An area of student need, involving difficulty in following or developing a system of managing materials and ideas.
• Develop an organization system, and provide time and prompts for the student to use it.
• Reward efforts.
• Ise a home communication book/agenda, where the student records the necessary information and the teacher checks for accuracy.
• Provide direct instruction in organizational methods.
• Consider developing and implementing an alternative programming goal pertaining to organization.
• Use a colour-coding system for notebooks.
• Provide graphic organizers to support the development of writing ideas.
• Use a checklist for the student to ensure that required materials are present.
• Use computers and assistive technology with graphic organizers.
• Use preferential seating to position the student close to the teacher for prompts.
• Post and refer to a daily/lesson schedule.
• Provide additional space for organization (file or magazine holder for work instead of in desk or locker).
• Have a clean-up period for desk and locker, and directly instruct the student on this.
• Use a visual timer.
• Provide extra time.
• Provide graphic organizers.
• Encourage use of computers and assistive technology.
• Encourage use of highlighters.
• Provide the necessary materials for tests (pencil, ruler, etc).
• Use a visual timer.
A student with organizational skills needs may not be able to locate necessary materials and loses things easily. Their papers may be crinkled and seem uncared for. Their written work may be disorganized and jump from idea to idea, without regard for the main idea. Time management is also often a difficulty.
Resources
Homework strategies and techniques for parents who have children with ADHD. From The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).
