So Important! Teaching Students to be Organized: Tips from Buck's Chapter 7

"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly." ~Thomas Henry Huxley, English biologist (1825-1895)

It is wise to teach students principles of organization.  These skills will serve students well throughout life.

Students should write down things as soon as they think of them. 

Students also need a signature tool, and a student planner works well for them.  Having a uniform planner for all students is recommended.

Tell students what to write and where to write it.  In dong so, you model the behaviors you want students to internalize.

Teach students to write assignments, projects, facts  on the current day's spot in their planners.  When students get home, they should dissect the information and break goals down into parts.  For projects like term papers, have students write the paper on the due date and work backwards recording each date that tasks (parts) associated with the paper are due.

The student planner is also a good communication tool with parents.  The teacher can write brief notes to the parent, and inform parents to check the student's planner each night or week, etc.

Teach students to empty their book bags totally every night. 

Papers to be sent to parents can be placed in the student's planner or a folder set up for the purpose.  Encourage students and parents to designate a place at home that students place papers for their parents' immediate attention.

Teach students to get everything for school ready the night before (including decisions about what to wear, etc.).  This practice will make mornings much more peaceful.

Teach students how to organize lockers.

Teach students to use one binder.  With dividers and loose-leaf paper, they can set up sections for each subject and hole punch anything that needs to be inserted.  Teachers will need to help students purge the binder at points throughout the year..  At the end of the year, teach students to recognize things that some things have temporary value and can be discarded, while others have lasting value as artifacts of a year's work or as material for scrapbooks.

Teachers throughout the school should come to a common decision about beginning-of-class procedures, how to head papers, use of binders, etc.  Consistency will make life easier for everybody.