parent organization skills parent organization skills (aka – how can i help with this...
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PARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLSPARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLS
(AKA – How Can I Help With This Schoolwork?!?)
Counselor CoffeeNovember 11, 2009
PARENT ORGANIZATION PARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLSSKILLS
•Background Information•Current Efforts at SAS•Strategies to Use at Home
PARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLSPARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLS
Brain Development:• Adolescence is a time of extensive brain
development• “pruning,” “rewiring,” “reorganizing”• Periods of forgetfulness and even confusion• “what happened to my child?”• Be patient and supportive
PARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLSPARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLS
Cultural Influences and Somatic Factors:• Different cultural views on homework and
academics• Different lives in different cultures• Students may be facing diagnosed and
disclosed learning challenges• Students may be trying to cope with
undisclosed learning challenges
PARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLSPARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLS
Time Demands and School Structure:• Kids today are FAR “busier” than previous
generations• Many “time savers” can actually turn into
“time wasters”• Healthy amount of sleep –vs- overtired• Sleep patterns and school start time• Daily commuting time to and from school
PARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLSPARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLS
Modeling:• Kids learn life skills through modeling• “monkey see, monkey do….” • and most of all they see YOU• Unorganized parents often lead to
unorganized kids• Global approach to organizing life and daily
tasks (resource links)
PARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLSPARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLS
Why Teach Organization Skills?• Organization skills are important to academic
success (67% of teachers responded “crucial” in a study by Kerr and Zigmond)
• Disorganization affects a student’s academics and self-concept and may lead to other issues
• Post-secondary life requires good organization skills in college, careers, and family life
PARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLSPARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLS
Principles of Teaching Organization Skills:1 – Two categories: organizing supplies
(physical) and organizing behaviors (mental)2 – Don’t assume your kids know how organize3 – Constant and consistent assessment is
needed to reinforce organization skills4 – Consistent expectations = more success5 – Organization takes time to do well
PARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLSPARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLS
6 – Children need positive support and reinforcement
7 – Patience, Patience, Patience8 – The ultimate goals are improved school
success and self-esteem9 – School-home collaboration is key10 – Practice what you preach
PARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLSPARENT ORGANIZATION SKILLS
Things to Keep in Mind:• Intelligence and organization skills are not
(necessarily) correlated• Disorganization need not be pervasive to be a
problem• Change is not going to happen overnight and
improvement may not be smooth – be patient and supportive of the process of changing negative behaviors into positive ones
So What’s Happening At SAS?
Or this?
This?
Organization Skills at SAS• Advisor is one of a student’s teachers• Grade 6 travels as a pod• Organization and Study Skills are encouraged
as part of the Advisory program• Locker checks and clean ups• Binder checks and Formative Assessments• I-cal, homework and assignments posted• Use of Agenda
Organization Skills at SASTargeted Interventions:• Gr. 6 Organization and Study Skills lessons• HOT attendance• Agenda checked by teachers• Flex class placement• HOT with Ms. Winpenny for Organization and
Study Skills (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday)• Organization Skills “Boot Camp” HOT
BuildingParentOrganizationSkills
Building Parent Skill Sets• Be a good role model (monkey see….)• Family calendar for organizing important
dates and functions – write on it and encourage your kids to do so too
• Familiarize yourself with the agenda and monitor its use - coordinate with the family calendar to model planning for major events
• Use the teacher blogs
Building Parent Skill Sets• Develop a weekly “nightly” schedule with your
children – block out dinner time and bedtime in advance (“homework” is more than what’s due tomorrow)
• Have a quiet and public place for homework to be done (dining room table)
• Prepare school supplies in advance (and a snack!)
• Turn off TVs, cell phones, IM, etc (radio…)
Building Parent Skill Sets• Timed work sessions (monitor completion)• Check off items in agenda as they are
completed• Model “homework” behavior• Establish a routine for arrival at home (book
bag…?)• Pack and check before bedtime• “Homework” is not done until area is clean
Building Parent Skill Sets• Avoid “last-minute mornings”• Assign and monitor household chores• Completion of chores and homework “earns”
TV or computer game time• Talk to your child• Talk to your friends• Talk to your child’s teachers• Talk to your child’s counselor
Parent Organization SkillsResources:Child Development Institute: “Tips for Helping Kids and Teens…”http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/learning/studytips.shtmlThe Time Manager: “How to Organize Articles”http://www.ineedmoretime.com/articles.htmZen Habits: “Top 20 Parent Hacks”http://zenhabits.net/2008/02/top-20-parent-hacks-tips-for-organization-kid-
optimization-and-happiness/How To Study.comhttp://www.how-to-study.com/American School Counselor Association: “Organizational Skills Boot Camp”http://www.schoolcounselor.org/