| Most, if not all, visual-spatial learners (VSLs) are | | | | somewhere other than the kitchen table, they didn't |
| accused of being hopelessly unorganized. However, it | | | | make it to school. |
| has been my experience that these right-hemispheric | | | | Another tip for getting visual-spatial kids organized and |
| learners (think "absent-minded professors") truly can | | | | helping them stay that way is to try to maintain a |
| find a needle in a haystack. My son, Matt, for example, | | | | consistent schedule from week to week. I know it's |
| whose room on any given day may look as though | | | | really tough these days with so many competing |
| multiple tornadoes have hit, never ceases to amaze | | | | schedules in a family and extracurricular activities to |
| me in his ability to locate just the perfect LEGOTM | | | | choose from, but consistency should help your family |
| piece he was searching for. | | | | get and stay organized. Knowing that every Tuesday |
| It is important to note in the illustration above that, as | | | | afternoon they have sports practice or that every |
| long as each person is capable of finding precisely | | | | Friday afternoon a lesson with a musical instrument, |
| what he or she needs, in a reasonable amount of time, | | | | followed by homework, chores, dinner, TV or |
| neither one's method of organization is better than the | | | | computer time, may help you plan your day |
| other's. This is an area where, "to each his own" is the | | | | accordingly and find time for all you need to do. |
| rule. If someone (likely a teacher or parent) were to | | | | A large calendar for recording each family member's |
| force the child on the right to "organize" the way the | | | | schedule is helpful, too. Use it to show everyone's |
| child on the left has done, he would likely never find | | | | commitments from sports practices to work |
| another document again. His new system, or structure, | | | | schedules, field trip days to long-term assignments, |
| of organization would be completely foreign to him and | | | | holidays and other days off. I've found that |
| he would not be able to imagine, or see, where his | | | | encouraging my kids to record the due dates for |
| belongings were. | | | | assignments three to four days prior to the actual due |
| Organization for many VSLs is a stumbling block. If | | | | date has really helped avoid last minute all-nighters. The |
| your visual-spatial children find that they are losing | | | | extra built-in time allows room for editing, project |
| important paperwork (like homework!), or toys or | | | | revisions, etc. and a more relaxed approach to the |
| money, they need to start developing and implementing | | | | deadline. Having a master calendar also allows |
| some system of organization. The new method must | | | | visual-spatial learners (notoriously known for having |
| be their own, though. It simply will not work to try to | | | | tremendous sense of space but lacking a sense of |
| become organized under somebody else's (like a | | | | time) to see how long until Christmas, the last day of |
| parent's) system. If you think green folders are | | | | school, their birthday or other events they are |
| appropriate for all science work, for example, but | | | | anticipating. |
| green is meaningless to your children in connecting | | | | Teach your kids to use the computer to help get |
| papers to science, then they can't use that system. | | | | organized! There are a number of programs that |
| They must create their own meaningful strategies that | | | | include calendars, ways to notify them of due dates (in |
| they can understand and remember. Here's how to | | | | advance), and they can create files of notes about |
| help get them started: | | | | certain assignments. They will likely be using and relying |
| Be sure to visit office supply stores and other places | | | | on a personal computer all the rest of their lives. |
| that carry a variety of products designed to help with | | | | Introduce them to computer products that are available |
| organization. Color-coded envelopes, files and pocket | | | | to help them in organizing their schoolwork and home |
| folders are perfect for storing specific papers. Colored | | | | life. |
| index cards are a great tool for note taking, and the | | | | There are certain traps for visual-spatial kids, traps |
| use of a Day-Timer or Palm Pilot to record due dates | | | | their brains love to get ensnared in almost unwillingly. |
| and appointments are all tools available for the | | | | The traps, specifically, are the computer and television. |
| visual-spatial learner. Do you ever wonder why so | | | | Because of the use of visual images, the right |
| many organizational products have come on the | | | | hemisphere is highly attracted (some might argue |
| market in recent years? These must be the inventions | | | | addicted?) to these boxes of entertainment. Consider |
| of the visual-spatials among us to help themselves and | | | | creating a specific time during the day or week for |
| others like them. | | | | computer and television use. If this is built into the family |
| Linda Leviton, a member of the Visual-Spatial | | | | schedule, it's easier to understand why mom is |
| Resource Access team and a visual-spatial learner | | | | enforcing the homework hour at a certain time, and |
| herself, writes: | | | | not allowing procrastination, or distraction of the TV or |
| VSLs are either horizontal or vertical organizers...if they | | | | computer, to fester into an argument. We use a timer |
| are horizontal, they need a long table (preferably not | | | | in our house to eliminate conflicts about what time the |
| deep) to put out (and leave out) works in process. If | | | | computer game or TV show started. The timer is not |
| they are vertical, they need places to create stacks. I | | | | arbitrary. The bell rings, the turn is over. |
| bought myself one of those paper sorters with | | | | "A place for everything and everything in its place"--not |
| cubbies and have it right next to my computer (with | | | | an easy trick for visual-spatial kids, but a technique that |
| labels for each section) and that's how I do it. (L. | | | | will last them a lifetime. I seldom lose my car keys |
| Leviton, personal communication, May 31, 2004) | | | | because they go in the exact same place every time I |
| When we homeschooled, each of my children used a | | | | return home. We have a small bookshelf set aside just |
| Teacher's Planner to record their daily assignments. In | | | | for library books so when the due date comes, we're |
| fact, sometimes homework from different subjects | | | | not scrambling to find them. I do believe it's important |
| was recorded in different colors. There are several | | | | for kids to have their bedrooms kept the way they |
| varieties of planners available, including ones that show | | | | would like them, but they must be able to locate their |
| a week-at-a-glance or a month-at-a-glance. You can | | | | clothing, sports equipment and other items in a |
| find them at local teachers' supply stores. Encourage | | | | reasonable amount of time. In our home, we also insist |
| your children to choose one that offers plenty of room | | | | on no food in the bedroom (yuck!) and that there be a |
| to write or draw important notes about due dates, | | | | clear path from the door to the bedside in case we |
| expectations, assignment details, and other | | | | have to go to them in the night--there have been too |
| appointments. We used these planners as checklists, | | | | many episodes of bare feet on toys to count! |
| too, which added to my childrens' sense of | | | | Inexpensive containers, even shoeboxes and plastic |
| accomplishment as they crossed off each assignment. | | | | food tubs, make great sorting accessories for small |
| Linda Leviton also advised: | | | | toys. We maintain an entire closet exclusively for |
| As for schoolwork, I have one word for you...pockets. | | | | construction toys. |
| Forget binders and putting holes in things. They need | | | | Advanced preparation is critical. Have your kids pack |
| something they can shove papers into, and if you color | | | | backpacks and lunchboxes the night before. |
| code the pockets you have a better chance of the | | | | Sometimes, we even load the car up the night before |
| right paper getting into the right pocket. My preference | | | | to try to eliminate morning hassles. Clothing for the |
| is a folder with each class having its own colored | | | | next day should be selected the night before, Matt lays |
| pockets (one in front and one on back)...front is for | | | | his out on the end of his bed. Where we live the |
| current work or something to be turned in, back is for | | | | weather changes frequently and without notice so we |
| reference or past work. Just don't expect them to | | | | keep the car prepared with extra light jackets, |
| punch holes or get papers in sections that involve | | | | sometimes a complete change of clothing and, always, |
| opening or closing anything; stuffing is what they do | | | | snacks. |
| best! (L. Leviton, personal communication, May 31, | | | | With a bit of practice and trial-and-error to see what |
| 2004) | | | | works and what doesn't, your visual-spatial children can |
| Matt's personal method for ensuring that he | | | | probably get themselves organized and stay that way! |
| remembers to take his homework folder, lunchbox and | | | | ©Copyright held by Alexandra Shires Golon |
| water bottle to school every day is to pile them all up | | | | (2004). From Golon, A.S., RaisingTopsy-Turvy Kids: |
| at his place on the kitchen table. Then, when he | | | | Successfully Parenting Your Visual-Spatial Child, |
| finishes breakfast, he takes it all immediately to the car. | | | | Denver (2004): DeLeon Publishing. |
| The few times he has left one of those items | | | | |