If you are parenting a bright but disorganized student, you may feel frustrated by this obstacle between your student’s potential and actual achievement. If you are disorganized, you may even feel hopeless. But no matter what their age, there is no reason to feel stuck. As organizing expert Donna Goldberg reminds: “If you and your child invest the time it takes to organize supplies, homework and a study schedule, you can create the structure that they need to succeed.”
Scattered students
Does your student need help in the area of organization? Donna outlines a snapshot of disorganization in The Organized Student (2007):
Organization’s payoff
It’s clear to most parents and students how disorganization leads to lower achievement and grades, but it is also worth noting what is to be immediately gained from investing the time to become organized. Author of Where’s My Stuff (2010), Samantha Moss, identifies five important reasons for adolescents to get organized:
Ten organization habits
You know the basics. Your child needs proper school supplies, a planner, a comfortable place to do work and study at home and a consistent study routine. Your student needs plenty of sleep and healthy foods. Beyond the obvious, educator Grace Fleming advises incorporating these ten habits into the daily routine to improve performance:
Smart studying for tests
Grace also has advice for students to improve study habits:
“Stress is normal but so is the receding of that stress so we can rest, relax and recover.” He suggests breathing and muscle relaxation to achieve a ‘relaxed alertness’ before attempting to learn anything new.
Michele has a husband, two children and a master’s in counseling. For more information, visit hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com and hellolovelychild.blogspot.com.
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Does your child engage in last-minute cramming sessions to prepare for unit tests? Has your child ever pulled an all-nighter to finish a project? Most children and adolescents have experienced the unpleasant consequences of procrastination. All parents have heard their child say, "I'll do it later," only to find that the task was never completed. To a certain extent, this is normal. Many people have a natural tendency to put off tasks until tomorrow, until the weekend, or until a time when they "feel like doing it." Unfortunately, procrastination patterns in childhood can grow into unhealthy habits in adulthood. Eventually, these habits can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, procrastination can contribute to lower grades, dependence on others to complete work, and tardiness.
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