The Best Organization Skill for Students
You are collecting homework, and once again you have 4 students who can’t seem to find their assignments.
And yup, it just happens to be the same 4, who couldn’t find their assignments yesterday, either.
They all promise you that they completed it. But they just can’t find it. Maybe it’s at home. Maybe it’s in their locker. Maybe it’s somewhere in the messy stack of papers that get shoved into their binder each day.
Not only are you frustrated, but you can feel their frustration too.
With a sigh, you give them new copies of the assignment. And you HOPE they will find their way back to you completed. But it’s no surprise that you have your doubts.
And yup, it just happens to be the same 4, who couldn’t find their assignments yesterday, either.
They all promise you that they completed it. But they just can’t find it. Maybe it’s at home. Maybe it’s in their locker. Maybe it’s somewhere in the messy stack of papers that get shoved into their binder each day.
Not only are you frustrated, but you can feel their frustration too.
With a sigh, you give them new copies of the assignment. And you HOPE they will find their way back to you completed. But it’s no surprise that you have your doubts.
I have been in those shoes. I have felt that frustration. Especially teaching 6th grade, where the organization is a developmentally challenging skill for many students.
Add in the overwhelm of moving from the elementary setting to the middle school setting, and it’s amazing some of these poor kiddos survive.
I spent 5 years teaching 6th grade in the self-contained, elementary setting and 10 years teaching 6th grade in the middle school environment. Which means, I am often asked by parents and colleagues alike, if I think 6th grade students belong in elementary or middle school.
My answer is, both.
It is a very transitional year for students. A lot of growth is happening, and as we know, not every student grows and develops at the same rate.
Every year, I see students who would benefit being in elementary and just as many who would benefit being in middle school.
Which means my task as a 6th grade teacher is to help students prepare and then adjust to middle school life.
In this post, I’m going to share with you my #1, BEST strategy for helping students with organization struggles so they can get their homework turned in on time.
The Organizational Challenge
In my experience, there are two aspects to this organizational challenge.
From One Classroom to Six: Once you reach middle school, gone are the days of having everything you need in your desk or cubby. Now students are faced with carrying all their supplies from class to class. It’s easy to get things lost in the shuffle, and grab the wrong folder.
Naturally Organized Personalities: Let’s face it, some of us are naturally organized and some of us are not. It’s part of who we are. I’ve heard some people refer to it as being Type A or Type B. Type A being super organized and ahead of schedule. Those who are Type B tend to be unorganized and a lot more laid back.
From One Classroom to Six: Once you reach middle school, gone are the days of having everything you need in your desk or cubby. Now students are faced with carrying all their supplies from class to class. It’s easy to get things lost in the shuffle, and grab the wrong folder.
Naturally Organized Personalities: Let’s face it, some of us are naturally organized and some of us are not. It’s part of who we are. I’ve heard some people refer to it as being Type A or Type B. Type A being super organized and ahead of schedule. Those who are Type B tend to be unorganized and a lot more laid back.
