Which Trait to Cultivate II - make your bed: organization

When I try to reach my middle school writers about organization as one of the traits of good writing, I ask them if they've made their beds that morning. Strange, I know, but if you haven't noticed, middle schoolers are a bit strange, and you've really got to meet them at their level.

I would say the response to my question is about 50/50. And what's more, those kids who don't make their beds are proud of sharing that it's still a tangled mess.

A successful local businessman once spoke at a club soccer leadership event that my son and I attended, and he began by saying his parents ordered him to make his bed every morning as he grew up. He made it clear that he had resented his parents for it. Then he asked the soccer players a question: "So what do you think? Is my bed made right now?"

Of course it was, and that was his point. He continued to say that, looking back, he was thankful for his parents' leadership. He shared that when you make your bed in the morning, you commit to having an organized day. Doing this one simple task first thing when you wake up sets you up for success.

Back to my students - our students. We need to set them up for success. Using the analogy of making the bed, I relate to my students that keeping your room organized is similar to organizing your essay. Who wants to invite a friend into your room without a convenient spot to sit?

Students must write for their audience, and many times the only audience is the teacher.

Students, give me a place to sit.

There are students who make their beds and keep clean rooms consistently. Honestly, as a teacher, sometimes I can't wait to get to those students' essays; they're a breath of fresh air after reading multiple sloppy attempts.

There are also students who start with a mess and make something beautiful. These students have clothes flung across the floor, beds unmade, and too many trinkets to count. Their essays begin all jumbled, little logic, paragraphs...maybe. It takes them time to organize, to listen to instruction, to apply skills taught. Writing an organized essay may take all year, but when it's all said and done, these students worked hard to meet your expectations.

And then there are students who just can't keep it clean. No matter how many reminders they're given, they just don't put in the effort. It's not important; it's not a priority. There are too many other important things of which to keep track. Parents might say that their instructions go in one ear and out the other. Teachers who instruct about logic and organization in essays may agree.

So how does this work? How can we get students to write in an organized manner?

Enter the Writing Process.

For student writers, we need to be clear from the beginning. Teachers should create a rubric so that writers have a road map on how to proceed, but the essay must begin with a good plan.

Just as making your bed at daybreak may start you on the road to success, beginning with a solid plan will get you going in the right direction. Organize your essay into 3 main pieces: introduction, body, and conclusion. Each piece has its own set of instructions and strategies, but if you can logically break it up into those parts, it will be much easier to follow when read.

Here are some ways to get your students organized when they begin their essays:

• Have your students create a concept web, you know, a mind map that has the central idea or topic in the center. Surround it with 3-4 bubbles that share separate main points about the topic. You can easily add some detail near each main idea bubble by making smaller bubbles or even bullet points or dashes. (You could even have students do this on a Google Drawing.) Or use your own (maybe this one I made):

• Create a numbered list. Follow the list in sequence and make sure that each number transitions well into the next.

• Use a boxed graphic organizer. They're everwhere! Here's one of my favorites from ReadWriteThink: 

• Hold individual conferences as much as possible during the planning stages and have students tell you what their organizational plan will be.

• Have students pull out a piece of scratch paper and map out the plan according to the concept web or mind map above, then share with each other. One of my favorite questions to ask when we meet back in the full class group is: "Who would like to share something good that you saw in your partner's plan?" This way we encourage each other to be organized.

As stated in the last two bullet points here, I believe it's very important to have students talk through their organizational plan, either with the teacher or with their peers. I liken it to a dream: it makes sense in your mind until you try to explain it to somebody else. By talking it out, you revise your thoughts so others can comprehend your ideas.

All this planning must occur at the beginning of the writing process. Just as making your bed in the morning can set you up for a successful day, creating a clear path in the planning of your writing organizes the essay into logical and clear patterns.

Rise and shine!

If you think your students could use some more writing practice using quality professional feedback from yours truly, direct them to me! Have them visit my JustWrite site to sign up for a 5 lesson sequence that will encourage them to write with care.