If you’d like to see your students stop: flipping through binders trying to find papers; crumpling, tearing, and misplacing papers; carrying binders whose rings do not close completely or align correctly become a Notebook Doctor.

Organizational skills are not the most popular of subjects with young people. Yet they are essential for students to achieve academic success. This program, written by a middle-school counselor with a background in marketing, shows that any concept can be made appealing. In this program, you will see how the author made organizing notebooks exciting by using a medical theme. She:

Turned an old AV cart into her crash cart stocked with supplies

Dressed in hospital scrubs the day of her workshop

Ran a one-time workshop to get notebooks organized

Developed all handouts based on a medical theme

Used former workshop attendees as Notebook Nurses to help during workshops

Does all of this work? The program has been in operation for eight years and the positive feedback shows that both students and teachers give the Notebook Doctor a thumbs up!

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TOPICS: Homework, Organization

INCLUDES: Step-by-step program guide, Reproducible handouts, ASCA Standards, Research data

GRADE LEVELS: 4-9/AGES: 9-13

AUTHOR: Leslie A. Salters

RECOMMENDED FOR: Elementary-school counselors, Middle-school counselors,

8/5 x 11, 32 pages, Paperback, 2008

ASCA STANDARDS FOR THE NOTEBOOK DOCTOR

ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1 Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.1 Articulate feelings of competence and confidence as learners

A:A1.2 Display a positive interest in learning

A:A1.3 Take pride in work and achievement

A:A1.5 Identify attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful learning

A:A2 Acquire Skills for Improving Learning

A:A2.1 Apply time-management and task-management skills

A:A2.2 Demonstrate how effort and persistence positively affect learning

A:A3 Achieve School Success

A:A3.1 Take responsibility for their actions

A:A3.2 Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.4 Demonstrate dependability, productivity and initiative

Standard B: Students will complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantial post- secondary options, including college.

A:B1 Improve Learning

A:B1.3 Apply the study skills necessary for academic success at each level

A:B1.5 Organize and apply academic information from a variety of sources

PERSONAL/SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Standard A: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

PS:A1 Acquire Self-Knowledge

PS:A1.1 Develop positive attitudes toward self as a unique and worthy person

PS:A1.2 Identify values, attitudes and beliefs

PS:A1.3 Learn the goal-setting process

PS:A1.4 Understand change is a part of growth

PS:A1.5 Identify and express feelings

PS:A1.6 Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior

PS:A1.8 Understand the need for self-control and how to practice it

PS:A1.10 Identify personal strengths and assets

Standard B: Students will make decisions, set goals and take necessary action to achieve goals.

PS:B1 Self-Knowledge Application

PS:B1.2 Understand consequences of decisions and choices

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American School Counselor Association (2004). ASCA National Standards for Students. Alexandria, VA: Copyright 2004 by the American School Counselor Association

THE NOTEBOOK DOCTOR © 2008 MARCO PRODUCTS, INC. 1443 OLD YORK ROAD, WARMINSTER, PA 18974

THE NOTEBOOK DOCTOR

Targeted Population:Students whose disorganization is hindering academic achievement

Program Components: One-hour counselor- or teacher-facilitated workshop for teacher-referred and self-referred students to learn how to have an organized notebook and its value. Includes ASCA Standards and research-based information.

Applicable For:

ARRA: Improving Student Achievement
Study Skills and Test Taking

Title I, Part A: Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies
Academic Improvement (Study Skills and Test Taking)

Title V, Part A: Innovative Programs
Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Programs (Academic Planning)