GET Organized!

As a parent, we've all dug through our child's homework folder trying to find the assignment your child misplaced. GET ahead of the game by reading our tips to help you and your family GET organized! As a teacher,

Why Organization Matters [1]

People who use organization strategies experience less stress, get better sleep, have a healthier diet, are more productive, and have better relationships.

This is all because decluttering makes your brain work BETTER! In nature, rattlesnakes follow the principle, “Keep things clear so you can function at your best.” This means the rattlesnakes don’t succeed if they are distracted by needless stimuli. They even regularly sweep aside vegetation and debris where they hunt! This leads us to believe these rattlesnakes innately know that less mess makes it easier to hunt prey.

We aren’t rattlesnakes, but research does show that more clutter is distracting and stops us from being able to concentrate and focus on goals. Rather than waiting for piles of debris to accumulate, rattlesnakes regularly tidy up their territory! Doing a little cleanup here makes it much easier to stay organized!

For parents [2]…

Helping your child get organized helps kids learn new skills that they’ll need like how to brush their teeth, pour a bowl of cereal, tie shoes, complete homework assignments, etc. This gives them a sense of independence. Doing things by themselves creates a good feeling that deepens over time as they learn to complete tasks without help.

For teachers [4]…

Finding ways to help students stay organized in the classroom helps them develop skills that lead to success in school. It’s also incredibly important to think about students with a wide range of abilities and disabilities within the classroom.

Dos and Don’ts of Organization

Don’t

• Leave it all up to your child

• Model poor organizational skills

• Try to organize it all in your head

• Be too rigid about the schedule

Do

• Teach skills to your child and help them until they can do so independently

• Be organized yourself! Kids learn from watching

• Use visual supports/apps

• Be flexible. Teach your child how to adapt when
  there is a change of plans

• Individualize tasks based on the child’s ability

Easy as 1-2-3 [2]

Kidshealth.org has an awesome article with tips for getting your child organized. They use what’s called the 1-2-3 method.

1. Getting organized: The child is getting where they need to be and gathers the materials needed to complete their task. For example, for a book report, ask your child, “What do you need to get started?” It could be choosing the book, making sure the book is okay with the teacher, writing down the book and author’s name, checking it our of the library, marking the due date in the planner, etc. Next, ask what supplies they need. Maybe the book, notecards, pen/pencil, computer, rubric, and report cover. As they are completing their report, show them how to use the list to check off what’s already done and get ready for what’s next. For example, I did these things to get ready, now what? Start reading the book.

2. Staying focused: sticking to the task, saying no to distractions. If a distraction arises, have your child ask themselves, “Is that what I’m supposed to be doing?”

3. Getting it done: wrap it up, but finishing touches on work, putting homework in its class folder to have it ready for the next day. For example, putting their name on the report, placing it in a report cover, putting the report in the correct class folder, and putting the folder in their backpack so it’s ready to be turned in.

Note, it will take time for children to learn how to break down tasks into steps and for them to learn how to use these skills to do whatever needs to be done. Even though it will take less time if you do it for them, they lose an opportunity to be independent and successful without their parent jumping in.

Strategies to GET Your Child Organized [3]:

• Visual Schedule: For children with language delays visual schedules help bridge the gap from non-verbal to verbal language

• Label + picture When labeling folders, binders, or toy bins, label both the word and a picture to help remind them what goes where regardless of reading ability

• Make to-do lists: Use words + pictures. Remember to check off as you go

• Use color-coding: match pens, notebooks, and binders, in different vivid colors.

• Clean backpack once a week: Set a time each week for kids to clean out and organize their backpack

• Think ahead: At bedtime, review plans for the next day.

For Teachers: Universal Strategies to GET Students Organized [4]

1. Color-coded notebooks for each subject, different color pens, folders, etc.

2. Homework folder with the school name, mascot, school pledge, and contact info. The left side is for materials that stay at home, and the right side is for materials to bring back to school (tests that parents review, permission forms, etc.)

3. Students have a “desk folder” where work in progress is kept until its turned into the finished workbasket

4. Weekly planners are incredibly helpful for recording homework assignments, due dates, special events, etc. Teachers can write the day’s assignments on a large laminated poster that looks like a page from the student’s planners. Each morning students copy that into their personal planners. For children who need more support, their planner may be completed by an adult or peer.

5. Encourage students to make good choices for time management.

6. Visual supports:

   • Start with a morning message with the day’s agenda and reminders about the day’s events, due dates, etc. on the whiteboard when students walk in. Students who require additional support may need a printed copy to keep at their desk.

   • Steps of the writing process are listed on a large poster and in the student’s writing notebook book, and the teacher’s model notebook.

   • Have students draw a map of the inside of their desk to keep materials organized

   • Give each student a note card with the CLASS acronym (see below) for getting organized for the day" individualized adaptations may be printing a larger version, a version with pictures/sympbols, or asking them to check off steps as they are completed:

Tips for Parents to GET Organized [5]

Below are some tips to maximize organization and minimize the amount of time doing so. It’s typically better to pick up things as you go rather than waiting for clutter to pile-up. However, if you are a parent with a disability that limits your capability to keep the house organized, don’t shame yourself. It’s okay to leave things temporarily messy. Put your body’s needs first. Modeling this for children can help avoid future anxiety from the clutter in their own homes. Be flexible!

• If you can afford it, get groceries delivered and/or hire housekeeping services, etc. Don't be afraid to lean on others.

• Have your children help with chores

• Prep lunch right after dinner

• Use shelves to your advantage.

• Put soft easily washable toys in bins on the bottom shelves, and messy toys like legos and glitter should be stored at the top.

• Be consistent when putting things away. Put keys on a hook, shoes in the shoe bin, etc.

Download our FREE PARENT HANDOUT to GET Organized below!

References

1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wild-connections/201908/why-being-organized-matters

2. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/child-organized.html

3. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/10-tips-to-help-get-your-child-organized

4. https://blog.brookespublishing.com/helping-students-get-and-stay-organized-teacher-tips-differentiation-ideas/

5. https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/organization-tips-to-help-stressed-out-parents