| How many times has your child told you that | | | | Solution? On the family calendar have each child |
| night that they need a poster for a project that | | | | mark long-term projects in a signature marker |
| is due tomorrow and you have to run to the | | | | color along with important tests and anything else |
| store at 7pm? What about the permission slip for | | | | that needs to be prepared for in advance. Each |
| a field trip that "forgot" to get signed the night | | | | night that can be looked at and short term goals |
| before and now you find yourself rushing to the | | | | can be attained over the long run rather than one |
| school that morning to sign it? | | | | BIG push to get it done the night before! |
| Don't worry. You are not the only parent going | | | | Issue: School news and activities are over before |
| through this! The biggest problem most students | | | | you ever hear about them. |
| have is a lack of organizational skills. Here are | | | | Solution? Although older students need to be |
| some strategies that might help make this your | | | | somewhat independent, parents still need to know |
| student's best year yet! | | | | what is going on with their school. Instead of |
| Issue: The homework gets finished nightly, but | | | | snooping and having to go through the backpack |
| not handed in the next day. The homework gets | | | | when you student gets home, be in the habit of |
| haphazardly tossed into the backpack but then | | | | asking for all papers that require you to look at |
| lost in a sea of papers by the next day. | | | | them when he/she is doing homework or at |
| Solution? In a two pocket folder, designated just | | | | dinnertime. You might also have a pocket |
| for homework, the left hand side becomes the | | | | designated in their back pack that is only "papers |
| "assignments to do" side and the right side | | | | for mom" so that they won't feel that you are |
| becomes the "work to turn in" side. For the early | | | | constantly questioning them or going through the |
| grades you can check with your student to see | | | | rest of their backpack. |
| that the left side is empty and the right side is full. | | | | Starting now with good habits will help them |
| This will help train them for the later grades when | | | | through the rest of their school career and putting |
| they should be doing this on their own. This | | | | these into practice will eventually result in habits |
| strategy also gives them the feelings of | | | | that are formed to help them with their |
| accomplishment thus helping to reinforce their | | | | organizational skills throughout their lifetimes. An |
| self-confidence. | | | | organized adult will be a decided asset for any job |
| Issue: A large project is "suddenly" due tomorrow! | | | | or career. |