Organization is a critical skill for school success, yet it is one of those skills that cannot be easily pointed to, as if to say: THIS is organization!
So, what IS organization, and how do you go about moving from it as a abstract concept to implementing it as a workable skill set that benefits students in and out of the classroom?
We all know what organization is not: it’s not sloppiness, disorder, rushing, forgetting, or procrastinating.
Organization is both a set of habits, and a systematic way of thinking, categorizing, sorting, prioritizing, arranging, and approaching different aspects of life. That includes everything from in-class learning to keeping the sock drawer neat.
The physical, hands-on ability to organize transfers into organized thought. If students can organize their sock drawer, they can organize their study and learning habits—both these activities draw on a similar set of skills.
Tips for being organized in—and out of—school
- Use your agenda like a pro!
- Write the date and class on your notes. Put all loose pages in order in your binder.
- Before finishing homework for the night, double check that you have completed all tasks.
- Look ahead to tomorrow and gather all the supplies that you need for the next day and out them in the book bag.
- Keep all study and homework materials—pens, paper, calculators, dictionaries, whiteout—whatever you need—in a single spot. Get a clear tupperware bin to keep everything easily accessible. Don’t waste time searching for items you need to have at the tips of your fingertips.
- Use a wall calendar to keep track of after-school activities and chores.
- Make daily to-do lists in your agenda and check off items as they are completed.
- Get in the habit of asking what needs to be done today. A mental overview of what’s coming in the day ahead primes the brain
By making these actions part of the daily routine, organization becomes a hands-on skill that students can use in and out of the classroom.
Navigate high school like a pro—check out the full guide here.
