President's Message: Getting Organized in 2014

by Blanche Podhajski
 

freeimages.co.uk

So the new year is getting older by the day.  How are you doing with your resolutions? Apparently, only 45% of us make them and only 8 % of us keep them (statisticbrain.com) so maybe the question is moot. I was thinking the other day about what might be among the most popular resolutions. For sure I thought “getting organized” would be right up there but it didn’t make the top ten. Not that I would have realized that by the numbers of organizational aids for sale.  

I was in one of my favorite stores last week and the entry way was packed with every imaginable product to facilitate putting our lives in order:  Pop-Up Organizers, Project Boxes, Laundry Sorters, etc...  I miss Cathy, the comic strip, (she retired four years ago) because every January she demonstrated her great intentions by buying a huge array of organizers and then became more disorganized in her clutter of containers. Which brings up the point of this blog: without explicit teaching, getting organized is not all that easy. As with many other life skills, like skiing, reading, singing—some of us have more intuitive talent than others.

A hot topic in my profession of studying language and learning differences is executive functioning (EF). Often described as the CEO of the brain, executive functioning, EF, is usually defined as an umbrella term for complex cognitive processes that serve ongoing, goal-directed behaviors (Meltzer, 2007). Or, as adolescents often describe it: “getting your act together” (Denckla, 2007). Executive functions include setting goals, prioritizing, managing time, separating the big picture from details, shifting from one task to another (often called flexibility), checking as you go and reflecting on your outcome.

I am always amazed when I see students, from middle school to grad school,who come in for help with EF and show their strategies for highlighting what’s most important in their texts. Practically the whole page is highlighted yellow! Or the parent who expresses frustration that their adolescent mentions on Saturday night that they have a research paper due Monday morning. 

EF challenges are not just limited to learners in school. Technology has wreaked havoc for adults in the business world trying to manage several email accounts, Twitter and Facebook. Writing reports is another challenge on the job. How do you organize what you want to say with language that is objective yet compelling in a clear and crisp one page document? 

Some brains are unquestionably better wired for EF than others. But neurons keep firing throughout life and we can all get better. 

I succumbed and bought compartments for my top desk drawer at home. I was finally able to separate out the post-it notes from the stamps and writing utensils—pencils, pens and markers now all live happily together but in separate space! I also ordered Princeton files to segregate piles of articles and documents for different projects at work. Of course, I began organizing my systems before the holidays and then got distracted by decorating the tree. But I have resolved to finish during this first month of the new year. I know how my brain works and when I need to ask for help. 

Good thinking involves being in control of one's thinking, using the strategic processes used by good learners, and in monitoring when thinking is working well and when it is not. 

-Gaskins and Pressley, 2007

May 2014 be a great year for you whatever you resolve or don't.

Dr. Blanche Podhajski, president and founder of the Stern Center, has over 30 years experience working with individuals with learning differences. She teaches and consults with educators throughout the country and is a frequent presenter at regional and national conferences.