What are best resources to help a disorganized 6th grader remember what he needs to do & bring to school?
My son is a new student at a private school in our town. Most boys are either boarders, have been there at least a year, or have older siblings who’ve gone there. To make things worse, there’s a detour driving there (for another month or two) so the trip takes twice as long, with twice as much traffic on a two-lane road.
What webpages, experts, books, tips or groups can you tell me about that will help me (a caring, otherwise-intelligent mom with ADD) help my son set up good, motivating systems?
Thank you SO much!
Kristen, great ideas, thanks!
My son was in a very rigorous private K – 8 and now is in a similar private high school. Luckily, his K – 8 really emphasized being organized. In the earlier grades, the teachers would tell them what supplies they must have, what dividers for each subject, etc. They would have grades on their binders to make sure they kept their work, had it organized, etc. It was really good training. They also were given a planner which they were required to write their homework assignments in. To make it very simple, my son has a To Do list on his computer, by day/date, with his assignments listed (color coded) and the categories TO DO and DUE. The more organized, the less stressful.
Everything my son is going to take to school must be ready in the evening before bedtime. His books and binder, etc are in his backpack, anything else he needs, like a poster, is next to the backpack. Even his lunch is packed if he’s bringing it, except for the sandwich, which I make in the morning and pack. He has a tray for everything that is going to go into his pockets in the morning; cell phone, cash, wallet, schedule (he has a different schedule every day, but at least every Monday is the same, every Tuesday is the same, etc). Clothes are laid out the night before. He has a morning routine. He also double checks that all his homework assignments are in his binder.
If you ask your son to follow the new guidelines you set up, chances are when he sees that they work, he will want to follow him.
Good luck!
Make a check list of the items that need to be taken to school. You can have it laminated and them he can check them off everyday before doing to school.
If he is able to do this for a week then he receives a reward of some sort. Should he fail to do this, he losses the play station of a week or his cell phone.
You can also have a contract that states the consequences and the privileges that he is rewarded with and then you both sign it. Display this in his room where he can see it everyday.
Best Wishes
Blessings
References :
My son was in a very rigorous private K – 8 and now is in a similar private high school. Luckily, his K – 8 really emphasized being organized. In the earlier grades, the teachers would tell them what supplies they must have, what dividers for each subject, etc. They would have grades on their binders to make sure they kept their work, had it organized, etc. It was really good training. They also were given a planner which they were required to write their homework assignments in. To make it very simple, my son has a To Do list on his computer, by day/date, with his assignments listed (color coded) and the categories TO DO and DUE. The more organized, the less stressful.
Everything my son is going to take to school must be ready in the evening before bedtime. His books and binder, etc are in his backpack, anything else he needs, like a poster, is next to the backpack. Even his lunch is packed if he’s bringing it, except for the sandwich, which I make in the morning and pack. He has a tray for everything that is going to go into his pockets in the morning; cell phone, cash, wallet, schedule (he has a different schedule every day, but at least every Monday is the same, every Tuesday is the same, etc). Clothes are laid out the night before. He has a morning routine. He also double checks that all his homework assignments are in his binder.
If you ask your son to follow the new guidelines you set up, chances are when he sees that they work, he will want to follow him.
Good luck!
References :