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8 School Organization Tips for Students
8 School Organization Tips for Students
Creating a routine can help you stay consistent day-to-day and week-to-week. Write down your general weekly schedule on a whiteboard or calendar, then establish time blocks that you will spend doing your homework. This schedule can help focus your time and stay on task.
Remember your routine may change if a last-minute obligation comes up. You can update your schedule to plan ahead and adjust accordingly.
Setting rules for yourself can help you understand what you need to complete each day and not feel rushed to complete an assignment. Some rules you could make to keep yourself on track might be:
Complete all projects two days before the due date.
Start studying for tests one week in advance.
Finish essays three days before they're due.
Write down everything — homework assignments, test dates, essay topics and even little details like how to turn in your paper. That way, you don't have to remember it, and you can use your writing as a way to double-check what you need to complete.
Create a new deadline at least two days ahead of the actual class deadline. Plan ahead and complete the assignments according to your early due dates rather than the ones your instructor assigns.
Deciding on an early due date will reduce your stress as you will not be working on the assignment last minute. It also allows for extra time in case the task takes longer than expected or you have an unforeseen issue.
Multitasking seems like it would be beneficial because you could get more done in less time. However, studies show multitaskers spend 50 percent more time trying to accomplish a task.
Focus on one assignment at a time, and only turn your attention to the next task when you've completed the first.
You can find a vast array of school supplies dedicated to keeping your materials organized. They can keep everything you need for your classes and assignments together so that nothing gets lost or misplaced.
Consider using these tools in particular:
Planner: Write down schedule and assignments as you're given them.
iPad/Schoology Calendar: If you prefer digital to paper, use the calendar on your iPad to write down assignments. You can also use the calendar in Schoology to stay organized
Multi-pocket backpack: Use the various pockets to organize your items so that you know exactly where to find them.
Color-coding your materials is a visual cue that allows you to easily see what belongs together. For example, buy a blue folder and notebook for math, a red folder and notebook for science and so on.
Placing labels on these items can help your organization by giving everything a designated place. In a folder, you could use the left pocket for previous assignments and the right for new ones, for instance.
Looking at everything you need to do for a big task, like writing an essay, can seem overwhelming and discouraging. By breaking it down into easily manageable parts, you can work on parts of the assignment each day and not feel rushed.
A breakdown for writing an essay could look like this:
Pick your essay topic.
Read three articles on the topic.
Write your thesis statement.
Write your first main point.
Write your second main point.
Write your third main point.
Proofread the essay.
Finish formatting.
Turn it in
What is your organizational style?
Everything Out
Everything Out
What it is:
This person's style of organizing maintains their flow by leaving things out in the open as visual reminders. By leaving things out where (hopefully) they can easily put their hands on them again, they feel more organized and in control. Everything Out personality types may be fine with their own style preferences and piles as reminders — but others may not function well in a cluttered workspace.
How to be more effective:
· Schedule consistent times for maintaining spaces
· Use color to maintain organizing systems
· Use post-it notes in a planner to keep track of assignments
Nothing Out
Nothing Out
What it is:
The Nothing Out Organizing personality styles equate a clear surface with a clear and organized mind. Nothing Outs will clear their surfaces and put things ‘away’ to feel more in control. Because they dislike mess, they often “stash” items away without a storage and retrieval system. This style finds computerized planning and scheduling tools very appealing.
How to be more effective:
· Use technology, such as iCal or Google Calendars to keep track of assignments and due dates
· Reminder app
· Maximize the use of Schoology to keep track of assignments
Saver
Saver
What it is:
Savers think that virtually everything might come in handy someday. They don’t subscribe to the idea that the ‘value’ of things changes over time. Savers see their accumulations as insurance of something to come, and feel secure as a result of these tendencies. Savers often feel they “may need it one day” — and use this as a reason to save, store and sometime stockpile items.
How to be more effective:
· Purge virtual documents
· Go through notebooks at the end of each quarter
No Rules
No Rules
What it is:
No Rules personality types tend to look disorganized to others. Even though they may know what they have and be able to find it when absolutely necessary, this personality style typically struggles due to their lack of systems. No Rules personalities may actually have gaps in their knowledge and/or organizational skills. Alternatively, they may be nonconformists (or less mature), and may simply rebel at the idea of structure and control. Sometimes this style revs up when people experience sudden change, transition, illness, or are overwhelmed in their current life situation.
How to be more effective:
· See one of your school counselors! We can help you find a technique to organize yourself
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