Study Skills

Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Organized

1. Choose a regular time and place for studying. Help your child decide when and where they are most productive.
2. Encourage your child to make daily to-do lists. They are great reminders, and it feels good to cross off finished tasks.
3. Teach your child to break large tasks into smaller parts. For example, if they have a book report due in two weeks, list steps to take to complete it. Include a due date for each one.
4. Have your child clean out their back pack at least once a week. If they do this over the weekend, your child will start each week organized.
5. Use routines throughout the day. For example, your child might brush their teeth, choose clothes for each day, and pack their backpack before bed.
6. Set a good example. If you're organized, your child is more likely to be more organized, too.

SOURCE: Charlene C. Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese, The Roller Coaster Years, 1997, Broadway Books.