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Organizing the Disorganized Child: Simple Strategies to Succeed in School
"You can imagine what my child′s room looked clothes on the floor, dresser draws open with clothes half hanging out of them, and toys spread all over the floor." "Jill is given an assignment on Monday that is due on Friday. The problem is that despite repeated nagging, she won′t start it until Thursday night." Organizing Ther Disorganized Child finally answers the parents′ question, "How can I help my child get organized without waging a battle?" This essential toolkit for parents and educators factors organizational styles into the equation, and offers effective strategies that deliver amazing long-term results. Renowned ADHD expert Dr. Martin Kutscher and coach Marcella Moran explain the roots of our children′s organizational problems, and the parents′ role in fixing them. They outline different organizational styles used by different students. (Not all kids organize the same way!) Kutscher and Moran outline exactly what school materials to buy, and how to set up the study area. They provide a step-by-step plan for an organizational system o Refining morning and nighttime routines o Getting the correct work home o Planning the work, and getting it back to where it belongs o Tips for reading and note taking o Study and test taking skills o Learning how to ask the right questions Organizing the Disorganized Child is an essential toolkit that belongs on every parent′s shelf. Early Praise for Organizing the Disorganized Child "A superb book! Blessedly brief, pointedly practical, and clear as glass, this book will help any child, parent, or teacher who reads it. Step by step, the authors, who truly know their subject, lead the reader through a method that can′t help but succeed. This book meets an urgent need. I will be referring my patients to it." - Edward Hallowell, M.D., co-author of Driven to Distraction and Superparenting for ADD "Organizing the Disorganized Child is a long overdue manual that strives to make life easier on families with children with ADHD. Unlike other books that offer a menu of one-size-fits-all strategies, this book digs deeper and helps parents to understand the root causes of their particular child′s disorganization...This book is a MUST HAVE for all parents of children with or without ADHD!" - Nancy A. Ratey, author of The Disorganized Mind "Organizing the Disorganized Child is a breath of fresh air. Straightforward, practical, and most important, providing strategies and ideas that any parent - even the disorganized - can easily implement. Rather than wait till some children struggle I suggest that Organizing the Disorganized Child be essential reading for parents of all entering first graders." - Sam Goldstein, Ph.D., Co-author of Raising a Self-disciplined Child
164 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
68 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 24, 2011
Great links, excellent specific product recommendations. I found the study skills and note taking sections to be particularly interesting.
February 6, 2019
I wish this book, published in 2009, was updated to include more organizational ideas incorporating technology - apps, websites, electronic reminders, but nevertheless I like the messages the authors send - learning how to be organized is not easy for some kids (people) and it takes a good, positive system and practice to get it down. Punishment doesn't work.
Some nuggets:
"Teaching children with organizational difficulties what to do is often useless unless you can ensure that there's an organizational system in place to oversee the execution of those skills."
"We're really not into blame. [...] if we must assign blame, then it falls to a child's frontal lobes. The fault is not the parents' or the teachers'. The fault does not lie in the child's willfulness. It's the brain." [...] It's not the children's fault. They don't want the bad grades any more than you do."
"Laziness and lack of motivation are not diagnoses. They are not the root problem. I doubt that any child with a typically functioning brain and a supportive environment every says to herself, 'I could do well and get A's and praise. Or I could blow off my work and get yelled at. Gee, I'd rather choose the option of getting punished. That sounds like so much fun.'"
"Why do so many kids fail to master academic skills naturally? Well, why shouldn't they? These skills are not hardwired into our children's brains. Evolution didn't prepare them for these tasks. Our brains are hardwired for eating, sleeping, finding a mate, and talking. There are no hardwired parts of the brain for academic skills such as underlining key concepts while you read."
and so on, and so on.... In short, it's a good book. Read it.
Some nuggets:
"Teaching children with organizational difficulties what to do is often useless unless you can ensure that there's an organizational system in place to oversee the execution of those skills."
"We're really not into blame. [...] if we must assign blame, then it falls to a child's frontal lobes. The fault is not the parents' or the teachers'. The fault does not lie in the child's willfulness. It's the brain." [...] It's not the children's fault. They don't want the bad grades any more than you do."
"Laziness and lack of motivation are not diagnoses. They are not the root problem. I doubt that any child with a typically functioning brain and a supportive environment every says to herself, 'I could do well and get A's and praise. Or I could blow off my work and get yelled at. Gee, I'd rather choose the option of getting punished. That sounds like so much fun.'"
"Why do so many kids fail to master academic skills naturally? Well, why shouldn't they? These skills are not hardwired into our children's brains. Evolution didn't prepare them for these tasks. Our brains are hardwired for eating, sleeping, finding a mate, and talking. There are no hardwired parts of the brain for academic skills such as underlining key concepts while you read."
and so on, and so on.... In short, it's a good book. Read it.
March 28, 2018
Not necessarily a fun read, but excellent reference for exactly what the title says it is-- I plan on using many of the strategies described with my son as he enters middle school in the fall. I appreciated the information about setting up a desk/study space and best ways to organize binders and folders and locker space. My son comes by his disorganization honestly- as a mom, I definitely needed a refresher on some of these organizational tips myself. Recommended for parents who want solid strategies and tips for helping their kids succeed with keeping schoolwork and schedules organized. 4 stars.
July 8, 2018
Out of all the books useful for ADHD, this has been the most helpful, especially for those who are inattentive (formerly ADD) and not hyper. Reading this book, my son does EVERYTHING described in this book. I really like how it described the different ways people organize and is chock full of useful tips. It even has useful ways for them to take notes - which is perfect timing for us :)
This is one I will be implementing a lot of ideas from - highly recommend if you have anyone who has inattentive ADHD for sure!
This is one I will be implementing a lot of ideas from - highly recommend if you have anyone who has inattentive ADHD for sure!
November 27, 2020
I was a good deal disappointed with this book. It does have some interesting info in, like determining the organizational type of your child but I feel like they didn't expound on them enough. Otherwise it was mostly about backpack organizing and teaching your children how to get homework home and back to school. If you're struggling with this, then maybe this would help you, but otherwise I wouldn't recommend spending the time. I didn't hate it, and I got a few ideas from it, but overall I was sad that there wasn't that much content in it.
January 14, 2023
This book is straight-forward advice for parents. Definitely geared more for parents of middle-schoolers and up, and specifically strategies for success in school. It’s hard to rate a self-help book before putting the suggestions into practice .. but I felt like most of this book was common sense and didn’t make me say, “WOW why haven’t I tried that?” If my daughter is still struggling in a few years (she’s a third-grader) I may revisit it.
February 7, 2025
While I appreciate the practical, pragmatic ideas this book presents, it feels very, very outdated. Im not sure this book is particularly valuable unless it receives a thorough update. Beyond that, the solutions are mostly environmental — not intrinsic. My question is, how do you get a child to intrinsically understand that they’re disorganized and to want to be more organized? Not a book I would recommend to most, unfortunately.
May 1, 2019
Some good ideas
This is geared towards younger kids, so unfortunately I didn't find it as helpful for my teenagers. It did have a few ideas that really worked, like the post it notes calendar and the alarm clock set to music kids hate.
This is geared towards younger kids, so unfortunately I didn't find it as helpful for my teenagers. It did have a few ideas that really worked, like the post it notes calendar and the alarm clock set to music kids hate.
May 3, 2022
Great in theory, and possibly some useable ideas. Most are geared towards older kids (middle school and up) and seem way too complex for an unorganized child to actually want to use long term. I might use a couple from here, but this isn't the book I'm looking for.
September 11, 2017
very helpful
August 24, 2018
This has some good tips, but it's a little out of date. Kids all have one to one devices now, and that changes school so much!
October 10, 2018
I was so hopeful when I started this book but I really wanted more than just "give them a bifold turn in folder"and make them use a planner.
June 2, 2019
Borrowed from a friend after sorting through Clark's backpack and realizing that we need some help. I think I'll need to revisit as Lily enters middle school.
January 6, 2020
Well written, well explained, now let's see how I go deciphering my notes and trying to implement some strategies to help my kids!
January 15, 2021
Helps
Great book with ideas to help your children with school. Helps my middle schooler to be more organized. He has adhd so it’s been a struggle.
Great book with ideas to help your children with school. Helps my middle schooler to be more organized. He has adhd so it’s been a struggle.
May 5, 2021
Some parts of this book were very helpful...especially setting up for virtual learning this year.
June 15, 2022
Very fast read with solid and accessible tips for helping kids be better organized. This could use an update to reflect the shift to online classes/grading systems.
March 20, 2013
My Thoughts
I read this book looking for some simple and effective ideas to help my own child. I am a teacher at a middle school and therefore I have had these conversations with so many parents it is not even funny! Reading this book reminded me that we are teaching kids the right things with trying to get organized. The thing that stood out to me the most was that the authors were not trying to put into place one system. They had several ideas based on the type of child that you needed to work with. Most of this information seemed common sense to me, but I teach for a living so that is probably why. I did take away some key ideas to try with my son. My son is a typical boy. He just crams stuff in his bag and away he goes. We are constantly trying new ideas and this book has some good ones to try out.
I will be buying a copy of this book to have in my classroom. I think it will prove to be a valuable resource when meeting with parents and talking with kids. The ideas are simple. They are not a complete overhaul. In essence it is all about creating a routine that sticks. Another valuable tool to have as a parent, teacher, or anyone who works with children. There are even a few things for me to try myself!
I read this book looking for some simple and effective ideas to help my own child. I am a teacher at a middle school and therefore I have had these conversations with so many parents it is not even funny! Reading this book reminded me that we are teaching kids the right things with trying to get organized. The thing that stood out to me the most was that the authors were not trying to put into place one system. They had several ideas based on the type of child that you needed to work with. Most of this information seemed common sense to me, but I teach for a living so that is probably why. I did take away some key ideas to try with my son. My son is a typical boy. He just crams stuff in his bag and away he goes. We are constantly trying new ideas and this book has some good ones to try out.
I will be buying a copy of this book to have in my classroom. I think it will prove to be a valuable resource when meeting with parents and talking with kids. The ideas are simple. They are not a complete overhaul. In essence it is all about creating a routine that sticks. Another valuable tool to have as a parent, teacher, or anyone who works with children. There are even a few things for me to try myself!
Read
October 27, 2012Overall a good book with some ideas that make sense but that I hadn't thought of (post it note wallet for example). Very centered on the idea of guiding kids according to their innate organizational style (visual, spacial, chronological). "Some children are more likely to be on the fifty-year plan" strikes me as a bit pessimistic, but perhaps realistic given the number of unorganized adults in the world. The question is, is she saying that even with the ideas in the book, the lack of organization still incurable for these kids? The other bone I would pick would be the use of a file folder system for school papers that don't need to be kept in your binder. I cringe--because that just makes me too disorganized myself! Another place to lose things! But I think they are focusing on the idea of minimizing what is in the notebook itself. Also has an excellent section on test taking skills that is worthy of having half the cover space, but you'd never know it was in there unless you read the book.
February 18, 2013
This is a good book of organizational strategies to use with children. It covers all the important points and strategies in a positive way. THere were a few aha! points in there for me, which is great since I've spent a lot of time professionally on this topic. It covers a wide age range too, so it'll grow with a family even if you get it for a kindergarten-aged child.
THe book categorizes children into 3 different "styles" and bases organizational strategies on the child's style. (It even has a little survey to help identify your child's style.) THis might be helpful for some, but my hunch is that kids with organizational needs do not fall neatly into any one category.
One of the aha! points was this: Making the passing of time visual for kids is important, especially now in our digital clock age. It is worth it to find an analog clock as well as an analog kitchen timer so a child can "see" time passing. THe book provides resources for cool timers and alarm clocks.
THe book categorizes children into 3 different "styles" and bases organizational strategies on the child's style. (It even has a little survey to help identify your child's style.) THis might be helpful for some, but my hunch is that kids with organizational needs do not fall neatly into any one category.
One of the aha! points was this: Making the passing of time visual for kids is important, especially now in our digital clock age. It is worth it to find an analog clock as well as an analog kitchen timer so a child can "see" time passing. THe book provides resources for cool timers and alarm clocks.
September 22, 2012
Kids are not lazy, they are disorganized and were not born hard-wired to have study skills. Do listen to your child about what does not work for him or her and remember yelling and punishments do not teach skills. Keep it positive and keep calm.
The book helped to identify the child's learning style and gave some specific tips for organizing within that style as well as information about taking notes and test tips.
My daughter found this book helpful too and we have been implementing the chart which incorporates her activities for the week and using it to plan for the action steps required to complete the longer term projects and prepare for tests.
Assignment planner recommendation: www.successbydesign.com model 2045d
other sites that may be useful: familysafemedia.com
Timetimer.com
The book helped to identify the child's learning style and gave some specific tips for organizing within that style as well as information about taking notes and test tips.
My daughter found this book helpful too and we have been implementing the chart which incorporates her activities for the week and using it to plan for the action steps required to complete the longer term projects and prepare for tests.
Assignment planner recommendation: www.successbydesign.com model 2045d
other sites that may be useful: familysafemedia.com
Timetimer.com
August 9, 2010
Some really great pointers, especially for a middle school child (having seen many of my students struggle with organization at that age). I'm implementing several ideas for the upcoming school year and hope they work.
I especially liked the author's viewpoint that some of these things are about spotting a child, much like a gymnast gets a spotter during a routine, while his or her brain continues to develop and mature. "Letting a child who has trouble completing a task 'sink' is about as fair and helpful as letting a child who has dyslexia 'sink' when she keeps reading poorly."
Also really liked the author's explanation of the variety of organization techniques that people might use, with some tools to determine my child's best organizational style.
I especially liked the author's viewpoint that some of these things are about spotting a child, much like a gymnast gets a spotter during a routine, while his or her brain continues to develop and mature. "Letting a child who has trouble completing a task 'sink' is about as fair and helpful as letting a child who has dyslexia 'sink' when she keeps reading poorly."
Also really liked the author's explanation of the variety of organization techniques that people might use, with some tools to determine my child's best organizational style.
September 13, 2012
Absolutely terrific book filled with insights in to the disorganized child. I've spent so much time trying to organize my son but never paid attention to what would work for him. Simple things like whether he is a visual / spatial / chronological organizer and what is going to work best for him. The right backpack can make all the difference ! We've put several things in place and are already noticing a huge difference. It also made me realize that I've been compensating for my organizational style and had developed similar strategies on my own. Still got some excellent tips for me too.
May 1, 2013
By "child", the author obviously meant middle school student. There is virtually nothing applicable to elementary age kids. The only thing I actually learned out of the book was the Cornell note taking method. Why aren't different methods of taking notes taught in sixth or seventh grade? I think knowing there are different methodologies to taking notes would help a lot of students. Not everyone learns the same way as their parents.
March 7, 2010
This book had some good ideas, but nothing earth-shattering. The idea that everyone has a certain organizational "style" that should be coordinated with the correct backpack (no pockets, bright colors, or subdued!), the correct workspace (all supplies out, all supplies out away, matching supplies!) etc, felt a bit too teenybopper "whats your kissing style quiz" to me.
January 20, 2015
My child moved from Elementary school to Middle school this year and I wish would have read this beforehand! Great suggestions and it even narrows down your childs organizational style. I learned a lot from this book. We have put many of the ideas in it into practice, and they work! I am ready for next year now, so we don't have to start the year out with tears.
December 8, 2014
This has been sitting on my shelf for a while...until needed this week to share with a parent! It has some good information and strategies that we will both be trying to help the child. I like the stress they place on how the child is not 'trying to be bad'-they honestly can't help it and we need to figure out how to best teach them how to be organized.
January 21, 2015
Clearly written for parents of older children, this book was nonetheless helpful for me and my daughters. I loved how each solution was sorted according to the child's personality.
Very fast read with practical advice that can be used Immediately. I'd recommend it to friends and family with the same issues.
Very fast read with practical advice that can be used Immediately. I'd recommend it to friends and family with the same issues.
December 23, 2011
This book had some good ideas about how to get organized, but it neglected the real issue, how to get your child to stay organized.
I think this could be a good resource, but it wasn't exactly what I was looking for.
I think this could be a good resource, but it wasn't exactly what I was looking for.
July 26, 2012
This book presented a wonderful way to learn which organizational method will work for your child. It had tons of great, very useful, simple and affordable tips to hopefully make your child's school life easier. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews