ORGANIZE YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS
Lesson Outcome
I can use a daily planner to keep up with my school life and personal life.
Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan
As you advance through middle school and beyond, keeping yourself organized and on track is very important! It can mean the difference between an "A" student and a "D" student. An "A" student turns in work on time, remembers scheduled tests, and completes work. A "D" student forgets to study for tests, loses work, or turns in sloppy or late work. In this lesson, you will learn how to organize yourself for success.
Your Daily Planner
The first part of getting organized involves using a daily planner. It is wise to keep a calendar portion and an agenda portion. The calendar section is a monthly calendar where you record when things are due or important dates. The agenda portion is the daily section of the planner where you record everything you need to do in one day.
Everyday your teachers will announce important dates and events. You need to record these in the calendar section of your planner. I do have all school-wide events and social studies events on the classroom planner page of this website, but it is your responsibility to get important dates and events within all of your other classes. You also need to record important dates and events in your personal life. The dates and time of practices, games, and performances; church and social events you plan to attend; doctor's and dentist appointments; and family and close friends birthdays.
Everyday your teachers will announce important dates and events. You need to record these in the calendar section of your planner. I do have all school-wide events and social studies events on the classroom planner page of this website, but it is your responsibility to get important dates and events within all of your other classes. You also need to record important dates and events in your personal life. The dates and time of practices, games, and performances; church and social events you plan to attend; doctor's and dentist appointments; and family and close friends birthdays.
Your Folder
You need to place all handouts and paperwork in your folder. This folder and your planner should go back and forth from home to school. As soon as you are given something on paper, you need to put it in your folder. The front pocket should be for things that need to go home and come back signed such as forms and permission slips. The back folder should have any handouts that you will need to keep at home. In the pronged section, you need to put any work we do in class or that has been returned to you on paper.
Making It Routine
Now that your things are organized, you need to make a routine of staying organized. First of all, check the classroom planner everyday for additions to the calendar. Ask each teacher if you need to add anything to your planner for their class each day. Have a family meeting each night. Ask your family what activities you need to mark on the calendar and plan for. When you find out about a test or project, create a schedule in your agenda to work a little each day to accomplish your goal.
Each night, make yourself a check list of tasks for the next day and mark off accomplished task from the present day. Pack your backpack every night with any accomplished work so you do not forget it the next day. Put any money or signed permission forms directly in your folder before going to bed. When you enter the classroom, don't talk and goof off. Focus on what you need to turn in and getting any new information in your planner. When you get ready to leave class, don't talk. Focus on what you need to put in your agenda book and start making mental plans of how you will breakdown the task and accomplish the goal.
Most importantly, stay on top of everything each day. Don't let things sneak up on you. Look at the agenda and calendar every morning and night. By following this simple routine, you will stay organized and it will help you to become a well rounded person that can efficiently and effectively multi-task. You will also find you will be a lot happier!
Each night, make yourself a check list of tasks for the next day and mark off accomplished task from the present day. Pack your backpack every night with any accomplished work so you do not forget it the next day. Put any money or signed permission forms directly in your folder before going to bed. When you enter the classroom, don't talk and goof off. Focus on what you need to turn in and getting any new information in your planner. When you get ready to leave class, don't talk. Focus on what you need to put in your agenda book and start making mental plans of how you will breakdown the task and accomplish the goal.
Most importantly, stay on top of everything each day. Don't let things sneak up on you. Look at the agenda and calendar every morning and night. By following this simple routine, you will stay organized and it will help you to become a well rounded person that can efficiently and effectively multi-task. You will also find you will be a lot happier!
How to Organize Your Locker
The following video is a tutorial on how to organize your locker.
How To Take Notes
The following video is a tutorial on how to take notes in class.
How To Use Your Planner
The following video is a tutorial on how to organize your planner.
Homework
Let's reflect on our inspirational quote from today. "Do not try! Do or do not!. There is no try." Do not try to keep up with a planner. Just do it. Make the commitment and put in the time to make planning and preparation a part of your daily life - or - don't make it a part of your routine. Ultimately, the choice is yours.... and ultimately, you are deciding to be that "A" student or that "D" student that we talked about at the beginning of the lesson.
Tonight, talk with your family about upcoming events. Write them in your calendar. Talk to your family about what you learned today. Ask them for advice on how they stay organized.
Tonight, talk with your family about upcoming events. Write them in your calendar. Talk to your family about what you learned today. Ask them for advice on how they stay organized.