Should Teachers Teach Organization Skills?
I replied to a comment about using the cell phone calendar as an organizational tool. I wondered how many teachers explicitly teach organizational skills in their classes and how many assume that students already know how to organize their work.
I admit that I have not been explicit about helping students get their work organized. I’ve only helped students whose homework comes to me looking like it was written on the subway on the way to school. I’m thinking about getting more explicit in my teaching of organizational skills.
We’ve written about how to make life more automated, but what about getting students organized?
1. Syllabus. Teachers and students benefit from a syllabus. Students can remember the student learning objectives and know what homework to expect week to week. I give my students extra points at the end of the year if they turn in the syllabus on the day specified in the syllabus. That will give them incentive to regularly read all of their syllabi.
2. Planner. Students can use their cell phones, e-mail calendar, moleskine, etc. to keep track of homework and everyday activities.
3. Folder. Students should have a folder and notebook for each class. We think this goes without saying, but I notice several students who put handouts from all of their classes into one folder.
4. Blog, Google Sites, Websites. Having a class blog, google site, or website can help students get into the habit of keeping track of due dates, test dates, field trips, and day to day class objectives.
5. Habits. When students build a rhythm of school-homework-eat-text-exercise-homework-facebook-video games-sleep, they’re building habits that ensure their work is being completed. Some students have a hard time coming back from vacation since that rhythm is completely broken. This is why some teachers assign light homework or long-term projects over breaks.
6. Parents. When students’ organization skills adversely affect grades it’s time for teachers to get the parents involved. With parents’ help students can get the supplies they need and…
7. Proper Workspace. Parents can help with this one too. How is the student’s work environment? Are there papers everywhere? Dirty clothes on the floor? Too many distractions? Clean it up.
8. Eating. Students need to eat balanced meals and cut out the superfluous sugar and caffeine. I’ve noticed over the years that students start drinking coffee at younger and younger ages, and they drink it regularly. I’ve also noticed a correlation between effective teaching and healthy eating.
- What would make your list of things that students need to get organized?
- Do you teach explicit organizational skills?
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Interesting post. I like that you included eating. Seems like the world would be a much nicer place if we all ate better, we’d all be healthier, feel better, and avoid those sugar mood swings.
I also thought it was interesting that you mentioned coffee. It was with great reluctance that I allowed my 13 year old to start drinking coffee in the morning. Basically, it is a replacement for her ADHD meds, which she hates. I did my research and there is evidence to support that coffee can be beneficial for ADHD people. So, given that there are so many of them out there, could be that at least a few of those young coffee drinkers are self-medicating.
@Rachel, I had not heard of coffee as a substitute for ADHD meds. I think it’s a great idea. In the case of ADHD, something natural, i.e. coffee, is usually better than prescribed meds. I had a teacher on a rampage in 1st grade and all the boys were strongly encouraged to take Ritalin. I took it for a week and I was a zombie. Then I joined an after school activity program and was off the meds. I’ll have to do some research on coffee and ADHD. Thanks for making us privy.