This is just a quick blog entry to celebrate one of my academic coaching clients. I’ll call him Oscar.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked into his bedroom last Wednesday evening. A transformation had occurred around Oscar’s desk.

Over the holidays, this high school freshman got unbelievably organized! I wish I could take credit for the impressive systems he created, but actually — Oscar did it all himself.

The picture (above) shows his new-and-improved desk space, and I’d like to highlight a few of the lists he’d posted:

• His high school’s final exam schedule
• A list of due dates leading up to final exams
• A list of long term projects that he needs to track
• A list of writing tips I’d made for him
• A list of what his current grade is in each class, and what percentage of the overall grade that each final exam will play

Go Oscar!!! This kind of organization, not to mention the clean desk underneath all the lists, is a great way to set yourself up to  rock your finals.

One word of warning: Organization is only half the battle. For some creative types, it’s more fun to create systems than implement them. (Are you like this? I sure am! It’s why I work as an academic coach; I get to dream up all kinds of systems that other people get to implement).

Now that Oscar’s got a clean desk space, it’s time to buckle down and study.

P.S. If you’re a teacher reading this, please take note: it’s most helpful for students if they receive their final exams study sheets at least 2 weeks before finals exams are scheduled to begin! Most of my clients’ teachers don’t seem to be handing out the review sheets until 5 days before the final. If we really want kids to learn how to study for 7 major exams, we need to give them the time to strategize and plan!