Many students do not have good organizational skills. Like any other skill, organization must be taught. Take time at the beginning of the school year to show your students how to organize their school materials properly. Check in on your students from time to time to make sure they are staying organized. Help your visual learners understand how you want items to be organized by creating models. Create model binders and folders organized exactly as you would like your students to organize their materials. Let students look at how you organized the items and use the models as a visual aid when organizing their own school materials.
Students will need the right organizational supplies to organize their desks. At the beginning of the year, loan out the supplies students will need, or place them on the school supply list for parents. Be specific about what you want your students to have, such as binders, folders, dividers, pencil cases and clear containers, and include measurements whenever possible.
One of the best ways to teach students organization skills is by modelling what you teach. If your students are learning in an unorganized classroom, it is unlikely that they will try to organize their own desks or personal items. Designate a space for everything in the classroom. Use baskets and clear shelves to organize materials, and label everything. Teach students to return objects to their original location.
Give students time each week to organize their desks. For example, give students 10 minutes every Friday afternoon to clean out their desk and get it organized. This way, they can take care of any clutter that has accumulated throughout the week and start fresh on Monday morning. Do a quick check of students' desks after they are done organizing to ensure that they are ready for a new week.