Organizing for Student Success Tips
Read these 45 Organizing for Student Success Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Student tips and hundreds of other topics.
Pack Larger Items in the Car
Minimize your chances of forgetting materials needed for school. Put items needed for special projects in your designated “to school”or "Backpack Pitstop" location. If you drive to school or ride in the family car, place larger items in your car the night before.
Use Your Time Well
Make the most of TV or telephone time by doing something constructive- matching socks, clipping nails, cleaning out backpacks or files, etc.
Teacher Contact Information
Record your teacher's contact information including e-mail address in your planner. Ask how often the e-mail will be checked. Many teachers check mail constantly while others only read their mail on a daily or weekly basis. Use teacher contact information for asking questions only the teacher can answer. Route your, "what page was assigned today?" to one of your classmates on your list.
Family Calendar
Confusion can be minimized when a family calendar is kept in a central location in the home. The calendar is helpful in keeping family members apprised of all members' time commitments. Conflicts on the calendar are apparent before the last minute and special arrangements may be more easily planned to meet everyone's commitments.
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead makes it possible for you to make the most of unexpected opportunities that arise while avoiding last minute conflicts or emergencies.
Learn to Type
Typing or "keyboarding" is more important than ever for success in school and on the job. Computer programs are available to teach even primary students how to type. Learning proper keyboarding techniques builds a good foundation for other computer and study skills.
Color Coordinate Notebooks and Texts
Some students find it beneficial to coordinate the color of their homework folder or notebook with the color of their textbook.
Lay Out Clothes
Avoid a harried start to your school day. Lay out your clothes the night before, including shoes, socks and accessories
Study Helps: Music & Perfume
I have found out through research that if you study for a test in the same area around the same time every night, you do better. Classical music is supposed to make your mind more open, so have some classical playing quietly. The night before the test put perfume on our around the area you are studying in and wear the same scent when you take the test. Your mind will associate the scent with studying.
Organize Your Wardrobe in the Summer
Time can be tighter during the school year than during the summer. Take one day of summer vacation to clean and straighten your closets and drawers. Check your school clothes and backpack. Make a list of any repairs that need to be done before school starts.
Keep Phone Numbers
Record the names of other students in your class and their phone numbers. You might need to call with a question about an assignment
Planning Plusses
Planning ahead makes it possible for you to make the most of opportunities that arise while avoiding last minute conflicts or emergencies.
Color Code the Family Calendar
Each individual's activities are easily tracked when you color code the family calendar. Each family member should select a specific color of ink for logging his activities on the family calendar.
Make Lists
Keep lists of tasks you need to do. Make one list for items that need immediate attention and another to address medium or long term goals. Cross off items as they are completed. Celebrate each task completed.
Organizing Web Bookmarks
Make your Internet Favorites Bookmarks more useful by organizing them. Use folders to group similar sites. Some of your folders might include: Research Helps, News Sites, Weather Sites, My Personal Web Pages, Computer Helps, History Sites, etc.
Get Ahead/ Read Ahead
Get a list of the required reading for next semester's class from next year's teacher. Get as much of the list read before the semester begins. Notes will help you remember important details. After you have read the original text, series such as Cliff Notes will help refresh your memory when it is time to cover the text in class.
Plan for Success
Select an organizer or planner that works for you. Look for one that has both monthly and weekly calendars. You need to see how your whole month fits together as well as have sufficient space to write daily assignments in the weekly section. Usually the 8 ½ x 11 inch model meets these requirements best and it also fits into a regular sized ring binder
Planner Tip #2
Large projects can seem overwhelming and promote procrastination. Divide assignments into “chewable” bites or steps. Make a schedule for the completion of each step of the larger project. Log your completion dates into your planner.
Family Calendar Tip #2
Each student in the family may want to pick a specific color of ink for logging his activities on the family calendar.
Find a Notebook That Works For You
Some students prefer one notebook per class. Others use a divided spiral bound folder large enough to accommodate notes from all current classes with separate pockets for handouts. The 3 ring binder with dividers is the most flexible in its use. Experiment to find the system that works best for you.
School E-mail lists
Ask if your school e-mails daily announcements to students with e-mail addresses. Sign up for these announcements to avoid missing any opportunities made available.
Scout It Out
The first day of school can be very nerve-wracking. Make it less stressful by checking out your school before the school year begins. Use your schedule to plan your route for each day.
Bookmark Your School's Web Site
Find your school's web pages on the Internet and bookmark them. Check them for teacher links and calendars.
Important Names and Numbers
Record the names of other students in your class and their phone numbers. You might need to call with a question about an assignment
Weekly Planning
Take time on the weekend to study your calendar. Look at your commitments for the next week and determine how to organize them efficiently.
File Folders
File folders are helpful at the upper levels for keeping track of large quantities of research or study materials. A filing crate, cardboard box, or desk drawer can serve as a filing cabinet.
Getting a Jump on the Fall Semester
Minimize the stress of starting school this fall by checking out next year's textbooks in the spring for use during the summer. Previewing the material will help you enjoy a more relaxing summer and give you a jump start on your new semester.
Share Your Achievements with the Counseling Center
Make your needs and interests known to your school's counseling staff. Give them a copy of your activities, achievements and interests. You may be just the person they are looking for to represent your school at a special event.
Family Calendar Tip #1
Add items to the family calendar and your organizer as soon as they are known. At the beginning of the year add the school's yearly calendar of vacation dates, end of the quarter, conference dates etc. to your calendars.
Teacher's Contact Information
Record your teacher's contact information including e-mail address in your planner. Ask how often the e-mail will be checked. Many teachers check mail constantly while others only read their mail on a daily or weekly basis. Use teacher contact information for asking questions only the teacher can answer. Route your, "what page was assigned today?" to one of your classmates on your list.
How Do You Spend Your Time?
Chart your week by the ½ hour to see how you spent your time. Are you surprised at how easily time gets away from you? Look for unproductive habits that waste your time and work on decreasing the time you spend pursuing them.
Supplies for Success
Organize your study area. Keep common school supplies easily accessible. Necessities include: pencils, pens, lined paper, plain paper, ruler, sissors, glue stick, and dictionary. Other helpful supplies include: graph paper, highlighters, stapler, hole punch, paper clips, report covers, colored pens, markers, or pencils. Serious organizers will include: a thesaurus, file folders, ring binders, dividers, and a three hole punch.
Backpack Pit Stop
Select a location (a coat hook, shelf, or box in the closet), which is on the way out the door and will be convenient for keeping your backpack and other items that need to go to school. You want your spot to be handy without blocking your family's way.
Put the School Year on Your Family Calendar
Add items to the family calendar and your organizer as soon as they are known. At the beginning of the year add the school's yearly calendar of vacation dates, end of the quarter, conference dates etc. to your calendars.
Bookmark Important Web Sites
Bookmark your favorite Internet resource pages. You will find "add to favorites" under the "Favorites Tab".
3 Hole Punch
Avoid shuffling through stacks of loose handouts to find the one you need. Use a three-hole punch and a ring binder to help organize loose handouts from your teachers.
Pack Your Homework
As you finish homework projects at night put them in your designated spot.
Increase Your Motivation
Increase your motivation by doing the following:
1.Think about all the things you are good at and write them down.
2.Practice doings things you think you could never do. Re-evaluate yourself after a month. You will be surprised at what you have achieved.
3.Start strong, good marks can be stong motivators. Try to attain good marks from the beginning. It is difficult to regain good grades mid-semester.
Show What You Know
Working on skills you have already mastered can be boring and a waste of instructional time. If you feel you have already mastered the skill, which is new to your class, unobtrusively ask your teacher for a way that you can prove your capabilities. Use your time released from the whole class assignment to learn something new to you.
Combine Chores with Fun
Combine things you have to do with those you like to do. Cleaning out your backpack can be more fun when your favorite music is playing.
Pick a Study Time
You may have to try different study times to find the best one for you, but after you have found your optimum time, stick with it.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Phyllis Serbes |
