Organizing pause

Time

20 minutes

Level

Primary / Junior / Intermediate

Material

Relaxation app (optional), binders, Keeping track of things tip card

Purpose

To help students develop the skills to better organize their surroundings and enhance their confidence with their practice

Instructions

Organization is a skill that is developed. Provide context for the practice (see “Evidence” section).

Teach organization skills:

Provide a list on what should be kept in students’ binders.
Share examples on how to label folders, title documents and sort papers for easy access.
Review “Keeping track of things tip card” with students (see “Supplementary resources”).

While being sensitive to individual students’ developmental and temperamental needs, offer time to:

Organize their binders: sort papers, ensure that work is titled and secure, etc.
Clean out desks and lockers.

Have a system for keeping track of information and materials, especially the things I need every day (homework, notebooks, keys, phone, sports equipment, etc.), so when I look for it, I know where to find it.

Keeping track of things tips

Spend five minutes every day staying organized.
Use a daily agenda.
Use laptop or iPad for managing information/assignments/class notes.
Use a note organizer app.
Other strategies:

Self-talk

“A place for everything and everything in its place.”
“Do I have it together?”
“Do I have what I need to do my work?”
“Did I think about where I was putting my items and how I would find them?”
My own idea:

Adapted from Peg Dawson & Richard Guare, Coaching Students with Executive Skills Deficits, 2012

Evidence

Students of all ages should constantly be furthering their organization and self-management skills as the

demands for these changes based on developmental level and environment. This becomes particularly evident as students reach higher grades when they are required to manage their own time. Teachers at every grade level can do their students a great service by adding these skills into their planning. Students with strong skills will be able to do things like get homework in on time, take the opportunity for extra help when needed, and be able to perform to their best at school and elsewhere (Boller, 2008). These skills all further support ongoing mental health.

“Efficient organization and time management is the first step to becoming an independent learner; however, students must also develop and use effective self-management skills, including self-monitoring, self-evaluating, and self-reinforcing, as needed.” Paulsen & Sayeski (2013).