Teacher and Parent Strategies to Help Organize Students with ADHD

Teachers and parents should form a partnership to develop a plan that will teach and encourage organizational skills. There are some easy tactics to addressing chronic disorganization and as a result helping the student to be successful at school.

Student needs:
One inch three ring binder with clear plastic sleeve on the outside

Inside binder- three ring pencil pouch, pocketed plastic folder with holes for binder, filler paper and divider tabs for older grades.

Additional items: Weekly Homework Planner Sheet (should include space at top to write the week's date, days of week, assignment box for subjects, behavior box to note any issues or successes, and parent initial box).

Assembly and Explanation:
1. The homework planner sheet must ALWAYS be placed in the clear plastic sleeve on the cover of the binder. By keeping the homework planner sheet in this location, it is visible and easy to locate. Upon beginning the next subject or class- students can easily pull the sheet and write down assignments- they can't forget to follow through if the sheet is in front of them. It is important that each day the teacher check the homework planner sheet and verify that assignments have been written correctly. This validation should be certified with the teacher's initials or a fun stamp. At home, the parent should check the homework planner sheet and compare the assignments written with completed homework, then initial in the parent signature box. This is a critical step!!! Each morning the teacher should check the planner sheet for parent initials.

2. Fill the pencil pouch with no more than 4 pencils, keeping a good supply at home. Students with ADHD have a difficult time keeping up with pencils and the more that is in the pouch-the more they will lose. Parents should check the pouch each day and replenish any lost. The pouch should be kept inside of the binder.

3. The inside of the plastic folder's pockets should be labeled. The left pocket labeled "ASSIGNMENTS" and the right pocket should be labeled "COMPLETED ASSIGNMENTS" Do not overload the student with separate folders for different subjects in which to place assignments. They need one place to put all assignments and completed assignments. Parents and teacher should model and practice with the student where the assignments and completed assignments should be placed in the folder.

4. Behind the folder should be filler paper. Parents should keep a check on the amount of paper and refill it accordingly.

5. In older grades, using divider tabs behind the folder to separate reference papers given by the teacher is an option for each subject.

In closing, parents should never be afraid to dump their child's book bag and clean it out. Demonstrate to the child that organization begins with a clean slate. I always use the example of a super market. I tell parents and students to imagine how difficult it would be if all the items in a super market were unorganized. People would waste so much time wandering around trying to find all that they need!