Organized Students = Successful Students
Organization is critical to success in school and life. It is a learned skill so you must develop a plan and put it into practice. Organization skills are personal: what works for one person may not work for another. Try different ideas and techniques to find out what works for you. Also, you may find that what works for one class may not work for another. As courses and schedules change, so can your organizational techniques. Be flexible and willing to try different things! Begin by trying some the tips below.
Organization is critical to success in school and life. It is a learned skill so you must develop a plan and put it into practice. Organization skills are personal: what works for one person may not work for another. Try different ideas and techniques to find out what works for you. Also, you may find that what works for one class may not work for another. As courses and schedules change, so can your organizational techniques. Be flexible and willing to try different things! Begin by trying some the tips below.
I need to:
- Organize my bookbag
- Begin by emptying everything from you backpack. Don't throw anything away yet!
- Build separate piles of loose papers, folders, notebooks.
- Sort items by period/class.
- Place items for each class within their respective notebooks as noted in the next section below.
- When packing your book bag, put heavier, bigger items to the back (closest to your back) with smaller and lighter items toward the front.
- It is a good idea to have a bag or box for pencils, pens, highlighters, erasers and other small items. Keep them in the front zippered portion of your bag, if it has one.
- Keep your agenda or calendar on top! This will become the most important item in your backpack! It should come out in each class to keep up with assignments and due dates.
- Organize your backpack on a regular basis to keep yourself on track.
- Trash the things you don't need.
- Organize my notebook(s)
- Decide if you want to use one large binder for all classes or one binder for each class. Your teacher may want something specific for their class, so ask if they have a preference.
- Color code your notebooks. If you choose to keep a separate notebook for each class, make them different colors so they are easy to find in your book bag.
- Label each notebook and/or folder with your name, Teacher Name, Class, and Period.
- Use color tabs to separate classes, chapters, notes from assignments, study guides for tests, etc.
- Use a hole-punch on handouts to include them in your notebook.
- Include a section or folder for homework. As you complete assignments, place homework in the folder for that class. Neon folders are always good for homework because they're easy to see and find.
- Learn to keep a calendar or agenda