Academic Planners, Cheeto Dust and the Lost Art of Organization
It's October. Way back in August, (or September, depending on the land in which your students are educated), a beacon of hope was handed to students: The Academic Planner. This wasn't just any book; it was a roadmap to success, or so we hoped. Instead, it often ended up decorated with layers of Flamin' Hot Cheeto dust, or a makeshift coaster, and the occasional tear over a forgotten math test-- a testament to forgotten assignments and the chaos of adolescence.
We buy these planners for our kids with a dream: organized notes, timely assignments, good grades. We assume that if we give them the tools, the skills will magically follow. Yet, we forget one tiny detail--showing them how to use it. It's like handing over a spaceship without the manual. Then we wonder why we're not launching.
Let's be real: expecting a student to intuitively master the art of organization with an academic planner is like expecting a cat to walk on a leash—hopeful, but wildly optimistic. The effective use of a planner isn't instinctinve; it has to be explicitly taught, much like learning to read or ride a bike. Learning to use a planner is an integral part of developing executive functions. It supports the teenage brain's capacity to remember, organize, prioritize, and execute tasks efficiently. Let's make time to support them to be great!
Want a sneak peak inside the MySuccessChecks Academic Planner? Sign up now and get exclusive access to free downloadable pages to jumpstart your child’s organization journey.
