How much support with 'organisation' are you giving your new year 7?

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DS1 started Year 7 at the start of term. He seems to be settling in well, is making some new friends and has got the hang of the bus - so far so good (phew! :))

The only minor problem is that he's not getting the hang of organising himself. So far, I've had to give him loads of support with getting the correct books together for the next day, prioritising homework tasks, remembering his bus pass, PE kit, planner etc - not doing it for him but nudging him 'have you checked your planner', 'do you need your PE kit tomorrow', 'What day do you have guitar lesson' etc...

This morning I zoomed to the bus stop to give him his PE kit which had made it as far as the hall (he sorted it last night) but didn't make it out of the house!

So, is this level of support normal at this stage of YR7? Am I doing the right thing by supporting him in this way at the moment, or should I be letting make the odd mistake (like no PE kit on PE day) and make him face the consequences - don't like the idea of that but it might focus his mind!

NB He's a bright boy so should be quite capable of getting to grips with this and I've got DC4 due in 7 weeks so the dash to the busstop with forgotten items is not going to be as easy!

What do you think?

My daughter has a really bright friend and she calls my daughter her PA! Despite being 3 sets lower than her top set mate, she is often contacted by her to make sure she has everything she needs and my daughter even carries extra pens now to share with her! I'm not sure if it does her any good but they are great mates and laugh about it. Apparantly she has always been dizzy like that.

I think you just need to encourage him to think through what he needs before he goes to bed and before he goes out the door. Apart from that, there is little you can do - but hope he learns good habits or finds himself a PA!

Yes, my ds is similar. We have a copy of his timetable pasted on the front door with PE sessions highlighted in flourescent pink!
I am helping him with quite a lot of things but plan to wind down slowly over the next few weeks and have told him that he's on his own after half term.
As part of the "winding down", if in a couple of weeks I see he has forgotten something I won't remind him and will let him face the consequences at school.

Some good ideas, thanks :)

I could put a copy of his timetable downstairs so he can glance at it as he goes out.
Setting a deadline for him being able to sort himself out might also help - maybe point out how I saved him from the consequences of the missing PE kit today but won't be doing that after half term....

And as for the PA Kez, I think that's the job I've landed myself with at the moment!

Yes, I am giving ds2 a lot of help with organisation. We have copies of his timetable in the hallway and in his bedroom. I don't do anything for him, but I do prompt him and I do insist that after homework is finished, he checks and packs his bag thoroughly for the next day before any TV/computer time.

They've only been there for 2 weeks and it is a huge change and adjustment for them. I think it's important for parents to continue providing comprehensive support, reinforcement, establishing routines and double-checking until everything is running 100% smoothly.

I say, keep packing his bag til he's 19 if you have to!

Routinely dealing with numerous pupils per class who haven't got their pen/pencil/planner/homework/exercise book/all of the above is both practically and emotionally draining, ruins the start of a lesson and does nothing for anyone's learning. With the best will in the world, with so many pupils trouping through your door everyday, it's not always possible to spend time making sure there is a meaningful consequence for each poorly organised pupil and still get the teaching/learning done.

It astounds and depresses me that some parents allow their children to go to school without so much as a pen.

Thanks again for your replies.

When he got home tonight, he thanked me for bringing his PE kit and said that the kids who forgot theirs were given a warning and will get a detention if they forget it again! Soo glad I took it to him - really don't want him to get in trouble.

I agree with you - it is early days and hopefully if I continue to prompt and remind he'll eventually get better at remembering things for himself....

I don't think there is a year 7 child who can take the big change and be super organised. Helping them have routines and systems at the beginning of year 7 is fantastic . I regularly have to talk to parents to put these routines in place at year 9 when the patterns of disorganisation are well established and the wish to listen to parents has totally evaporated. So it is a battle. However getting systems such as timetables on front doors and the other approaches posters have mentioned are self help skills and really ideal as parents can slowly step back as necessary but doing it for them is not great.

Loads! But I'm telling her to check bag, tell me what homework she has, then telling her to do it. So sh'e doing the work, but I'm telling her when to do it. I'm hoping that I can ease off over the next few months and just go 'DD - homework now. Then bag check'. And all will be well....

Curretnly though all her books are being carried around - I think she knows she's not organised enough to remember to unpack and pack the right books!

And PE kit has been left on the bus already

We've set up a set of trays in DS's room with the days of the week on, the idea is that if he has (say) science Monday and Wednesday then when he comes home Monday he puts the book in the Wednesday tray and vice-versa and the same with other subjects then every day collects his books from the right day's tray. So far it seems to be working. The PE, Dance and cookery day trays have a sign on to remember kit.

Speaking to friends, they have been a little more strict with their Yr7s - letting them make mistakes and face the consequences. I just can't do that at the moment - I really don't want him to get into trouble....

So, thanks for replies - you are making me feel much better about giving him the support that I am :)

Thinking about it long term - any time I spend now supporting him and helping him to become more organised is going to really benefit him as he goes further up the school.....

the headmaster at my sons new school gave new parents some good advice in his speech shortly before the new school year began.

We were told that organisation was key to success and to be proud to nag our sons (!)in order that they will soon learn to be responsible for making sure they have the correct equipment. This is no problem for me as I seem to do nothing but nag my kids anyway.

He said that by the beginnning of the january term most boys should have a routine for remembering their homework etc otherwise they would start getting behind.

Touch wood but so far my son is doing ok but i think he is still so worried about getting in trouble off a teacher that he is keen to be organised...hope it lasts!