Disorganization Can Be Sign of Deeper Problem

My son, a fourth-grader, does a terrible job of bringing his books and assignments home from school. It is the same when trying to get his homework back to school. His bedroom and his desks at home and school are always in total disarray. He usually forgets test dates. What can I do to help him before he gets in the later grades? -- Disorganized
Answer: Your child might be having problems with what is called "executive function." It is the neurological process that allows us to be organized. Children with attention-deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD) or other related neurobiological problems often have problems with their executive function skills. It would be a good idea to ask your child's school to test him for these problems. If one is found, he will receive not only additional support from the school but also understanding from his teachers.
Obviously, having poor organizational skills affects schoolwork. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, early attention to developing efficient skills in this area can be very helpful. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to help your child:
-Develop checklists with him that he can use for various tasks, including starting and completing homework and bringing materials to and from school. These checklists can be laminated and placed on his desks at home and at school. As items are completed, they can be checked off with an erasable marker.
-Have him use a calendar to keep track of long-term assignments and tests.
-Work with him to divide long-term assignments into manageable chunks.
-Decide on a weekly time in which you help your son clean and organize his work space at home. It would be great if the same thing could happen at school.
-Make sure that he uses the organizer that the teacher recommends. At first, help him keep it organized nightly. Later, he should take over this task, which will be part of his "at home" checklist.
-If possible, provide him with an at-home set of books until bringing home books becomes automatic.