I figured that since his teachers asked for a particular type of binder, they'd be devoting some time, early in the school year, to good use of this organizational tool.
And week after week, I'd see him come home with all kinds of loose papers stuffed into one of the pockets inside his binder, which also contained his homework planner, pencil case, 200 sheets of looseleaf, 5 dividers, and 3 pocket folders. The looseleaf? Unused. Dividers? Divided nothing. Pocket folders? Empty, except for one which had a paper from Spanish class inside it. Other Spanish papers were stuffed into that same pocket that held Scholastic book order forms, tests I'd signed, and a homework project due September 27--completed, but never handed in.
One month into the school year, it wasn't looking like his teachers were doing anything to make sure the students were using the supplies they'd been required to have.
So this morning, since there was no school, I had Little Brother empty out that binder. He recycled all the papers he no longer needed (most of them). He put all the Spanish papers into the Spanish folder. He's already sort of in the habit of keeping Spanish stuff together, as that teacher encourages that habit in class. And we labeled one pocket folder "Take Home" and "Hand In." He will put anything to come home in the "Take Home" side. When it's finished (homework complete, tests signed, forms filled in) it will go to the "Hand In" side. We'll see if this works, and I can reinforce this system at home.
We labeled the dividers too, though there's nothing to divide at the moment.
I hope this helps him. Next step: dealing with the "flash cards" that are floating around his backpack. I like that the teachers encourage the kids to make flash cards when they need to remember important terms or lists. But they do no good when they wind up in the bottom of the backpack, in a jumble of subjects and topics! Does anyone have ideas for how he can organize and carry these index cards around? It's not like he can put a 3X5 file box in his backpack.
I really think he'd be better off with an accordion file, but I still think that teachers require things for a reason. There will be conferences with the teachers in mid-November, so I'll give this another month and see how we roll. If it's not working out, I'll talk with the teachers about it then.
Ideas for organizing a smart but scatterbrained 9-year-old will definitely be appreciated!
4 comments:
For the flashcards what you could do is buy a package of binder rings. (That might not be what they're called, but it's what I think of them as). Then with a hole punch he can put a hole in the corner of each card, and then put all the cards on the ring. Or alternately, a ziplock sandwich bag might also work.
Good luck.
I second the binder ring idea. That was my first thought.
Sounds like you've got a good start. I don't have anything to add. Sorry!
A rubberband and zipper bag is what my boys use for Latin cards.
PS thank you so very much for the lovely package which arrived today. I don't have your email address on my iPhone so I hope you don't mind me thanking you like this. I can't wait to get into the books. You are such a nice friend!
Hi Barb, your son sounds like mine. He always has papers everywhere and I have him declutter his folders on a weekly basis. He comes home with so many papers... all these papers that it's overwhelming for me!
He is good about turning in assignments and signed tests because he would get an immediate referral if he did not. That's his motivator... he doesn't want to get into trouble.
I think it needs to be a regular habit of organizing for boys unless they are somehow gifted in that area.
Good luck!
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