Organizational skills for middle schoolers
Your child’s middle school and high school periods aren’t as structured for students as their elementary school years. In middle school, students are expected to take charge of their own school work, keep track of assignments, and be responsible for their own learning. Children are already going through so many changes at this time that it may become difficult for them to keep up with the various tasks they’re required to do. Professional services from Megamind Learning Centre can help build better organizational skills for middle schoolers through tutoring.
Lack of organizational skills can impact student performance and academic success as students may struggle to meet their various expectations. It is, however, possible for students to adopt a few simple practices that will make their middle school years more organized. It is also important for parents to support their children and help build organization skills to continue seeing results. Here’s what you can do as a student to get more organized for middle school and if you’re a parent, here’s how you can help your child gain these skills.
The right educational supplies for middle school
Making sure you’ve got the right supplies for middle school is crucial if you want to avoid running around last minute in search of them. Pencils, pencil cases, erasers, other writing materials, and a backpack with multiple zips will ensure they’ve got what they need to get work done at school. You should also have backup supplies at home to avoid shuffling between supplies at school and
Appropriate use of digital devices for middle school
Digital devices aren’t always a bad thing. They can help students keep track of their assignments, enable them to do research, and be an effective means of staying in touch with the requirements of school work. Parents can include certain restrictions so that children won’t be wasting their time on social media or mindlessly surfing the web. It is important for parents to check if schools allow digital devices in the classroom before equipping their kids with such devices.
Planner or whiteboard
A planner or whiteboard can help a student keep track of their tasks and due dates. A planner will give students the opportunity to see the entire academic calendar at a glance as well as days of the year. Entries can be made on homework, assignments, and other school work that needs to be done. Students can also record extra-curricular activities so they can plan their study time accordingly. A planner also makes it easier to prepare for tests and clarifies all the work that needs to be done.
A whiteboard in the house or locker will help students make to-do lists, write reminders for important submissions, and even brainstorm ideas for upcoming projects.
Stick to the schedule
Structuring a student’s day into specific schedules sets in the foundation for better organization. Schedules don’t just relate to schoolwork. Maintaining consistent schedules can relate to various aspects of student life, including:
- Timely sleep/wake schedules
- Eating schedule
- Bathing and brushing schedule
- Study schedule
- Homework time
- Play time
- Family time
Breaks must be incorporated into daily study schedules. Maintaining consistent schedules will help create an organized lifestyle, making it easier to adjust to the demands of middle school.
Emphasize time management
Time management is very important for leading an organized life. Maintaining to-do lists and daily schedules can aid in managing time better. If there’s a big task that your middle schooler needs to work on, teach them to manage time effectively to complete the task. Larger projects due in several weeks can be broken down into smaller bits. Focusing on smaller parts each day will help meet the deadline without students being overwhelmed by the project.
Maintain an organized locker
Using a locker organizer can help create more usable locker space where supplies are easily available. Items in the locker can be organized according to the academic subject, assignments due, or level of difficulty experienced in subject areas. An organized locker will make it easier to find items when they are needed, apart from being visually appealing.
Make use of binders or folders
Students in middle school may deal with a lot of loose paper. Corrected assignments, results from standardized tests, and other important papers can easily be lost unless they’re kept together. Binders or folders come in handy in such cases. They allow students to keep all important documents or files in one place and make it easier for them to be retrieved when needed at a later date. Such materials are crucial for test preparation, and losing them can negatively impact student performance in middle school.
Verify and keep tabs on homework
It’s important for parents to teach their children to follow up with teachers and make a note of any homework given. Writing down the homework in their planner will help them remember it along with its due date. It will also help you keep tabs on the homework that needs to be done and follow up with them to ensure that it has been completed.
Students must be prepared to be responsible for own work by their middle school years and carefully plan their time to make sure that the work is done by the deadline.
Parents as role models
Although children are more influenced by peers than they are by adults during their middle school years, parents still play a very important role in their lives. Children model the behaviour of their parents and can be positively or even negatively influenced by their behaviour. As a parent, it is important for you to ensure that you’re a good role model to your child if you want them to be more organized. This means that you need to step up your own organization skills and show them what it means to be organized.
Seek professional help
If you find that you’re doing everything you can to help your child get more organized but they still need some more help, consider getting professional help. Tutoring can be a great option for your middle schooler. There are different types of tutors in a variety of subject areas who can help your child develop better study habits, manage time better, and be more organized. With these tips, it’s easy to stay organized even in middle school.
If you want to discuss middle school options for your child, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at Megamind Learning Centre. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.
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