Place forEverything
Sort through these questions to see how your organizational skills stack up.
1. You keep your bedroom neat, your
closet clean, and your clothes crisply
folded in your dresser drawers.
Sounds like me. That’s not me.
2. Your friends want to take a cartoon-
ing class Tuesdays and Thursdays after
school. You sign up on the spot, without
checking your calendar. Your schedule
won’t suffer, right?
Sounds like me. That’s not me.
3. Every school night, you pack your lunch
before you get ready for bed. You never
run out of your favorite snacks because
you always add them to the family
grocery list well before they’re gone.
Sounds like me. That’s not me.
4. At least once a week, you can’t find
something that you need right away.
It’s never in the place it should be!
Sounds like me. That’s not me.
5. If your mom peeked in your backpack,
she might find a broken pencil, a granola
bar wrapper, and a bunch of folded-up
papers you were supposed to give to her
weeks ago.
Sounds like me. That’s not me.
6. You never miss a project due date
because you write them all in your
assignment notebook.
Sounds like me. That’s not me.
Answers
Did you choose blue the most? You’re one orderly girl! You already know that staying organized makes life easier. Your skills will help you stay on top of your game at school, even when you have to tackle tricky topics or when your schedule is packed with assignments and activities.
Did you select a few orange and a few blue? Like most of us, you’re organized at times and disorganized at others. When it comes to school, keeping order frees up your mind so you can focus on learning. If you’re organized, you’re not distracted by the perfect pencil you can’t find or the due date you know is coming up sometime soon (you think).
Did you pick mostly orange answers? Your organizational skills could use a tune-up. Keep this in mind: School isn’t just about learning subjects like science or reading. School teaches life skills, too. And a couple of the most important skills you learn through school are how to be responsible for your own things and how to manage your time. Read on to find out how to get organized!
Super Study Space
What tools do you use for homework and studying?
Gather your supplies and keep them close by when you’re working.
Keep a generous stash
of your favorite pencils
and pens.
Keep track of how long
you spend on any task.
Use sticky notes in books, on your
calendar, and on your assignments to
mark important details or give yourself
reminders. Also, notecards are
great to have on
hand to make
quick flash cards.
Try using a white or pink eraser
to remove pencil marks cleanly
and completely.
Always note due dates, tests,
and performances! Use a
calendar and your assignment
notebook to make sure you’re
getting everything done.
Read a word you don’t
know? Look it up!
Twistable crayons and
colored pencils never
need to be sharpened.
It’s OK to use a calculator to
double-check your homework
as long as you solve arithmetic
problems on your own first!
Study
steady
Studying in the same place at the same time
creates a habit that will seem natural in no
time. If you have your own desk, keep your
school tools organized in the drawers or right
on top. If you usually study at the kitchen
table or another shared space in your home,
make a school supplies kit in a sturdy box
and get it out every time you sit down to
do homework or study.
Wherever you work, choose a place that’s
quiet and free from distractions. That’s right:
no
