Jenny’s backpack is stuffed with: three textbooks, several empty bags of snacks, a school supply bag (with pens, markers, and her eraser collection), several fidgets, a rotten apple, two notebooks, and piles of old papers bunched up like trash.
She can’t find her agenda planner.

Organization is the ability to create and maintain systems to keep track of information or materials. Children need adults to provide organizational tools to support organization, including containers such as bookcases and trash cans, as well as expectations and accountability to use the containers. As children grow up, they internalize the habits that they learn. Adults need to implement organizational skills, including attention to detail, decision making, analytical thinking, problem-solving, and planning/prioritizing.

Although we are discussing Executive skills as separate entities, they actually function as interconnected processes. Organization requires us to practice several executive skills, including working memory, task initiation, and sustained attention.

Reflections

• When I look around, do I see an organized setting?
• Which is more organized; home or work (or school, if I’m a full-time student)?
• What have I tried so far to help improve my organizational skills?
• What supports might I call on to help me improve my organization?

References

Dawson, P., & Guare, R. (2016). Chapter 14: Clearing Clutter; Organization. In D. Peg, & R. Guare, The Smart But Scattered Guide to Success (pp. 190-199). NY: Guilford Press.

Dawson, P., & and Guare, R. (2009). Chapter 17: Fostering Organization. In P. Dawson, & R. and Guare, Smart But Scattered (pp. 239-247.) NY, NY: Guilford Press.