Many students aren’t fully
prepared to make the jump from elementary to secondary schools because they
lack time-management or other organizational skills.
In elementary school, students
typically spend most of their time with one teacher, at the same desk every
day. In middle school or junior high, however, they begin moving from class to
class, and must take responsibility for their own time management.
Here’s how students can be
helped to make the transition:
Consolidation is the key. Give
students the proper organizational tools. A weekly planner and the right
notebook can make a bigger difference than you might imagine.
Recommend that students use a
three-ring binder for all subjects, with dividers to separate the subjects, and
plastic pockets to hold loose papers and items like pens and pencils.
A weekly planner is also
helpful for recording assignments. Parents can sign off on it once a week. The
planner should contain a section for recording grades. This way both students
and parents can keep track of progress.
Be sure to set up a proper work
environment. Children need a quiet workspace. Music and TV are both
distractions, whether students realize it or not.
Create a schedule to replace
daily reminding. The act of reminding students to do the same things over and
over again becomes tedious and can waste valuable time.
These practices really help.
