Improving Organizational Skills By Peggy A. Hammeken

Organizational Skills “I can’t find my homework.” “I know I turned it in” “I know I did it.” Do these phrases sound familiar? Students with disabilities and students who struggle are often able to complete assignments when adapted to their specific needs, but they may continually lose or misplace the completed work.

Organizational Skills Other students experience difficulty with organization of time and physical space. Still others may be unorganized because they are unable to follow oral and written directions. The following are strategies for students who struggle with organizations of physical space.

Organizational Skills Classroom Organization Provide the student with a simplified map of the school. Number and highlight the classrooms and the most direct route for the student. Write a daily schedule on the board and follow it as closely as possible. Some students need to anticipate what will occur next in the school day.

Organizational Skills Organize the classroom so there is one location to hand in daily assignments. Develop a classroom routine and follow it. If possible, take breaks at approximately the same time each day. Allow the student several extra minutes to organize materials.

Organizational Skills Color code folders for each subject. If possible coordinate folders with the colors of the textbook. Keep all of the student supplies in a central area. Clearly state what the student may use during the day. Create seating arrangements that allow the student to see the board easily without turning their body.

Organizational Skills Student Organization Use colored coded folders for academic areas. Keep a pencil, pen, paper and other necessary items in each folder. If folders are confusing for the student, use a three ring notebook. Keep all folders and paper in one notebook. The student should never remove any paper unless it is time to turn it in to the classroom teacher. If the papers are loose, use a three ring hole punch. Once the papers are punched they can be inserted into the notebooks. This is great for the student who has extreme difficulty with organization.

Organizational Skills Have the student clean and organize his/her desk or locker at least once a week. Organize papers into three piles: file into folders, take home or toss. Make sure the student places a heading on all papers. This will assist the student in storing papers in the appropriate file. Develop a color code chart and post it or have the student keep a crayon that matches the corresponding folder and color code the corner of each assignment. With written assignments, it is easy to confuse a social studies rough draft report with an English rough draft report.

Organizational Skills Incorporate classroom discussion about organization into the curriculum. Allow the students to share their ideas and organizational strategies. List the ideas. Many students need to be taught organizational skills. Use a homework book or an assignment sheet. Teach the student how to prioritize assignments. Some students need a weekly or monthly calendar to understand the concept of time.

Organizational Skills List assignments and the approximate length of time that will be needed to complete the assignment. This will assist the student with prioritizing the classwork. Supply the student with a pad of “Things to do Today” Teach the student how to write reminders to him/herself. Use a peer to help monitor assignments. The peer can assist the student in placing assignments in correct folders or turning in assignments.

Organizational Skills For students that have difficulty remembering to do homework, allow the student to call home and leave a message, if available. Make sure the student notes the subject and page numbers. Allow the student to check out an extra set of textbooks for home use. Give the student a packet of sticky notes. The student can write down each assignment as given. The note can be placed on the student’s desk. The student may throw the note away when the assignment is complete or stick it into the homework notebook.

Organizational Skills Create a simple daily checklist that the student can tape onto the top of his/her desk or into a note book. Write down the assignments with the due dates. The student can cross off the assignment when completed. When an assignment has been completed, encourage the student to turn it in immediately. It can be very frustrating for the student to redo an assignment because it is lost. Plastic bags work well for extra pencils, crayons, markers and supplies. The student can keep several individual bags of supplies

Organizational Skills Give extra time to students with organizational difficulties to find their materials before presenting new materials. Many students will miss directions because they are still looking for supplies. If assisting students with check-in and check-out on a daily basis, go into the student’s classroom. The student will not miss valuable class time or important directions. You may also use the time to double check any assignments listed on the board. Teach the student to use self-talk methods. The student should verbalize the steps after the teacher has given multi-step directions.

Organizational Skills Enlist parent cooperation in setting up a specific time each day for homework. If the student does not have homework; the student may spend the time reading, or cleaning and organizing their folders or backpacks. Hanging folders, numbered manilla folders, file folders or mailboxes may be set up in the classroom. Papers may be placed immediately into the folder for storing or taking home.