Helping the child to develop a routine will ultimately lead to organization success. The goal for organization is to eliminate tardiness, forgetfulness, lack of preparedness and procrastination. These habits need to be elimated and replaced with strategies to ensure the student is utilizing good organization skills. Once again, a consistent approach that is reinforced on a regular basis will be a tremendous help.
- A daily agenda or timetable should be with the student at all times during the school day and every effort should be in place to insure that it's used regularly.
- If you have extra texts, it would benefit the student to have a copy at home.
- Checklists to ensure that all steps or procedures are followed should be plain view.
- Give the student organizers - graphic organizers, checklists, subtitles, outlines etc. that assist with written work and assignments. Sample Agenda Type List PDF
- Break down all items that are to be included in assignments and provide goals to be reached and ensure that checkpoints are in place.
- Teach the child how to highlight pertinent information and take notes that are meaningful.
- Communicate regularly about progress and strategies for improvement.
- Make sure that you have a positive home-school connection with the support needed to ensure success.
- Provide verbal prompts and cues to ensure the student is prepared. For example, ask the student what needs to be done on the given night. If he answers math, ask what is needed to complete the math. Help with verbal cues often which willl eventually lead to the student reflecting back on what's needed.
- Sometimes a checklist stating what needs to be done and what's needed to do it is very helpful. At the end of each day the child will ensure that both are complete.
