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Post by 2pearl on Aug 26, 2005 15:43:16 GMT -5
I'm trying help ds organize himself better Last year not a day went by when he didn't forget a notebook or textbook he needed for homework. I'm just going to buy a complete extra set of textbooks to keep at home. I know a lot of parents do this,( I'm also wondering if anyone knows whether that can be written into an 504 so that the school will pay for it?) I've decided to color co-ordinate all his folders and notebooks and I'm just trying to brainstorm other strategies that will help him keep track of things. Anyone got any trade secrets they can share?
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Post by Gillian on Aug 26, 2005 17:35:23 GMT -5
I believe this can be written into a plan (though I'm not sure if it's a 504 or IEP). We had this problem some time ago and we did buy a couple of textbooks out of our own pocket but it was expensive. After we did that, of course, I heard that you could get it written in. It's worth checking.
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Post by Mayleng on Aug 26, 2005 17:39:10 GMT -5
Yes, it can be an accomodation listed in a 504 or IEP. Color co-ordinating is a very good idea. Our Middle school here color codes all their books/binders/folders by colors ie. Science is Green, Math is Yellow etc. So the kids know at a glance by colors what are the subjects. Makes it easier to organize them.
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Post by mrsheartbuzz on Aug 26, 2005 17:55:25 GMT -5
We started the color coded thig last year and it worked great. We went one step further and put all subjects into one binder with color coded dividers and folders in each section. He then had only one "notebook" to keep track of! We had this added to his IEP so that the teachers HAD to follow it! Most teachers thought the idea was great and recommended it around the school!
Extra set of books is also in his IEP and the school has to provide them.
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Post by brazos on Aug 27, 2005 20:10:03 GMT -5
We do an organizing night with all three kids every week. Papers can build up and honestly they get overwhelmed with the amount of work. I literally go through every paper and make them put all subjects together and then they have to get the folders and binders looking good. Rainman has done well this year, TD is slacking which means more often organizing.
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Post by d on Aug 27, 2005 20:31:52 GMT -5
2pearl - great idea given that school is starting so I sticky tacked this thread.
Last year for dd's first year of middle school, I color coded everything. She had to use the school's system like morning binders and afternoon binders. I bought clearish/frosted binders and color coded everything that went into and around it - dividers, book covers extra composition books, folders, etc. by subject. The clearish/frosted binder had a folder on the back cover - so anything that had to be turned in was put in there so she could easily see it. That worked pretty well but the INSIDE of her binders were a MESS - once in a while I would try to clean it out and organize. So...
This year, 7th grade it should be a little more lax with supply requirements so we are trying a trapper keeper. She will have final, mid-terms, etc. this year. I bought a book called something like the organized student. It suggested keeping a color coded file system at home. When the kids are finished with a unit, they can take all their notes, homeworks and the chapter test out of the binder, staple them and file them by subject at home. I'm going to try this one, but organization has never been my strong point. At least she may have a shot at having things organized and ready for the mid-terms and finals.
Supposedly there are websites where you can buy used text books fairly inexpensively - haven't done that yet.
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Post by 2pearl on Sept 1, 2005 14:26:54 GMT -5
These are some really helpful ideas. DS went with me to shop for school supplies, Big mistake! He didn't want colorcoded folders and notebooks! He wanted all the "cool" looking supplies. I really want to put everything into one big binder that he just takes everywhere. Last year he was always getting into trouble for taking the wrong folder to class. This year he will be really changing classes so I know it will be even harder for him. The biggest problem for him is that it's hard to stay organized when your always losing your stuff! Calgon take me away!
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Post by LurkNoMore on Sept 1, 2005 15:43:51 GMT -5
Hey Pearl...I also made the mistake of taking the kids with me to go school shopping! My daughter (not add) 13, 8th grade got this binder at Office Depot It's called a z-binder (like 2 binders in one back to back). her school recommends 2 binders (1 for the morning classes & one for the afternoon). Since she didn't want to have to rely on going back to her locker we got this one. We test fit it and it does fit into her backpack. It also has a shoulder strap that you can hook to it (to carry it like a book bag). We have found the past couple of years that the zipper binders work well for them (once they zip them up there's less chance of the loose papers falling out). We got C (ds, 6th grade) just a regular zipper binder Hope this helps!
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Post by 2pearl on Sept 1, 2005 17:20:45 GMT -5
Lurk, first let me just say, WoW! I am so impressed that you know how to post photos right in the middle of a post! You've got "great skills" as my kids would say.(Any Napoleon Dynamite fans in your house?) Anyway, is this the same thing as a "trapper keeper?" It said on the supply list that the kids are not allowed to have these. Though perhaps an exception will be made for those inclined to be less organized!
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Post by d on Sept 1, 2005 21:31:03 GMT -5
These are some really helpful ideas. DS went with me to shop for school supplies, Big mistake! He didn't want colorcoded folders and notebooks! Calgon take me away! Yup - similarly, color-coded system that worked last year has changed a bit this year. Took dd shopping with me - it's either going to be a pink or light blue "trapper keeper" with strap type thing (pink or blue is a *major* considered decision). My color-coded system has morphed into lime green, atlantic blue, lavendar, sherbet pink, etc.). We'll see how this new color palette goes b/c trapper keepers are supposedly against the rules. And you wouldn't believe yesterday's "discussion" between my two as they divied up the pens, pencils, etc. each going for their favorite colors before I labeled the gazillion individual items, per school instructions. PS Lurk - I have a digital photo printer that I haven't been able to make work in about a year+ that has an inch of dust on it. Would you like to come over for coffee? ;D I'm jealous.
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Post by Mayleng on Sept 1, 2005 22:52:13 GMT -5
Why are trapper keepers against the rules?
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Post by 2pearl on Sept 1, 2005 23:18:12 GMT -5
I have no idea, I'm not sure I even know what a trapper keeper is. The only reason I can think of is space constrainsts. The kids don't have lockers and they only have their desks to store things in.
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Post by Beverly on Sept 2, 2005 14:05:29 GMT -5
2pearl-it can ABSOLUTELY be written into a 504. It is a common accomodation for students with ADHD and medical problems. There has been so much media attention about overweight backapcks that our district decided for Upper Elementary (5-6) and Middle School (7-8) that instead of giving each student their own textbook to bring to class daily, there is one set of CLASS books that stays there and every student gets a textbook to take home. It definitely cuts back on the trips to school for items left in lockers. It is also great for my 76 pound 8th grader since it only takes one big book for his backpack to be over the limit.
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Post by jwm on Sept 2, 2005 18:45:32 GMT -5
Hello everyone! Last year I got a binder/trapper keeper for my son and his teacher sent a note home to all the families that she didnt allow trapper keepers. This year my son is in middle school and they switch classes. I used the binder his teacher last year said he could not use. Well it has been so helpful!. He has one folder (red) for take home and bring back ". Green folder is science. Yellow is English/Language. Blue is math. He also has a pencil holder built in. His school sells "agendas" for $3.00. These have a school calendar with plenty of writing space for each day to write down homework assignments. It has world maps, measurement tables, reference pages, and extra pages for notes. Each day when homework is turned in the teacher checks off the day in each students book. I have to initial each day to show that I see his homework assignments. The money for these books goes toward next years agendas. We are big fans of " yellow sticky post its!!". I put a sticky note in his "bring home and back to school folder" to remind him of things like to give a teacher a note or whatever. He will use these post it notes to remind himself of certain directions for homework he may forget. He sticks the note right to his homework paper. These have really worked! We also have "homework helpers" posted above his desk. he wrote down things that will help while doing his homework. Some things he has on the list are: - read all directions! - one instruction at a time. - ask for help - use scrap paper to figure out problems you get the point. He made the list with markers and hung it up. Please keep all your great ideas coming! They are all very helpful.
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Post by LurkNoMore on Sept 6, 2005 13:12:35 GMT -5
Lurk, first let me just say, WoW! I am so impressed that you know how to post photos right in the middle of a post! You've got "great skills" as my kids would say.(Any Napoleon Dynamite fans in your house?) Anyway, is this the same thing as a "trapper keeper?" It said on the supply list that the kids are not allowed to have these. Though perhaps an exception will be made for those inclined to be less organized! I have mad skills! I'm not sure if they would consider this different than a trapper keeper (if I remember correctly, a trapper keeper came with folders, calendar etc)...
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Post by LurkNoMore on Sept 6, 2005 13:15:08 GMT -5
PS Lurk - I have a digital photo printer that I haven't been able to make work in about a year+ that has an inch of dust on it. Would you like to come over for coffee? ;D I'm jealous. where do you live? I'll be there as soon as I can! LOL Yes, hubby & I are the ones to call for tech support...just ask both of our families!
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Post by LaurieL on Sept 6, 2005 15:54:23 GMT -5
My kids can not have the trapper because they do not fit in their desks.
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Post by Beverly on Sept 6, 2005 20:27:20 GMT -5
It takes up way too much locker room but my son has to use one. He uses it for all subjects and then moves the stuff into correct color coded binders at home (when it's a good day!) and takes back to school since they do binder checks periodically.
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Post by swmom on Oct 6, 2005 4:25:50 GMT -5
A fellow parent told me about a book called The Organized Child and said it was very good. I haven't read it but think I'll go get it. Getting dd organized is our no. 1 concern at the moment.
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Post by brazos on Oct 7, 2005 19:40:30 GMT -5
I just bought The Organized Student by Donna Goldberg. It is wonderful she is dyslexic, she is very good about taking you step by step into your child's locker and room!
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Post by swmom on Dec 7, 2005 8:49:49 GMT -5
Dd cannot seem to get through a day without hundreds of prompts from mom and dad. S -Did you finish your math? An hour later - Did you finish your math? Two hours later - Did you finish your math? It is really bad. Yes, she has a lot more to remember than last year, i.e. more subjects, more work, they're moving fast through the subjects. But we have tried and tried to get her organized, giving her ideas, showing her how to do it over and over and over again. Some sticks, most doesn't. We are wits end. We have the same conversations with her over and over again. She does the same things - wrong - over and over again. If I had a nickel for every time I said, "Do not leave your clothes on the floor" I'd be a billionaire several times over. We have punished her for this over and over again. She continues to throw her clothes on the floor. Help!
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Post by swmom on Dec 7, 2005 8:54:15 GMT -5
Dd cannot seem to get through a day without hundreds of prompts from mom and dad. S -Did you finish your math? An hour later - Did you finish your math? Two hours later - Did you finish your math? It is really bad. Yes, she has a lot more to remember than last year, i.e. more subjects, more work, they're moving fast through the subjects. But we have tried and tried to get her organized, giving her ideas, showing her how to do it over and over and over again. Some sticks, most doesn't. We are wits end. We have the same conversations with her over and over again. She does the same things - wrong - over and over again. If I had a nickel for every time I said, "Do not leave your clothes on the floor" I'd be a billionaire several times over. We have punished her for this over and over again. She continues to throw her clothes on the floor. Help!
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Post by brazos on Dec 7, 2005 12:51:22 GMT -5
SW it is just what happens with that age and that dx of a kid. It is not easy and you have to do more than your share until she gets it. But have you thought is there a low med level?
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Post by swmom on Dec 7, 2005 13:27:13 GMT -5
brazos -
Her current diagnosis is anxiety, not ADHD. She also has a mild auditory processing problem but it's primarily tolerance fading memory(can't comprehend when there's a lot of background noise.) Her behavior sure does look like ADHD though. The psych says no, it isn't. But she cannot focus. She is unbelievably scattered. I think we need to add a little something to the med mix - either a little Strattera or even a little stim. Have her drink Coke throughout the day. Something has got to be done. It is horrible around here and her grades are starting to suffer. Maybe we should treat her for ADHD but not call it that? I'm getting concerned.
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