Organizational Skills

Too often students have problems with organizational skills. Lack of organizational strategies often prevent students from demonstrating their full competence. Procrastination, tardiness, dawdling, distractibility, disorganization, and messiness often become problems for students. For instance, they may

- forget what they have for homework

- lose or misplace things

- leave needed books at school

- waste time hunting for supplies

- wait until the last minute to start projects

- have a messy backpack, desk or room

- be late for many things.



As a teacher you can help students by making organization a daily routine in class by doing the following strategies:

• Make desk cleaning a part of the daily routine- A few minutes before dismissal the teacher can tell the students to clean out their desks. This will enable students to learn to clean out their desks and remember to bring home certain items.

• Make packing up a part of the daily routine- After the students clean out their desks the teacher can tell the students to pack up. This will enable students to systematically pack up what needs to go home.

• Present homework assignments orally to the students. Also post homework assignments visually on the board in the same place each time.

• Provide students with a homework sheet or agenda book/planner.

• Provide peer or teacher assistance in recording homework assignments.

• Provide students with the assignment in written format.






List of ways to help organizational skills:

1- Homework log/agenda/planning book- helps keep track of assignments and when they are due.

They usually consist of:

• calendar
• daily assignment log for each subject for homework, projects or assignments, etc.
• date due for assignment(s)
• space for teachers and parents to communicate
• teacher signature space for each subject
• parent signature space on bottom of page
• a designated place to check off when assignment is completed


2- Assignment Checklists or Timelines- break large tasks into manageable units and set deadlines for their completion.

3- Day planner- a tool to help persons organize a busy schedule and be more productive by keeping track of upcoming events, and maintaining a list of ongoing commitments or tasks that must be accomplished on a recurring basis.

4- “To do” lists- Teach the student how to develop a to-do list of what they need to do in the order they need to do them. Have them cross off completed items off the list.

5- Keep papers and assignments in a binder for organization.

6- Have a routine for packing up after class using a check list for what needs to go home.

7- Color tab dividers that are specifically labeled for CCD for keeping papers organized.

• Avery #11907 Tab Dividers. You can print your inserts on the computer by using the Avery perforated tab insert sheet that is provided in the packet to make it nice and neat.


You can label the pockets:

• Class Syllabus

• CCD Class Schedule

• Flyers/Announcements/Newsletters

• Assignment & Grade Sheets- sheets to write down assignments, when they are assigned, when they are due, grades, etc.

• Homework To Do

• Homework To Be Turned In

• Behavior -Behavior Contract & Behavior Chart, Behavior Report, etc.

• Parent/Teacher Communication

• Prayers- Prayer Booklet, Prayer Chart (prayers that the student has completed), etc.

• Graded Papers

• Etc.



8- Section in the binder for papers going home and papers that need to be returned to school.

9- Use a multi-compartment backpack. Have a separate section for school supplies, money, binder, etc.

10- Periodically help your child clean out their CCD folder/binder. It makes it hard to stay organized and know what is due when the folder/binder has too many unwanted papers in it.

11- Clean out backpack each evening.

12- Reload and organize backpack or CCD folder/binder as soon as homework is completed.

13- Designate a place at home for storing the backpack or CCD folder/binder.

14- Designate a certain place to do homework that is clean, uncluttered, quiet and there are no distractions. Have it stocked with all necessary supplies to complete homework.

15- Set aside the same time each weekday for your child to do homework. That way your son or daughter knows that time is set aside for homework.