Skill
Areas of Impact
Age Group
Middle School
Length
20-30 minutes
Frequency
Weekly
Type
Binder Checklist
Identifying my own criteria for an organized binder helps my students clearly meet those expectations and develop the organizational habits they need to succeed.
Overview
This Binder Checklist clearly explains to students the criteria for what makes a well-organized binder.
Context
At Gateway Middle School we explicitly teach students organizational academic habits in our Learning Seminar classes, and this checklist is given to students as a reference when binders are first set up. Later it is used weekly or biweekly to guide students in binder clean-up. While students receive a score, the most important aspect is getting them organized! Consequently students are required to fix up their binders (often with the help of a classmate or co-teacher) if the binders are not satisfactory.
Implementation
When teaching organizational systems, students definitely need models and lots of practice! While the checklist is a guide, the key to success is repeated reinforcement of expectations in class. As students become more organized, they can begin to peer assess their classmates and support one another in those systems. Remember that organization isn’t an academic habit that is taught one time and then learned. Rather, it takes repeated practice in multiple contexts and with frequent guidance and reinforcement. Competitions, games, and prizes for excellence and improvement can all help foster students’ developing these skills.