Tips for Teens on Getting Organized

By NCLD Editorial Team

While nobody likes to be disorganized, for students with learning disabilities, disorganization can spell certain disaster. Searching for lost assignments or course handouts can take up valuable time, and it’s almost impossible to study and meet deadlines when notes from different subjects are all jumbled together.

There’s no “right” way to get organized. Teens need to be creative and flexible until they discover what works best for them. Here are some tips and suggestions from successful students and adults.

Tips for Students: Ideas to Help Them Get Organized

Do you know students who are challenged when it comes to staying organized? Share the following tips and ideas with the teen in your life.

• If you work well with technology, use organizer software on a computer, a smartphone or tablet.
• Retype your class notes and save them (with dates and course titles) on your computer. You can email them to yourself for easy access or use file-sharing software like Dropbox.
• Write reminders on sticky notes or keep list pads around your room, by your desk, in your notebooks, and even by your bedside to write down things as your think of them. Be sure to collect these notes and consolidate all of the reminders on a single “to-do” list every day.
• There are also plenty of smartphone apps that provide digital sticky notes. Use these when you’re on the go or all the time if digital sticky notes are easier to compile than their paper counterparts.
•  
• Divide your notebooks into sections for each subject. Hole punch and insert handouts or assignments in the appropriate notebook sections. Be sure to use dividers, and consider using different colored tabs for each subject.
• If you tend to lose papers, try using a zipper binder to keep track of homework assignments.
•  
• Create a system for tracking papers. A file cabinet might work well, or you can find a cardboard box large enough to fit file folders, label a folder for each subject, and insert papers in the appropriate file folders in the box.
• Keep keys on a big ring so that you can find them easily, or use a brightly-colored key chain. If you store homework assignments and other important papers digitally, you can transfer these documents onto a USB device that can attach to your keychain.
• Try a dry-erase calendar board if you want more space (and like using markers!) to keep track of daily tasks and events.
•  
• Make a daily list (on paper or on a smartphone) of everything you need for classes, labs or meetings. Include reminders for money, transportation and food. Check the list every morning before leaving your room so that you know what you have to do.
• If you have trouble keeping track of passwords, try using password manager software like mSecure.

Article retrieved from: http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/homework-study-skills/tips-teens-getting-organized?utm_source=newsletter_september_24_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=ldnews
Image retrieved from: http://www.bgstudios.com/images/Organized.jpg

Read More

Common Warning Signs of Dyslexia in College Students and Adults

 By National Center for Learning Difficulties Editorial Team 

Have you always struggled with reading, spelling or writing and wondered if you (or an adult you care about) might have a learning disability (LD) such as dyslexia ? It’s never too late to seek help to discover whether LD is contributing to or underlying these problems. Dyslexia is a language-based processing disorder that can impact an individual’s ability to read, write, spell, and speak, as well as their social interactions and self-esteem. The following is a list of common warning signs of dyslexia in college students and adults. This list may describe struggles that have perplexed and plagued you for years!

Everyone struggles with learning at times. Learning disabilities such as dyslexia, however, don’t suddenly appear and features of LD are likely to have persisted over time. Be sure to reflect upon any struggles with learning you’ve experienced throughout your life as they might well point to characteristics of a yet undiscovered learning disability. The following list is a general guide, not a tool to identify dyslexia or other type of LD. Our Interactive Learning Disabilities Checklist is an additional resource to consider. Finally, be aware that some of the signs listed below also apply to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) , which often co-exists with LD, as well as other learning disabilities.
For at least the past six months, I’ve had trouble:

Language:

•  Distinguishing between words that look or sound alike.
•  Understanding non-literal language such as jokes and idioms.
• Picking up on non-verbal cues; participating properly in conversation.
• Understanding directions/instructions.
• Avoiding "slips of the tongue" (e.g., a rolling stone gathers no moths").
• Summarizing the main ideas in a story, article, or book.
• Expressing ideas clearly, in a logical way, and not getting bogged down in details.
• Learning a foreign language.
• Memorization.

Reading:

• Reading at a good pace and at an expected level.
• Reading aloud with fluency and accuracy.
• Keeping place while reading.
• Using "word analysis" (rather than guessing) to figure out unfamiliar words.
• Recognizing printed words.
• Finding enjoyment and being self-confident while reading.

Writing:

• Spelling words correctly and consistently.
• Using proper grammar.
• Proofreading and self-correcting work.
• Preparing outlines and organizing written assignments.
• Fully developing ideas in writing.
• Expressing ideas in a logical, organized way.

Social-Emotional:

• Picking up on other people's moods and feelings.
• Understanding and responding appropriately to teasing.
• Making and keeping friends.
• Setting realistic goals for social relationships.
• Dealing with group pressure and embarrassment, and unexpected challenges.
• Having a realistic sense of social strengths and weaknesses.
• Feeling motivated and confident in learning abilities at school and at work.
• Understanding why success is more easily achieved in some areas compared    with others.

Other:

• Organizing and managing time.
• Navigating space and direction (e.g., telling left from right).
• Accurately judging speed and distance (e.g., when driving).
• Reading charts and maps.
• Performing consistently from day to day.
• Applying skills learned in one situation to another.

If several of these warning signs apply to you, don't hesitate to seek help from qualified professionals. If the outcome of an evaluation determines that you have dyslexia or some other type of LD, rest assured that with proper support you’ll be better able to succeed in school, the workplace, and in life. Print this article, check off the warning signs that apply to you, and share the list with your doctor or with another professional and ask for guidance about a formal evaluation. By taking this initiative, you’re advocating for yourself – a critical skill that will serve you well both personally and professionally.

Article retrieved from:
http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/common-dyslexia-symptoms-and-warning-signs-in-adults

Image retrieved from: http://api.ning.com/files/tIIOb8kbDeZttGOSEwS1L*8up*SS0bSAJg-UIS69Hi7Evdt7pILq5mDmDx2vC0oi0XKkU4T30-KK4IREpSHf0cGdcHSfYmOo/manthinking.jpg

Read More