Organizational Strategies for Students

Teaching organizational strategies to students enables them to manage their time and
materials in a productive manner, setting them up to take charge of their own learning.

Student Mailboxes Time Timer

Create individual
mailboxes in the
classroom where students
can pick up their
assignments and other
notices before they go
home for the day
(Carbone, 2001).
The Time Timer counts down while also
displaying the passage of time with a
disappearing red disc. This tool is
especially useful for students with
ADHD who struggle planning
activities in a certain time frame
(Carbone, 2001).
A Time Timer can help students overcome:
Overestimating time intervals
Losing focus
Misunderstanding the concept of time

Mailboxes can help students overcome:

Misplacing assignments or belongings
Forgetting to take assignments or
notices home
Messy desks
This strategy is particularly useful for students
with ADHD.

Implementation:
Set up shelves that include enough
spaces for each student
Label each mailbox using student Implementation:
names or numbers Time Timers can be placed: on the
Remind students to check their mailbox teachers desk, on student desks, or
at the end of the day used as needed during activities
Observe if your students time
management skills are improving
 Organizational Form Efficient and Orderly Binder
Create an organizational form (see example in Help students that struggle with organizational
grey box below) for students to bring to class skills due to their LD set up an orderly binder
and fill out daily. This strategy is useful for (Rita F. Finstein, 2007).
students suffering from a LD, and is more likely
to positively impact students when used with a
direct instruction approach (Darlene H.
Anderson, 2008).

An organizational form can help students

overcome:
Forgetting to bring necessary materials
to class
Inability to keep track of assignments
Not turning assignments in on time
An orderly binder can help students
Implementation: overcome:
Observe student performance and Misplacing assignments or belongings
organizational skills to determine which Not turning assignments in on time
students will benefit from this strategy Forgetting to bring necessary materials
Schedule time to work with those to class
selected students to teach them about
the form (use direct instruction) Implementation
Determine which students could
Organizational Skills Form
benefit from binder organization
The form shown below was implemented in a
instruction
skills class made up of 9 behaviorally
Meet with the selected students and
challenged students (Darlene H. Anderson,
help them set up an orderly binder
2008). The form allowed
notebook that includes:
students to track:
o Subject dividers
Dates
o Folders for assignments
Attendance
completed
Materials needed
o Folders for upcoming
Assignments
assignments
Completed Work
o A calendar or schedule at the
Grades front of the notebook
o Pencil pouch

Sources:
Carbone, E. (2001, November/December ). Arranging the Classroom with an Eye (and Ear) to Students with ADHD. Teaching
Exceptional Children, pp. 72-81.
Darlene H. Anderson, J. A. (2008). Teaching Organizational Skills to Promote Academic Achievement in Behaviorally Challenged
Students. Teaching Exceptional Children, pp. 6-13.
Rita F. Finstein, F. Y. (2007, January). Build Organizational Skills in Students With Learning Disabilities. Intervention in School and
Clinic, pp. 174-178.