Organising School Life
What are the key attributes that make up an ideal student?
Most students would probably say high intelligence or IQ.
I guarantee if you ask most of your teachers the same question, that would not be the answer.
“Being Smart” is a helpful characteristic to get through school but it is not necessarily the most important ingredient to being a successful student. Many highly intelligent students end up not doing well in their exams. On the other hand, students who may not necessarily be the smartest in the class end up doing very well.
This is because there are other key characteristics that help with student success. From a survey of over 100 teachers some of the main characteristics they believed helped students succeed at school included:
Self Motivation
Independence
Perserverance
Hard Working
Growth Mindset
Love of Learning
Kind
Creative
Confident (but not arrogant)
Positive Attitude
Team Player
Social Skills
But…..there was one attribute that was consistently mentioned over and over again as an integral quality that top ranked students possess.
ORGANISATION
How does being organised help with success at school? Why do teacher's rate organisation amongst the most important qualities a student should have?
Let's explore in more detail.
THE ORGANISED STUDENT
The more organised you are, the smoother school life is going to be.
Sounds easy right?.......Ha, for many I doubt it.
Classes, Homework, Studying, Exams, Extra Curricular Activities, Sport, Part-Time job, Family Commitments, Friends, Social Life, Romantic interests…..Ah, brain explosion.
That’s a lot to try and juggle.
In every year group there is a small bunch of students that seem to tackle these responsibilities with ease. They seem like they are always on top of things, that one step ahead. However, many of you will frustratingly feel overwhelmed and unorganised for large portions of school life. Being a disorganised student creates problems like:
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Being late to class/events/commitments
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Missing deadlines for assessments or homework
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Losing/misplacing things
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Never having the right books/stationary
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Negative teacher-student relationship
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Lack of sleep
More and more research suggests that these problems are linked to decreased mental and physical health. Constantly being late or missing deadlines creates stress. Stress can give that awful feeling like it's “all too much” which can lead to students being unproductive or giving up. This lack of productivity causes more frustration and stress. It's an unhealthy cycle that is difficult to get out of.
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Your teachers, your parents, your school counsellor are probably always saying things like “organisation is the key”, or “C'mon you need to be more organised”. But if you are like many students, it is hard to just flick a switch and magic, you are organised.
The first thing about organisation is that you have to have the right perspective. Many people, adults and students alike, believe that they simply aren’t the organised types. Being organised is not a trait that people are born with. Organisation is a trait that is learned. It is a habit. You must train yourself to be organised.
I have closely monitored what the most organised students at schools around Australia do to stay on top of school. And seriously, it's nothing extraordinary. A couple of slight changes in the way that you manage school life can have a positive ripple effect on your success as a student. Here are some strategies to help you get started.
1. Set up a productive study space at home
2. Organise your locker
3. Come to class prepared
4. Use a Diary/Planner
5. Digital Organisation
1. Set up a productive study space at home
Other than school, you are going to do most of your learning and studying from home. Having a productive set up at home plays a crucial role in your academic progress.
Studies have shown that your home environment can affect your learning by 25%. So what is the ideal learning environment? Every student learns in different ways and every home setup is unique. Here are some tips to turn your home into an ideal study environment regardless of your situation or learning style.
Set up a designated study space in your home
Try and have the one space that you use for study or homework. If possible, use this space for school related purposes only. It shouldn’t be the same place where you game or watch TV. Train your brain so that when you sit in this space it's time to focus and study.
Ideally this will be a desk in your bedroom or if you are lucky enough, a spare bedroom or study room. These areas are the best because they are private, away from distractions and other members of the family.
Some students don’t have the above luxuries and use areas such as the dining table or kitchen bench. These are not as convenient, but if they are your only options maybe organise with the family “quiet” portions of the night or for you to have some privacy to get your work finished without distractions.
Note: Do you have loud, annoying siblings? Share a bedroom? Literally no space to study at home? You might consider these options depending on your school or where you live.
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The Library - Peace and quiet, internet access, lots of space.
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Nearby Cafe - Free WIFI, comfy shares, relaxed atmosphere, yummy coffee or hot chocolate (although this could become expensive).
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An empty classroom - Ask your teacher if this is an option.
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A friend's house - Not ideal, but if you live close to a friend and can work together without getting distracted, go for it.
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Outside - Do you have a nice backyard, or peaceful park nearby. Get some fresh air and work outside (pending weather).
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Public transport - Not ideal, but an option if you spend large amounts of time on trains or buses.
Tidy up your work space - declutter
Clean up your desk. Keep it minimal.
A messy desk full of clutter can cause stress, is not good for your concentration and causes wasted time looking for things. A clean and tidy desk boosts productivity and helps you focus. Having good storage (see below) and putting things away neatly can help with this.
Who’s study area looks like this?
When you declutter, your study area is so much more inviting and more motivating to get started.
Distraction free
Your study area should be in a quiet place, preferably away from other members of the family (especially if they are noisy). If you want to be properly organised, position yourself away from the biggest household distractions which include:
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TV - Study away from the TV, or if you have one in your room, turn it off.
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Mobile - Again turn it off, put it in flight mode, or even better, place it away from you, perhaps in another room and check it during your study breaks.
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Laptop/Computer - Turn off all notifications or even install a website blocker (See Unit 3)
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Food - Better to eat before study. If you are still hungry, light snacks at your desk are ok. An alternative to curb your hunger is to stay hydrated with plenty of water or maybe a green tea. More on this in Topic 7.
What about Music? Does it help with concentration or is it a distraction to study?
This is a common question debated by many students.
The truth is, even though most research indicates that switching off the music is the best option for maximum study engagement, most students ignore this advice and are convinced that headphones are an essential study tool.
To keep it simple, match the tempo with the task. Not all study is the same. Sometimes there is a need for 100% engagement. Think complex Maths questions, difficult to comprehend text or a practice test. Silence in these circumstances is probably the best option. Besides, your exams are in silence, so it's good practice. On other occasions, study might be a little more relaxed and less engaging. In these circumstances then music is ok. This might include tasks such as note taking and easier short answer questions.
But hold on...Before you open up Spotify for your favourite playlists, most of the research has found that music with lyrics does not help whilst reading, writing and trying to memorise. Music genres such as Rap, Hip Hop, Hard Rock and Electronic Dance Music are awesome to listen to, but during study the catchy lyrics and intense instrumentals are competing for your brain’s memory space.
Music that is soothing and without lyrics is the best for study. In general, this music is more relaxing, helps reduce stress and there are no words competing against your study attention.
Everyone’s tastes are different, so experiment with different genres and see what works for you. If you are unsure of what music is suitable for study, here are a few Spotify playlists to start you off.
Frank Thomas - Study Expert
This playlist is created by Youtuber Thomas Frank, a study and productivity expert and creator of the website CollegeInfoGeek. He has worked on this playlist for several years and it contains non-lyrical music from a wide variety of genres including video game, movie soundtracks, electronic and ambient sounds. Over 13hrs of music.
Sweet sounds of the piano
Like piano music? This playlist contains 9hrs of focus enhancing piano music which creates a calm and serene study environment. It's the type of playlist which is very easy to tune out from the music and focus on your study.
Cafe Vibe
Electronic Mix
A 14 hr long playlist of chill beats and coffee shop vibes. Now all you need is a hot cappuccino and you are set.
A playlist with an electronic theme. Just the right speed and tempo for study. Over 7hrs of relaxing tunes.
Disney Classics
Still a kid at heart? Try these Disney Classic Instrumentals. 5hrs of old school favourites from Lion King to Toy Story.
Deep Focus
A playlist of very ambient and post-rock music. About 10 hrs of very alternative, indie style music.
Nature Sounds
Try Classical
Ok, I know this genre is not on the top of your Spotify playlist, but when it comes to study it has its benefits. There is a lot of academic research to suggest that classical music helps with anxiety, sleep patterns and stress levels. This playlist is more modern day classical with over 7hrs of soothing music.
Popular song without the lyrics
Popular mainstream songs but without the lyrics, and they are all performed with strings only. The playlist might be a little too catchy for some, but without the lyrics, most students can enjoy the music and concentrate at the same time.
Movie Instrumentals
I am a massive movie buff. I created this playlist full of Movie Instrumentals from some of my favourite movies. Inspired by composer Hans Zimmer who has composed music for over 150 films. Examples include Inception, the Dark Knight and Interstellar.
Calming nature sounds such as rain, birds, jungle, waterfalls and rain. For those who struggle with silence but also struggle with music. There are also apps such as Noisli which play background sounds aimed at boosting your focus and productivity.
Ergonomic Study Space
“Ergo what”??? Ergonomics is a funny sounding word which refers to the science of designing the workplace. The home workplace has seen a massive transformation over the past few years for both workers and students. The pandemic, lockdowns, and school closures fuelled the need to have an area in your home that allows you to work in comfort.
An uncomfortable study space can decrease productivity and motivation and increase the likelihood of back, neck, wrist and eye strain. Incorporating ergonomics to your study area enhances your willingness to study and creates an atmosphere which should increase productivity and prevent discomfort and fatigue.
Compare your study set up and posture when sitting to the illustration above?
Is it similar or is there room for improvement?
Consider the following adjustments to “ergo” up your study area.
Desk Selection
Study desks have come a long way in the last few years. Technology, online stores and the rise in gaming have seen an increase to the market in maximum comfort, ergo friendly desks.
The majority of you probably have non-adjustable desks. If you are shopping for one, make sure you choose a desk which is suitable for your height. This is a height where your knees fit comfortably under the desk and should be in line with your hips. Your forearms should be able to rest flat on the desk top when your elbows are bent to 90 degrees. Your feet should sit flat on the floor (or on a foot rest if you are a shorty) while you are sitting at your desk.
Non adjustable desks can range from under $100 to $1000+. Places like Ikea, Harvey Norman, Office Works and Bunnings all have a diverse range of desks and can be found all over Australia. Alternatively you can look for second hand options on sites such as Gumtree.
Ikea have a huge range of suitable desks, some under $100. A popular choice amongst students is the Pahl and Brusali.
A popular but more pricey option from Harvey Norman. You can configure the desk into a L-shape or keep it straight. Great storage as well.
Sit-stand desks or height adjustable desks have risen in popularity. These desks are able to adjust to your preferred chair height all the way into a standing position. Physios and other ergo experts claim that there are health benefits to mixing up your posture, and standing up will keep you more active. Desks can adjust with a manual handle, with the more expensive options adjusted electronically.
Ikea has a popular manually adjusted option at around $250. Click here to visit website
The Omnidesk is a pricier and flashier electronically adjustable desk. They are not cheap but they are seriously awesome. Check out their range here.
Popular tech and gadget Youtuber David Zhang gives a good review on adjustable desks
The Right Chair
All bodies are different, right? And as teenagers we are growing at a rapid rate. Therefore the right chair is one that you can adjust, so it perfectly fits your body heights and shape.
Go back to the picture of the perfect ergonomic set up and ask yourself these questions about your current study chair.
Do your feet flat on the floor? If not, you may need a foot rest
Do your knees fit comfortably under the desk?
Are your arms bent to 90 degrees when resting flat on the desk?
Are you sitting upright at 90 - 110 degrees?
Are your knees and hips at 90 degrees?
Does your chair have armrests?
Does your chair provide support to your lower back (lumbar support)?
Are your shoulders relaxed?
An investment in an adjustable ergonomic chair is your best option because you can adjust it to suit your body size and desk height. Again these can be expensive, and can range from $100 to $1000+. However a good chair should last years, which you can keep adjusting as you grow and will do wonders for your productivity and long term health.
Cheaper chairs include these popular options from Office Works and Ikea
IKEA
Gaming chairs are also a great option to use as a study chair. These chairs are leaders in ergonomics, are super comfortable, have great lumbar support and usually include head rests and recline functions. And they look cool too. SecretLab have great reviews but are pricey, whilst Harvey Norman have a variety of cheaper alternatives
SECRET LAB
HARVEY NORMAN
OFFICE WORKS
Adjust your Monitor/Laptop
Most students will use a digital device whilst studying or doing homework. If you are not using it, turn the screen off to avoid distraction. If you are using your computer ensure the monitor is following these ergonomic parameters:
Source: Sims and Finn Chiropractichttps://simsfinnchiropractic.com.au/
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The monitor should be directly in front of you so you are not twisting or turning to see your screen. If you use dual screens, position the primary screen directly in front of you and the second monitor slightly to the side..
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The monitor should be about an arm’s length away from the eyes. Sitting too close can give you eye strain. If your monitor is really large then perhaps even a little further away then arm’s length. Remember, you can always increase the size of the font if you are having trouble reading at this distance.
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The height of the monitor should be adjusted so that your eyes are in line with the top half of the screen. If you are using a non-adjustable desk a monitor stand or monitor arms could do the trick. These add ons can re position the height of your screen at the same time saving much needed desk space.
Monitor Arms or Stands can be found at places like Office Works, Harvey Norman and Amazon
Back Issues
Wrist Issues
Laptops are not ergonomically friendly when sitting at a desk. The screen is usually too low forcing you to lean forward, putting pressure on your neck and back.
Laptop stands can be used to put the laptop in a better position. But still this is not ideal as the hands are not in a resting position (unless you use an external keyboard). A cheap alternative is to use two or three packs of printer paper or books to increase the height of the laptop. An external keyboard can then be used so that hands and elbows are in a comfortable resting position.
Laptop Users
Source: CMD
Back Issues
Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse
Something so harmless such as typing or clicking a mouse button, however repeated hourly, daily, yearly, millions of times can eventually lead to strains and tears of the forearms, wrists and fingers. This is known as Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI.
RSI can cause symptoms such as pain, swelling, stiffness, tingling or weakness in the wrists, hands, forearms, elbows, neck or shoulders.
Treatment includes rest, ice, anti-inflammatory drugs, special wrist exercises and stress reduction training. However, more serious injuries may require surgery.
Prevention is the best remedy.
An ergonomic keyboard properly supports your hands and wrists. Switching from a standard keyboard will feel a bit strange at first, but it is worth it in the long run to prevent any long term RSI effects. These keyboards will either come in a curved one piece model or a two-piece split keyboard. They are designed to keep your wrists in a straight neutral position and also provide a resting place for the wrists. The ideal keyboard allows for customisation as needed.
Even if you use a laptop, an external mouse should be used (instead of the laptop trackpad). This allows your wrists to be in a more neutral position, with less stress on the wrists and hands. Ergonomic computer mice are even better. They are curved along the outside and have raised space to support the thumb. It is best to try out different mice before you buy, to see what works best for you.
Amazon has a wide range of affordable ergonomic mice and keyboards.
Adjust your Lighting/Heating
In general, lighter spaces will keep you awake and alert, while darker spaces may make you feel sleepy or drowsy. Positioning your desk near a window is ideal for natural lighting during the day. At night, a desk lamp is a good idea.
Desk lamps can be found anywhere. Check Ikea out for a large, affordable selection.
Temperature preferences will vary from student to student but generally a study area which is too warm will make you feel tired and groggy. Too cold, and you will become restless or distracted. Most studies show that the optimum range for optimal productivity ranges from 21 to 26 degrees celsius. Play around with your air conditioner and heating system to figure out what suits you.
Get up and have a break
No matter how good your study space ergonomics are, it is important to take physical and mental breaks from your study time. Sitting for an hour or longer without moving can cause stress on the body. Get up, have a stretch, go to the toilet, get a drink, walk around the room, doesn’t matter what it is, get the body moving. This is where adjustable height desks come in handy, where you can alternate between sitting and standing to increase body motion.
Check out Toronto based Australian Physiotherapist Bridie Nicholson on TikTok and Physiotherapist Tim Keeley from physiorehab.com for cheaper alternatives to creating and "ergo" friendly study area
Tim Keeley from physiorehab.com again with some tips and tricks on how to correctly sit at your study desk.
Sleep in bed, don’t study in it?
Many students opt to lay on their bed whilst studying. I get it. After a long day at school, you come home, eat, shower, and by the time you settle down you just want to go and lay on your bed and get comfy.
Studying in bed is cozy and if done on the odd occasion when you have had a bad day or just doing some light reading then by all means go for it. But don’t make it a habit.
Get into the habit of always studying in the same place. But don’t make that place your bed. Studying in a place your body is accustomed to sleeping sends mixed signals to the brain. Sleep or Study? The brain is not sure what to focus on. This leads to less effective study and it also becomes harder to sleep when you actually want to go to bed.
Laying on your bed and studying can also apply pressure to your back. This can do long term damage to your spine as you get older. There is also limited room, it’s difficult to take notes and you can easily become distracted by social media devices when laying in a comfortable position.
Productive Storage System
Textbooks, files, workbooks, worksheets, stationery…..You have an endless amount of equipment and information you need to carry around. Thankfully, a lot of this can now be stored digitally (See Unit 4: Organising My Digital World). However, there will always be physical items you need to carry around and store.
"The best storage system is one which has all your needs in arm’s reach"
Storage does not have to be anything fancy. As long as you can access anything you need whilst sitting at your desk. This removes barriers from getting work done. Get into the habit of emptying your school bag and placing everything where it needs to be when you get home from school.
Watch the videos below for some quick and easy tips on storage
Check out Alicia's study desk from the YouTube Channel Study Collab in Year 12. I had the privilege of teaching Alicia when she was in Year 7 and she has always been extremely organised. Notice that everything on her desk is in reach. It makes it so much easier to get into the groove of study.
Stock up on Stationery
Nothing kills the mood to study more than a pen that doesn’t work or no paper to write on. Make it a habit at the beginning of each school year to go out and buy a batch of supplies that will last you the year.
Check out the “Essential Stationery” list below. It should set you back around $50-$100. These items should be available at your study place at all times. There might be other stationery items you need for various subjects but these are the 'must haves' to make study life that little bit easier.
HOME STUDY SPACE INSPIRATION
2. Organise Your Locker
Another simple tweak to becoming more organised is to maintain a well organised locker.
Are you a victim of “The Messy Locker Syndrome”
STEPS TO ORGANISING YOUR LOCKER
01
Remove absolutely everything from your locker. This could be very daunting for some students, but the best way to organise a locker is to start with an empty one.
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Throw away all unnecessary rubbish. This includes any loose bits of paper and worksheets you do not need. It also includes mouldy sandwiches, apple cores, broken stationary and simply anything else you do not need.
03
Next, have a look at what you have emptied from your locker and see what might be wasting unnecessary space. Is there anything that can remain at home? Things such as:
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Textbooks which you never use
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Excess stationary which is clogging up your locker
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Overdue library books
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Gadgets and other fun stuff like electronics or footballs
04
Ok, so whatever is left should be the items of high priority that can be stored back into your locker. These are items which are necessary and that you use on a regular basis. The main items should include:
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Textbooks that you consistently use
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Workbooks or Files that you use for storage and notes
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Schoolbag
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Packed lunch/Water Bottle
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Mobile Phone
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Laptop
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Pencil Case/Stationery
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Perhaps a sports bag/change of sports clothes
05
Before you start putting things back into your locker give it a good clean. Grab some wet paper towels from the toilet and wipe the shelves and any dirt from the locker. Dry it out with some dry paper towels. Perhaps spray it with some Air Freshener if you have any.
06
Time to organise your locker with all the necessary items you have left.
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Begin with your textbooks. Textbooks should be lined up with the spines upright and facing you like in a library. This makes access quick and easy when you are in a rush for class.
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The same with your workbooks. Having them upright makes it so much easier to grab. If you pile them all on top of one another it becomes messy and hard to find what you are looking for.
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There should be no loose paper in your locker. This is a big no no and you will end up losing tests, assignments or important documents. Keep all paper stored in files or plastic sleeve workbooks.
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Your stationary/pencil case should be also located in an easy to access location near your textbooks.
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Everything else should be neatly stored behind or on a shelf away from the things you need for class. Your bag, phone, lunch and anything else you have should either be on a separate shelf or hook, depending on the size and structure of your locker.
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You might want to buy a book holder which can keep your books vertical. Or perhaps a Stationary holder or cup to leave some extra pens and pencils for class.
07
Decorating is not essential, but could be a nice idea to personalise your locker. The inside of your locker wall is an ideal place to stick pictures of friends, family or your celebrity crush. I have seen some students stick their class timetable up which can be useful. Magnetic mirrors, extra hooks and notice boards are other things I have seen in some lockers.
08
Congratulations, your locker is finally organised, clean and making school life that little bit easier. The key now is to keep it that way. Get into the habit each morning instead of just dumping your bag in your locker, remove all your textbooks and workbooks you have taken home the night before and spend 2-3 minutes organising your locker ready for the day ahead. At the end of day, take home what you need and repeat the cycle again the next day. Be sure to dump any rubbish or food out on a daily basis and make sure all loose paper is filed appropriately. Make this a habit, it will be worth it.
3. Come To Class Prepared
Empty what you need from your bag each morning when you get to school and store it away from your daily class essentials. Your phone and anything else you don't need for class should be here too.
Class essentials should be easily accessible and stored neatly. This includes textbooks, workbooks, stationary, water bottle and laptop. Notice this example has no loose paper, rubbish or unnecessary objects in the locker.
As a teacher of over 20 years, I would say one of the most frustrating occurrences of the day is when a student rocks into class without the necessary tools to get through the lesson. No pen, nothing to write on, no textbook, it is so annoying. Not just for me, but for the rest of the class who are sitting patiently waiting for the disorganised student to run back to their locker to get whatever they have forgotten.
COME TO CLASS PREPARED. It adds credibility with your teacher and eases you into the lesson without disruption.
On the opposite end is the student who brings EVERYTHING to class and is TOO organised. This is not necessary and sometimes is a deterrent to a student who has to carry around too much stuff and ends up losing it between classes.
KEEP IT SIMPLE AND EFFICIENT. What to bring to each class will differ with subject, teacher and school, but the following is a simple checklist of what you should bring to most classes.
1. Pencil Case With Essential Stationary
Don’t be one of those students who has to borrow a pen. Stock up your pencil case. The bare minimum includes pens and pencils, but the most organised students will include a ruler, calculator, highlighters, sharpener, rubber and anything else asked from your teacher.
2. Exercise Book or File
My suggestion is that for each class you bring
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One A4 size Exercise Book for any required writing
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One A4 size plastic Display folder to store assessments and worksheets
Alternatively you might have a file for each subject with plastic sleeves and loose paper.
Note: Separate your subjects. Have a different workbook for each subject, unless it is a workbook with dividers
3. Textbook
Textbooks can be a pain to carry around, so only bring it to class if it is required. Your teacher will let you know. No need to bring it if you have an online version and you have your laptop.
4. Laptop
Most schools are now laptop or tablet centred and will be required for most classes. Make sure it is fully charged to begin the day, if not bring your charger.
5. Diary
6. Water Bottle
A diary is an underused tool that should be taken to every class for reminders and homework updates. There are digital versions, so might not be needed if this is your preference and you have your laptop.
Bring a water bottle, saves having to ask your teacher for a water break.
4. Get Into The Habit Of Using a Diary/Planner
How do you track your homework?
What about assessment dates?
School Events?
What amazes me when I ask this question to the majority of my students, is that the simple answer is “they dont”.
I am guessing that the reason behind this is that many schools are using Google Classroom, or have an Online Portal or School Calendar that you can access homework and important assessment dates. These are great tools, and are very handy. But I believe to be truly organised, you need something a little more personalised that covers all aspects of your individual school life.
You cannot rely on the simple sticky note, although I must admit these can be handy at times (especially the online versions on your desktop). Even worse, some students try and remember everything in their head. Seriously, do not do this, you will eventually become unstuck, especially in Year 11 and Year 12. Research indicates that we can only hold on average 4 pieces of information in our short term memory. In order to effectively learn, you wan’t to reduce your mental load. A diary or planner is the easiest way to reduce this load.
Ok, so what are the options?
In short, you can go the digital approach or the old school paper approach.
Digital
There are so many online planners, organisers and ‘To do’ lists now, which are extremely user friendly, sync to all your devices and are generally free or super cheap. To check out some of these options and how organised students use them go to Unit 3: Organising My Digital World.
Physical Diary or Organiser
As a student who went to the school in the 90s, my generation grew up on paper diaries or school planners. Today, in the digital age, I am noticing that schools and students are using these less and less. But should they be? As a teacher I use a planner everyday. I have friends who are lawyers, business owners, tradies and they all use a daily planner. Why should it be any different for a student? At university, you do not get spoon fed everything like at high school, so a planner is essential to stay organised. Get into the habit of using a planner, it will help you later in life.
Your school might have a school diary/planner you can use, if not you can pick up a cheap one from places like OfficeWorks or Typo
How to use your Diary/Planner
Tip No 1:
Bring your diary to every class, every day
If you only use your diary/planner on the rare occasion you probably won’t get much worth out of it. It should be taken to every class, and become your one “go to” source where anything that is important to remember will be in your planner.
Tip No 2:
Mark in all your assessments at the beginning of the year
At the front of the planner there should be a section with all the months and days of the year. If your planner does not have this layout then get one that does. At the beginning of the year your teachers should give you a schedule with all the assessments and dates of assessments for each of your subjects. If your teacher does not do this then it wouldn’t hurt to ask (assessment scheduling is usually done at the beginning of the year). Now go to your planner and mark in every assessment for every subject. You can highlight each subject a different colour. This now gives you a visual of the spread of all your assessments that you can see in one glance and identifies hectic times of the year and enables you to plan ahead. Some students make large copies of these calendars and hang them on their study space wall.
Tip No 3:
Mark In all key events, public holidays and other important dates that you are aware of
Now mark any other date which is important to you. This might include things like:
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Start and end of the school term
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Public Holidays and Pupil Free Days
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Sport Carnivals
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School events like the Ball, Music Concert etc
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Other non school events in your life like family trips and weddings
Tip No 4:
Day to Day information
After all the big important events have been included, your diary now becomes a resource which you bring to class to use for daily reminders like
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homework
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things to bring to school
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After school events
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any other teacher instructions.
This information obviously goes in the day to day section of the diary.
Don’t like using a diary? Alternatively you can use an Exercise Book
If a diary is not for you and you won’t use it no matter how much persuasion, then fair enough, your choice. Alternatively, I have seen some students use an Exercise Book which they bring to every class and make daily lists of things they need to remember such as homework or assignment dates. Use a fresh page every morning and keep it simple. Something like this:
Column 1: Homework
Column 2: Things to do today/Reminder
Once you have done a task, tick it off or cross it out. This is a simple yet effective system for those who don’t want to use a diary.
Highlight once a task is done so you know what you still have left to complete
5. Digital Organisation
Almost every school is now centred around digital learning. Laptops or Smart Tablets are used in almost every classroom. Digital Organisation is imperative. So much so, that I have dedicated a whole separate unit to this section. Click here to view Topic 4: Digital Organisation
CONCLUSION
Being organised is one of the key criteria to succeeding at school. It makes life that little bit easier, less stressful and could help achieve higher grades. It is also a trait that will be useful when you go onto further education, work and in all aspects of life.
