Teacher Tips to Help Disorganized Students

I’m a teacher, too, and I’ve seen students who have a hard time in school simply because they’re not organized. I try to work a few lessons into my schedule to teach some basic organizing skills. Here are some ideas for you:

1. Most kids have no clue where their free time goes. They wonder why they can’t get homework done. Have students keep a record of their after-school activities and time spent on each for a day or two. Teach “time awareness” by having them estimate how long something takes, then compare how long it actually takes. Have them share any insights with classmates (there’s always a surprise or two!)
2. Does your school use a planner? If so:
   • Schedule a “planner walk-through” early in the school year. Students need to feel comfortable with their planners, and be able to customize them. Little things make a difference: “Do I write my homework on the day it’s due or the day I do it?” Show them how to clip pages to mark the current week.
3. If your school doesn’t have a planner:
   • Before entering middle school, kids need to learn how to manage their time. Show them how to break down long-term assignments into manageable steps.
4. You may already have a classroom cleanup time. I recommend that students clean up their desks, backpacks and binders, too. Guide them in this exercise to avoid the “dog ate my homework” look.
5. Most middle school kids don’t know how to read a textbook effectively. Teach the PQRST method of reading for information:
   • P = preview the material
   • Q = ask general questions before reading that stimulate a search for answers
   • R = read
   • S = summarize the reading in your own words
   • T = test yourself for knowledge about the material by answering the questions posed up front
6. Finally, I’ve found that students who are not motivated to do well in school often do not have a concrete “life goal”. I try to engage students in activities that help them identify what they would like to do or be beyond school. You might try a writing assignment that asks them to picture themselves 20 years in the future.