Would you like your child to be more successful in school?

There is one key skill all students can learn that can contribute to their classroom success: Being organized!

This may sound simple to someone who is a “naturally” organized person. But for students whose thoughts can often go off in random directions, being organized can be tough.

Here are a few tips I use with my students at Boys Town that you can share with your children to help them stay focused and stay on track with all their classes:

Keep an assignment notebook.  Students should keep a list of everything they need to do each day for every class. This provides a visual “roadmap” of assignments, and having a completed list of schoolwork at the end of the week gives students a sense of accomplishment. Many teachers will gladly review and sign off on your child’s assignment notebook if asked.

• Do you feel more confident about knowing where your work is and when it is due?
• Is it easier to pull assignments together for reviewing for tests and quizzes?
• Can anything be adjusted to make the system work better?

Finally, praise progress! It will take time for your child to develop these new habits. But if he or she can begin to see the benefits of being organized and using an organizational system, and earn your praise for working hard and improving at school, those habits are more likely to stick. And, your child will be learning a skill he or she can use for a lifetime.