Getting children and teens organized and keeping them on task is no easy feat. Ask any teacher or parent—the struggle is real. Custom school planners offer an excellent tool for helping students conceptualize time, order their tasks, and reduce their mental load. But to enjoy all these amazing school planner benefits, you must overcome a big hurdle: getting students to use them. Below, we have some tips on how to do just that.
1. Tailor Planner Design to Your Students’ Needs
Your school—and students—are unique. Kids’ needs in one school or district won’t be the same as those in others. For example, does your school have a zero-homework policy? Then your students won’t need a section in their planner to list their homework. But they might benefit from a space to write down concepts they need to study.
There is a lot to consider when choosing the best planner for your students, so take the time to analyze which features will most benefit them. When you hit the right marks, you lay the foundation for compliance, resulting in student success.
2. Guide Students on Proper Planner Use
If kids don’t know how to use their planners, they won’t. A well-designed school planner should be intuitive, but that doesn’t mean students are ready to hit the ground running. Many need help with the basics. So, what are some concepts students tend to need help with?
- Wording tasks for clarity and brevity
- Differentiating what is critical and what can wait
- Crossing off tasks as they go
- Understanding what information goes in each section
Just remember to be flexible. Effective school planner use might look a little different for each student. Make room in your vision for learning styles, special needs, and little quirks that can impact use.
3. Integrate Planners Into the Classroom Routine
Some students are self-directed; they’ll whip out their custom planners at the right time, every time, and record the information they need. But most will need prompting, at least on occasion. This is where you need to get the teachers on board. Effective classroom management centers on routine, ensuring students understand the basic expectations. Daily planner time easily fits into this, requiring just a minute or two from each class and allowing for boots-on-the-ground guidance for struggling students.
Ready to Get Started With Custom Student Planners?
You know your students will benefit from custom-printed planners, and now you understand how to encourage them to use theirs. The next step is to design and order the right one for your school. Mimeo Planners offers high-quality and durable materials paired with thoughtful and intuitive designs. To get started, request your sample pack today.