula that could ensure good grades. Alas, no such formula exists.
While plenty of research has been done to find the key to producing top marks, we know there are multiple factors involved. However, when I think back over my school years, and those of my children, I am convinced that one of the most crucial factors in achieving good grades is simply being organized.
In light of this observation, here are a few practical suggestions for staying organized during the school year. Keep in mind that depending on the age of the student, parents’ assistance may be needed. The older the child, the more responsibility should be transferred to them. I strongly advise parents, grandparents, or anyone who is working with a child to teach them basic organizing skills. These skills will serve them well throughout their lives.
Check backpacks before leaving school in the afternoon. Nobody enjoys finding out at 9:30 pm that your child forgot the textbook they need to complete their homework. If you pick up your child from school, this isn’t too difficult to keep tabs on, but if they ride the bus or with someone else, you’ll have to train your child to do this on their own. Trust me, we learned this lesson the hard way.
Establish and maintain routines for paper. Students come home with a LOT of papers, some of utmost importance and some that can go straight to the recycling bin. Make it a habit from day one to have a designated spot for papers and a designated system and schedule for organizing them.
Establish a drop zone for backpacks and a labeled container (one per child) nearby for all papers to go into as soon as children arrive home. A desktop container will work, but you might want to also consider a wall-mounted one to save counter space. If possible, a parent should look through the papers immediately to identify anything urgent (forms to be returned, homework to be completed). At the end of the evening, check again to make sure all papers that need to be returned are in the backpack.
Declutter backpacks regularly. At least once a week, every single item in the backpacks needs to be taken out and anything unnecessary removed. I have heard many stories of children getting a 0 on a homework assignment that was completed on time but not turned in because the backpack was a disaster area. And of course we’ve all heard stories of leftover food left in backpacks for long periods of time. Yuck!
Use a planner for all school-related tasks. Each child needs one central location to keep track of dates, deadlines, homework, etc. You might try using a different color for each class. There are some wonderful student planners that are perfect for this. Leslie Josel, Founder of Order Out of Chaos® & and an ADHD Academic/Life Coach, has some fantastic products on her website. Or it may be that a digital solution works better for your family. Either way, I can’t overstate the importance of this strategy.
It’s never too early to start an assignment. Look over assignment sheets and descriptions early to avoid last-minute issues. For a large assignment, use a technique called “backwards planning,” which is working backwards from the desired result to figuring out all the steps needed to achieve it, and creating mini-deadlines to break up big tasks. For a long-range assignment, one good strategy is to work a little on it each day after first completing assignments due the next day.
When your child says they don’t have any homework, don’t believe them. I’m not implying that your child is a liar. I’m simply suggesting that perhaps they may have forgotten it. Either way, it’s better to just double check before assuming they have the night off. There is always something to work on (see above point about long range assignments).
When your child says they don’t have any homework, don’t believe them. Yes, I meant to repeat that sentence. Did you catch it? So many times when asked about homework, I was assured there was none. Then I would find out there was a test the next day. Studying for a test definitely counts as homework!
Although I can’t guarantee that following these tips will lead to straight A’s for your child this year, I can guarantee that helping them get organized will greatly improve their chances for success. Here’s hoping your students have a wonderful and organized school year!