How can children get organised at secondary school?
My son has just started secondary and there is so much to remember, especially as the timetable changes every other week. There are pe days, club days and cooking days. There are school books and reading books and keys to remember. There is homework to do and they need to remember to press the hand in button! So here are some tips so they can keep on top of it all!
- Have a planner for the next week or two weeks ahead. Jot down what you need to put in your bag each evening for the next day and add in which days you need to complete homework. Want to do it virtually? Use an app such ashttps://www.mystudylife.com/
- Consider putting everything in one place i.e. use your planner for what you need to put in your bag when, homework and events (so you can reconsider homework deadlines if you have an event coming up).
- Set some rules. Don’t leave your homework or studying for tests to the last minute, make sure you schedule in a bit of “wriggle room”.
- Make sure you write everything down rather than try to remember. Use your planner or, if you are out and about, you can use your phone calendar to remind you or use an app such as “keep my notes”. My memory is terrible so I set alarms for myself if I need to do something!
- Work on one task at a time; don’t multitask or you will find it hard to focus.
- Declutter once a week, throw out old notes and papers.
- Consider putting a postit on the front door if you really don’t want to forget something!
- Look at your planner each evening and at the weekend so that you can plan ahead.
- Learn to say “no” if you are just too busy and it will end with you rushing and out of control. Don’t take on too many clubs and social outings or you will have no time for homework or relaxation time.
- If you have a big project and it seems overwhelming, try breaking it down into smaller chunks. For example, if you have an essay to write, spend some time researching sources of information, then think of general ideas and themes (an outline) then start to write an introduction, then the body of the essay, then the end. Leave some time for proof reading and adjusting it. If you have homework with a lot of questions, set a goal to answer a certain amount per day.
- Make sure you have a nice quiet work space (if possible) with everything you need ready to hand.
- Make sure you take breaks during your work to help you stay focused and to give your eyes a rest. Maybe set a timer.
- If you want to work faster and more productively, consider a touch typing course which will help you work faster and more accurately, freeing up some extra time and allowing you to get those thoughts down on paper.
I hope these steps help you a bit with organising your days.
Get In Touch
Contact Us