Warm-Up: My Organizational Challenge

Instructions: Take a few minutes to think about your organizational habits and answer the questions below.

1. Describe one specific area where you feel disorganized in your school life (e.g., your backpack, locker, notebook for a specific class, digital files, managing homework deadlines).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. How does this disorganization make you feel or impact your schoolwork?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. What is one small, achievable goal you could set right now to improve this area? (e.g., "I will clean out my backpack this evening," "I will label my science folder," "I will write down my math homework in my planner today.")
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Organize Your Toolkit Worksheet

Instructions: As we discussed the different organizational tools, think about how you can apply these to your own life. Answer the questions below, making your responses specific to your habits.

1. The Power of a Planner

1. Do you currently use a planner (physical or digital)? If yes, how do you use it? If no, what keeps you from using one consistently?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Think about one class where you often forget assignments. How could using a planner specifically help you stay on top of that class's homework or projects?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. What is one specific change you can make to your planner use this week (e.g., "I will write down all my homework immediately after it's assigned," "I will check my planner every morning")?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Taming Your Tissues (and Files!)

1. Describe how you currently organize your physical school papers (e.g., binders, folders, loose papers). What's working well, and what's challenging?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. If you use digital files for school, how are they organized? If they're a mess, what's one new folder or naming convention you could implement?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Imagine you have a big project due next month. What's one specific strategy for physical or digital organization you'll use to keep all your materials for that project in order?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Your Organized Workspace

1. Where do you usually do your homework or study? Describe what your workspace looks like right now.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one item in your workspace that, if removed or organized, would make the biggest difference in your focus or efficiency?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. How could you apply the "One-Minute Rule" or a daily tidy-up to your workspace habits?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Breaking Down Big Tasks

1. Think of a recent big assignment or project that felt overwhelming. What were some of the smaller steps you could have broken it into?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Why is breaking down big tasks helpful for managing stress and completing work?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. What's one big task you have coming up, and what are the first two small steps you can identify for it?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Organize Your Toolkit Answer Key

Note to Teacher: This answer key provides suggested responses for the open-ended questions. Student answers will vary but should demonstrate understanding and application of the organizational strategies discussed.

1. The Power of a Planner

1. Do you currently use a planner (physical or digital)? If yes, how do you use it? If no, what keeps you from using one consistently?

   • Student Response Guidance: Look for honesty about current habits. If they use one, do they mention checking it regularly, writing everything down? If not, common reasons might be forgetting, not seeing the point, or finding it too much effort. This helps identify areas for individual coaching.

2. Think about one class where you often forget assignments. How could using a planner specifically help you stay on top of that class's homework or projects?

   • Student Response Guidance: Students should connect planner use to the specific class. Examples: