A group of strategic abilities known as organization skills aid students in making the best use of their time and effort to accomplish their objectives. Both effective study techniques and organization are crucial in the classroom.
For students, being organized is particularly important because it assists them to learn how to prioritize activities, set and accomplish objectives and reduce stress. Additionally, having effective organizational abilities facilitates collaboration with others and boosts productivity and efficiency. By bringing order out of chaos, organization is the conceptual skill that enables a child to tackle problems in a methodical way.
As organizational skills affect various areas of life, it is significant to follow certain strategies and ways to teach them. It is also important to understand that usage of various techniques can be helpful for elementary students. As elementary students are at the learning age, they are more likely to grasp concepts and understand methods better. Check how teachers and parents can make use of simple yet effective strategies to boost this skill.
Elementary students and organizational skills
Important research[1] was conducted to analyze the impact of organizational skills on student success. In this research, various deficiencies in students were documented through surveys and interactions. After this, different organizational strategies were applied to find a difference in student success. Time management skills, checklists, and goal setting were used to improve organizational skills. Later, it was found that students performed much better with reference to their homework, organized desk and lock as well as everyday class preparation.
Another important research[2] links organizational skills in students with competence and their ability to self-motivate. The research was conducted to find if there is any significant difference in motivation after implementing organizational skills. 23 students were taken for the research and organizational skills intervention was arranged in the school. According to the results, it was found that 98% of students improved in the areas of self-motivation, relatedness, competence, and autonomy.
With the above-mentioned research, it can be concluded that organizational skills play an important role in student success. This skill not only helps them be organized but also results in improvisation in other areas of life.
Effective strategies to teach organizational skills
Strategies are helpful in teaching various aspects of a subject matter. As we talk about organizational skills, some significant strategies bring about a major difference in students’ success. These strategies are easy to implement and can be followed by teachers in an efficient manner.
1. Encourage Making TimeTable

Children learn to be systematic when they are encouraged to follow an everyday timetable. It is also important to be organized and manage time in an efficient manner. Teaching them the importance of organizational skills starts with creating a timetable. Here, it includes that kids set the routine for homework and playtime.
Timetables can also include regular interactions with teachers and parents. As students plan their day, their behavior becomes more predictable and familiar. For example, students can write about their homework, play time, or craft-related activities to be completed in a day’s time. This makes them feel confident. It also results in a more proactive learning environment with organizational development and productivity.
2. Implement Classroom Etiquette
Classroom etiquette is an important concept when it comes to the subject of organizational skills. Students need to know the right standard of behavior in the classroom. Here, try to set different etiquette with classroom organization. For example, make it mandatory for students to use their sanitizer or wash their hands after using the washroom. Similarly, encourage them to wash their hands after their food breaks no matter if they use cutlery.
Organizational skills can also be boosted when students know the placement of books and different toys. For example, divide the toys into sections of soft toys, educational toys, and board games. Every day, assign different students the task of placing toys in their accurate places only. Similarly, when students leave the classroom, ask them to thoroughly check their desks and bags to ensure that they have kept everything inside it. Such small practices can bring about discipline and foster an organized environment in the classroom.
3. Introduce Graphic Organizers

As learning environments are transforming, the usage of graphic organizers is becoming increasingly popular. Whether it is about reading comprehension, writing, or practicing story building, graphic organizers are used to promoting organizational skills in students. These organizers can be used for drafting notes and Journaling. Organizers also encourage students to note the information in a systematic manner. For example, students can note their homework, practice work, and other art-related work in an organizer to understand prioritizing tasks as well.
It is a well-planned tool that motivates students to store and retrieve information in an accurate manner. Graphic organizers help students understand the concept as information is organized in the most efficient manner. Such organizers basically outline the subject matter and enhance different writing and reading skills. Moreover, teachers and parents can find freely printable graphic organizers for easy accessibility.
4. Use Color coded Labels

When teachers and educators wish to boost organizational skills in elementary students, color coding simply cannot be ignored! Color coding products, books, or even everyday stationery clearly identifies its need and purpose. Various color-coding strategies help children understand which color is used for which purpose thereby eliminating any misunderstanding in the organization process.
In this case, color-coded labels can be used for storage boxes where students store different stationery materials, books, everyday toiletries, and miscellaneous items. Similarly, color coding can also be applied to textbooks and notebooks differently to quickly organize and identify the right book. For example, students can use green for environmental science and brown for history. This system indeed helps students distinguish between specific items and become more organized.
5. Promote Organized Study Desks

A study desk is something that is always with children and should definitely be organized. Organizational skills develop as students learn to identify which stationery item or book is placed where. Teachers and educators can create different classroom activities where children are encouraged to set their study desks. For example, students can be taught to keep their pencils sharp and throw the waste only in the sharpening box.
Teachers can also challenge them to set it in a way where each of the materials on the desk is used. For example, students can keep their pens and pencils to the right while having a water bottle on the left. An organized study area encourages learning and also promotes cleanliness in the classroom. A DIY desk organizer can also promote creativity and organization in the classroom.
6. Motivate Pretend Play

The stage of play that students participate in when they can give symbolic items a life of their own is known as pretend play. Students get an opportunity to adopt characters, give things meanings, and change their reality into a different universe. Here, teachers can ask students to get into a scene of a kitchen and organize their play efforts for cooking, cleaning, and buying groceries. As students step into the shoes of others in a role-playing kind of situation, they can better organize their thoughts, language, and perspectives.
Similarly, students can also be inspired to organize a dollhouse or a doctor’s set in the pretend play situation. As they get into different situations, they learn more about keeping materials in a position and dealing with other students. Students get to try new ideas and also learn about different behaviors. When they put themselves in the positions of others, they are more likely to understand the challenges in different personalities thereby learning to organize and plan their responses accordingly.
Tools and resources for improving organizational skills
Teachers, parents, and educators can make use of various tools and resources for improving organizational skills in elementary students. It is also important to note that usage of different materials can lead to a diversified learning platform thereby engaging students in the process.
- Books are a helpful medium to encourage organizational skills in students. Various books are curated around the topics of organizational skills, their definition, strategies, and practical ways to implement them.
- Teachers can also make use of to-do lists to learn to better manage and organize their routines. Certain to-do lists improve organizational skills by teaching students a systematic method of doing and prioritizing tasks.
- Various motivational quotes are designed to promote higher-order thinking and improve organizational skills. Such quotes also lead to the development of language skills in elementary students.
- Different applications also help students become more organized by prioritizing tasks, setting schedules, and managing studies. Simultaneously, Memo Notes available in the cell phone can be used to record vital information and Google calendar also helps students set their goals and to-do tasks for the month.
- Classroom activities also offer a great learning platform for students. Various activities encourage participation, team building, and cooperation among students. Such activities help students learn the skill in a fun way.
It is significant to know that a plethora of tools and resources help children manage time, complete tasks with it, and also create a balance between fun time and studies.
Wrapping up…
Teaching kids organization skills is one of the most crucial things for their future. With good organizational skills, elementary students can schedule their activities so that they spend more time on critical tasks while keeping in mind the enjoyable ones.
Students who have strong organizational abilities, as they grow up are better at receiving, delivering, perceiving, and introspecting. They can grow both personally and professionally as a result of all these variables. Hence, teachers and educators should consider using the above-mentioned strategies for defining an effective learning edge.
References
- Improving Student Organizational Skills through the Use of Organizational Skills in the Curriculum. (2000). Improving Student Organizational Skills Through the Use of Organizational Skills in the Curriculum.
- LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO. (n.d.). Student organizational skills and motivation: What’s the connection?

I am Shweta Sharma. I am a final year Masters student of Clinical Psychology and have been working closely in the field of psycho-education and child development. I have served in various organisations and NGOs with the purpose of helping children with disabilities learn and adapt better to both, academic and social challenges. I am keen on writing about learning difficulties, the science behind them and potential strategies to deal with them. My areas of expertise include putting forward the cognitive and behavioural aspects of disabilities for better awareness, as well as efficient intervention. Follow me on LinkedIn