High School can be a difficult and stressful time for your teenager. Juggling different classes, sports, activities and preparing for college can become overwhelming. Studies have shown that teenagers who are well organized achieve higher grades, have better self-esteem and are healthier. Organization can be divided up into three areas: time management, study habits and health.
Time management is crucial in High School. Your teenager will have several different teachers in school. The teachers do not necessarily confer with one another. What this means for your child is that some weeks he may have numerous projects due, other weeks he may have nothing. He may also have practices and meetings at different times each week. Your child will likely have social obligations as well. This is a lot to keep track of.
A student planner will help your teenager keep track of all these things. Some High Schools have planners that students are required to buy and use. If they don’t, take your teenager shopping to pick one out. Tablets and smart phones are also a great option, with many calendar and scheduling apps available. Ideally the planner should include both weekly format and the full month.
For major exams, the student may want to highlight it so he can quickly see it when it comes up. If the teacher does not hand out an itinerary for the semester, they will usually give out the weekly assignments on a set day. Mark this day in your personal planner as well, so you can remind your teenager.
If your student is involved in sports or other activities, he can use the planner for that as well. Have him mark down practices, meetings and events. Parents can also use this to see if they need to arrange any transportation and can plan to attend their child’s events.
As a Professional Home Organizer, I would recommend after the first day of school, sit down with your teenager to help him fill out his planner. Some teachers will give out an itinerary for the full semester. If so, have your child write down all homework and projects due on the specific date.
For Juniors and Seniors, they should use the planner to prepare for college. Most will be taking ACTs and SATs. These tests are only offered a few times a year. The planner can help remind them to prepare for them in the weeks before. It will also ensure they do not plan anything on the test date. They can also mark down all college visits and deadlines for applications.
Students who have a high GPA, always have good study habits. Your teenager needs a space in the home where they can do homework and study, without distractions. He should also try and do his homework the same time every day – this sets up a habit he can follow all year. Your student should also set aside time each day to study, even if there is no homework for that day. During this study time your student can review notes and rewrite them, re-read chapters in the textbook and work on skills.
Quite often, students do their homework and forget about it. When test time comes, they may quickly try to cram the information in. Students who set aside time each day to study and review, do far better on tests. An organized workspace always help contribute to improved efficiency.
Your student’s health is incredibly important during High School. Your teenager is still growing and changing physically. They are also learning social skills, managing stress and developing self-esteem. One of the best things your can do for your teenager is to make sure they get plenty of sleep. Teenagers need a full 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Less than that, they can lose focus. Have a set time each night that they go to bed, allowing a later time on the weekends. Don’t forget the iPods and cell phones, make sure they are powered off each night.
Students often become stressed when they are juggling too much. If you find your student becomes overwhelmed, it may be time to evaluate their schedule. Your teenager may need to eliminate some sports or activities. Staying organized also helps to alleviate stress. If your teenager is always planning ahead, he won’t be rushing around to meet deadlines.
