Effective Strategies to Help Your Student Stay Organized This School Year
Was your student a bit of a chaotic mess last year? (Honestly, relatable). Or are you looking for ways to help them stay on top of things this year? Building good habits can begin at any time—so why not start now? We all know that once things start to slip, it’s much harder to get back on track, especially when it comes to school and grades.
Having worked with many students on executive functioning skills, I’ve found some creative ways to help your student get—and stay—organized this school year.
Consider what motivates them.
For some students, a reward system might be effective. However, I’m not a big fan of regular reward systems because: 1) they can be hard to maintain when life gets busy, and 2) fostering intrinsic motivation is crucial.
You might need to dig a bit deeper. Have a conversation with your student and observe their preferences. Do they enjoy things that look “aesthetic”? A cute set of notebooks or pens might help them stay organized. Helping them to organize a study group could be beneficial if they’re always asking to be with friends.
2. What works for you may not work for them.
For instance, you might use Google Calendars to organize your household, but that approach might not work as well for your student. From what I’ve observed, students often get distracted by other apps on their phones and can easily lose focus. A more tactile and dedicated method, like a paper planner or a whiteboard calendar, might be more effective for them.
3. Join a study group or hire a tutor.
I promise I’m not just self-advertising here! One key benefit of a weekly study group or tutor is that it provides a set time where your student is accountable to others, not just themselves, and can focus on their coursework. If study groups aren't available or hiring a tutor isn’t feasible, consider sitting down with your student yourself. While you don’t need to assist them directly, you can create a structured environment by working quietly and diligently on your own tasks. For example, you might use the time to respond to emails while your student works on their assignments for the week. This approach can help reinforce the importance of focused, independent work.
The key to success is consistency. Work with your student to establish a designated weekly time for their work and make sure they stick to it—no skipping allowed!
4. Ask, don’t tell.
At the beginning of the year, sit down with your student for a conversation about their goals and your expectations. Let them take the lead in discussing and creating a study plan. Make it clear that your role is to hold them accountable, while their job is to do the work.
This conversation will be valuable later on! On days when they start making excuses or negotiating, remind them of the commitments they made and that you’re simply holding them to the decisions they’ve chosen.
5. Tackle problems 1 by 1.
My partner and I do this now…so in my experience, it works!
If your student often feels overwhelmed or unsure where to start, this technique can be very helpful. Take small pieces of sticky note paper (or sticky tabs) and write each task on a separate piece. Arrange these sticky notes on a paper calendar according to the deadlines for each task. This method helps by allowing your student to focus on one task at a time, in order of priority, without being distracted by other tasks. Additionally, the sticky notes offer flexibility; if a task needs to be rescheduled or completed earlier, simply move or remove the sticky note as needed.
So, whether your student struggled with chaos last year or you're just looking to improve their organizational skills, now is the perfect time to start building good habits. By implementing these strategies early, you can help them stay on track and avoid the difficulties of falling behind. With the right approach, they’ll be well-equipped to manage their responsibilities and thrive academically this school year.
