How to Teach Students to Organize Their Desk
Students sometimes throw their school supplies in their desk when they are in a rush. This can create disorganization and make it difficult for them to find what they need. In order for students to keep their desks neat and organized, you will have to teach them how to organize the items in their desk. With some preparation, you can accomplish this in a short amount of time with satisfactory results for you and your students.
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Instructions
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Use the student's desks and make half of the desks organized and half of them messy. When you are doing this, put an item, such an a brightly colored pencil, into each of the student's desk that they will have to find later on.
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Explain to the students that you have made some of their desks messy and some of them organized, and that you have hidden an object in their desk that they are going to have to find.
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Draw a line down the board with the word "messy" on one side and the word "organized" on the other. Have the students write their name on the side of the board that represents the desks that make it easier to find the hidden object fast. Have them explain why they chose the side they did.
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Have the students sit at their desks, tell them what the hidden object is, and ask them to find it. After everyone has found the object, discuss the results with them. Let them share whether they thought the owners of the messy desks or organized desks had an easier time finding the object.
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List the proper ways to organize a desk onto the board. This list should include stacking items from largest to smallest, placing loose paper in notebooks or folders and putting pencils in a pencil case.
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Bring one of the messy desks to the front of the classroom and demonstrate the way to organize it by following the list on the board.
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Have the students practice organizing a messy desk. After they are finished, have the students show each other how they organized their desks. This will show whether or not they understand the concept of organization and give the other students ideas they may not have thought of.
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Tips & Warnings
To get students to participate in organizing their desks, offer an incentive, such as the hidden object, a pencil case or a colorful folder.
References
- Photo Credit schulanfang image by pdesign from Fotolia.com
