Organization for the Modern Student

The first pillar of Executive Function (EF) is organization, and it's crucial for students to develop this skill to effectively manage their time and priorities. This blog post highlights the significance of organization and provides strategies for students to create robust EF systems that help them achieve their academic goals.

As a parent or educator, it's clear how an excellent organizational system can benefit students. However, convincing them of its importance can be a challenge. To overcome this hurdle, it's crucial to help students understand the advantages of organizational systems and how they can benefit from them. With this understanding, students will be more motivated to implement effective organizational strategies.

Pitching Organization to a Busy Student

Organization is a crucial skill for students, and it offers several benefits. Firstly, it increases efficiency, freeing up more time for students. Searching for misplaced items can be frustrating and time-consuming. However, our unique binder system eliminates this problem, making it easier for students to find their materials. In addition, students can quantify the impact of missed points from late assignments, which motivates them to adopt better organizational habits.

Secondly, well-organized students have an advantage when it comes to exam preparation. Cumulative exams can be overwhelming, but a tidy binder can help students take advantage of extra credit opportunities and maintain better relationships with teachers. This can make all the difference during finals week. For example, a student who always turns in work on time and shows responsibility through their organized binder is much more likely to have an 89 rounded up to a 90.

Lastly, organization is an excellent impression management tactic. By conveying commitment and responsibility, binders help students gain more freedom while reducing anxiety for everyone in the household. Most students want to be left alone and not be bothered about school by parents and sometimes teachers. However, freedom is costly, and students must take on more responsibility to have more freedom. By framing better organization as a means to gain more freedom, students are more likely to adopt and maintain better organizational habits.

In conclusion, organizational skills are essential for students. By implementing an effective organizational system, students can increase their efficiency, prepare better for exams, and manage their impressions. In the next section, we'll outline specific Executive Function (EF) tactics students can use to stay organized and achieve their academic goals.

Start with Binders

Most students’ organization struggles involve paper. Assignments get misplaced or shoved into a backpack, where they get ripped and tattered. The best way to prevent this is by establishing a binder system. Every piece of paper needs a home. Our binder system uses subject dividers to achieve this. Then, it goes a step further by adding subdividers based on the type of paper within the subject—this way, when a student knows exactly where to put papers and where to find them. 

Binders are the best place to start with organization because they have an immediate impact and they're easy to check. Students who build and use a binder will notice the difference after just a few days. They will see increased efficiency, better grades, and improved impression management. That’s the goal. 

Organization is like a virus; it spreads. Once a student keeps an organized binder, other areas will start to become more orderly. Encourage this development and let organizational principles spread to a student’s desk, locker, drawers, and school supply cabinets. The more effort students put into these systems on the front end, the more time they will save. 

Organization in a Digital World

When used appropriately, digital tools can supercharge the principles we discussed earlier. Google Drive, Microsoft OneNote, Dropbox, and Evernote all offer features that make organization even simpler. For example, Google Drive allows for easy collaboration with classmates or teachers, while OneNote offers the ability to take handwritten notes and record lectures. Dropbox offers automatic syncing across devices, and Evernote allows for the creation of digital notebooks and the ability to clip and save information from the web.

Students should use the principles of the physical binder to create ‘e-binders.’ This means having a file for each subject and sub-dividers for each type of assignment. By using these apps, students can easily access their notes and assignments from anywhere with an internet connection. This means no more forgotten homework or lost papers. Additionally, these apps offer the ability to search for specific documents or keywords, saving even more time and boosting productivity.

Overall, using digital organization tools is a must for students in today's digital age. By adopting a consistent naming system and folder structure, students can easily navigate their files and find what they need quickly. This not only saves time but also helps to reduce stress and anxiety associated with disorganization. By utilizing these tools, students can set themselves up for success and achieve their academic goals.

Beyond the Basics

In addition to sorting and search functions, these apps also offer the ability to integrate with other tools and platforms. For example, Google Drive integrates with Google Classroom, allowing for easy submission and grading of assignments. OneNote integrates with Microsoft Teams, providing a centralized location for class materials and communication with classmates and teachers. These integrations further streamline the organizational process and make it even easier for students to stay on top of their work. The benefits of using digital organization tools for students are clear. By adopting a consistent and effective organizational system, students can save time, reduce stress, and increase productivity. And with the added features of sorting, searching, and integration, students can take their organization to the next level and unlock the full potential of technology.

Once students build the habit of organization, they can apply these principles to the other components of Executive Function. For instance, students who understand the importance of staying organized are more likely to keep a clear system for tracking assignments because they know it will help them be more efficient and productive. Likewise, students will translate organization principles into their studying by looking for ways to deconstruct a new chapter to make it easier to understand. Thus, organization forms the foundation for all EF skills. 

Closing Thoughts

Organization is the first pillar of our unique EF curriculum for a reason. It’s critical for student success and encourages discipline and self-efficacy. Like many of our executive function lessons, the goal is to teach something that transcends the classroom. The goal of teaching organization to students is to show them that habits and systems matter. Students who use binders and other organization tools suddenly become better students, but that’s misleading. It’s the same student; he or she just has the tools to show their potential. 

For more information on our unique EF-driven curriculum, please check out our other blogs or reach out to find your child a one-on-one academic coach!