With Good Reason

We should all use strategies to help us organize and manage our lives, be it at school, home or work. Most of us simply do things that help us keep track of what we have to do without even being aware that we are using this or that strategy. But, the reality is, there are thousands of people who don’t pick up on strategies automatically. In fact, when I was in private practice, I would have people with learning disabilities tell me they thought using strategies “was cheating.” Yet, once they learned how to use them effectively, they were not only able to cope, but even overcome, their learning difficulties. 

I wrote a textbook back in the 1990’s called “Learning strategies: Compensations for Learning Disabilities.” This article and others I plan to write will all be based on that book, along with recent research that can be found on the Internet. For example, here are two excellent sites — this one on learning styles and this one from the University of Georgia’s Regent Centre for Learning Disorders.

While this article will be about organizational strategies,  readers need to keep in mind that there are essentially three kinds of “learning” strategies: (1) those that involve study, test-taking, reading, notetaking, written language and time-management strategies; (2) those that are compensatory in nature and usually involve computers and related technical aids; and (3) cognitive or internal problem-solving types of strategies that include ways to help concentrate and improve our memories. So, readers just need to remember when they read or hear the term “learning strategies,” they involve all of the above.

For example, an example of a cognitive strategy might be when a child or adult has to quickly memorize a telephone number.  They have to do something to remember it, so chances are they will chunk the numbers into twos and threes and then repeat them over and over until they’re sure they won’t forget. Essentially the “chunking” and “repetition” are the learning strategies.

Similarly, a study or time-management strategy might involve something a child or adult does, whether at school, home or work, to make sure they don’t forget what they have done or as a reminder of something they still have to do. We use day-timers of all sorts, whether paper or palm pilots, as ways to keeping track of what we have to do. Or, we make point-form lists or use post-it notes.

Compensation strategies are technical in nature and in a school setting are usually referred to as aids or accommodations. The palm pilot I mentioned above is a compensation as is a phonetic spell checker, a computer grammar program or even a simple calculator. There are also tape-recording devices, usually with earphones, which someone can use who prefers verbal and auditory strategies. Whatever the case, they are all technical aids that make life easier.

Of course learning styles have an effect on what strategies people choose, so there is no right or wrong way of doing something. Just read the information in these links and find ways to make your life more efficient.

In the meantime, below are some organizational strategies that are explained in the context of an activity.

(1) When doing a homework or a work assignment:

• Break the task down into several steps using a point-form list or using post-it notes on a single sheet of paper. The benefit of post-it notes are that they can be freely moved around.
• Identify when each step has to be completed, either on the list or on each post-it note, then enter the key points into a day-timer or palm pilot.
• Check off each item as it is completed.
• If a final report is needed, use the list or post-it notes, to write the text. Include the reason for the report in the first paragraph and the findings or conclusions in the final paragraph.

(2) Personal Time Management:

• Use a daytimer or palm pilot — whatever works best for each person.
• Keep track of all that has to be done over the next month, even a couple of months ahead.
• Include personal goals. If exact dates are not yet know, they should be recorded in the “details” section of the day timer for the month concerned.

(3) Colour coding for school or work:

• One of most effective ways for a child or adult to keep track of what they have written or still have to do is colour coding. All they have to do is go to an office supplies store and purchase coloured binders for each course or work duty, along with matching dividers and pen and ink.
• There are pens available now with several colours in the one pen. For example, red can be used for history and green for science. The end result will be a very short period of time to file the notes that have been taken during the day. Anything written in red will go in the history binder and likewise anything written in green will go in the science binder.
• It is one of those strategies that is so simple yet so effective. No more papers all over the bedroom or desk top!

(4) Learning about a new environment:

• One of the most difficult things for some individuals is learning a new environment. The first or second day in any new situation can be intimidating. So, one way around that is to visit the location at least once, or more often if possible, and simply walk around and see where things are.
• If someone is starting college or university, for example (or even a new job), they should take the time to walk around the various buildings where classes will be held. If a tour or an orientation session is available, they should take it.
• People should always have a small notepad with them when visiting a new environment. They should write down clues about where classes or offices are located. Then, they should keep that notebook handy until it is no longer needed.
• Or, when appropriate, individuals should take a friend or relative to a new environment and explore it together.  
• If attending college or university, students should find out where the library is and the study carrels. Carrels are spaces where people can sit, study or reorient themselves to their environment.  Finding out where the bookstore is can be helpful as well.
• The whole point of environmental type organizational strategies is to allow children and adults to concentrate on the learning process, or if it is a new job location, about the work itself.

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Note: C/P at Jack’s Newswatch and Crux-of-the-Matter.