放完寒假，是時候收拾心情準備上學囉！除了要學會收拾房間和亂糟糟的書桌衣櫃以外，新的一年，和大家分享三招聰明的整理方法，讓孩子的學習變得更有效率，希望這些小提示可以幫到大家喔！
As our children will be starting the second semester of the school year, it's important to get them back in the mode and organized. If their backpacks are overflowing, their work spaces are piled high and their homework gets left behind most mornings, your child may need an organizational overhaul. The following tips are designed for parents to help get things back on track, no matter what your child's age.
整理思緒及生活細節 Organize the Desk
好好地利用這個週末幫助小朋友去整理上學的小細節吧！不僅是基本的文具配備，連他們的電腦桌面也要好好整理一下。新的行事曆、將功課紙張分門別類的檔案夾、甚至電腦裏的分類檔案等，都應該在這時候更新和重設，當然書桌案頭的燈光也要好好檢查一番。很多家長都會幫小朋友選購一些他們自己覺得好用的文具，但是如果讓小朋友自己選，可以訓練到他們判斷力以及自覺性喔！
Replenish school supplies so that glue sticks, sharpened pencils, printer ink and paper are all close at hand. Look closely at your child's study space. Make sure it is well-lit and there are plenty of places to store old work and keep new work visible. This applies to your child's computer desktop too, if she does most of her assignments on her laptop. Take the time to help her move old files and de-clutter. This is a good time to assess whether your child needs a bulletin board to keep assignments in her sight line, or a new system of folders to keep track of homework.
In addition, if her assignment book is not being used daily, try a new calendar or assignment book that is better-suited to this year's tasks. A trip together to the office supply store over break may result in much-improved systems.
改善處理功課的方法 A Better Way to Handle Homework
新的一年，功課方面一定比之前更加繁複。如何減低電腦、電話和電視等的干擾，讓孩子提升注意力，也是當今父母的首要難題。在開學前，先和孩子商量和打造一套新的學習方法，包括設定學習、練習和休息時間、制定更有效率的做功課時間表、考慮是否需要減少或更改課外活動行程等。高年級學生的功課常常需要超過一兩個星期才交給老師，好好利用行事曆和壁報板，可以幫孩子記住重要的交功課日期；總之，只要可以互相平衡，必定事半功倍！
This year's homework may be very different from last year's. There may be more of it, a class that is more challenging than expected, or a teacher who likes to give a unique style of assignment. Take the time to re-evaluate your child's homework routine and create more time if she needs it, by reducing other activities.
Students who feel like they are rushing often turn in careless work with many errors. Reduce these by slowing down and creating more time after school and on weekends. In addition, set time for breaks. If homework is more abundant this year, you child may need more frequent breaks, which oftentimes increases productivity.
Remove distractions like TV and computer so that your child can focus more effectively. If you see that a teacher offers extra credit opportunities, take advantage of these second semester by posting reminders on your child's bulletin board or work space. Sometimes, even older students need help with homework instructions. If this has been a struggle for your child this year, take the time to sit with her and read directions before she tackles her daily assignments.
設定新目標 Setting Goals
新年絕對是設定一年目標和期望的最佳時機，無論是「在晚飯前做好作業」，或是「每天都會做數學練習」，都能讓孩子在下學年以更專注的心情來面對學業和功課，這些目標仿佛是幫助小朋友駛進光明大道的齒輪，對他們的進步肯定有幫助喔！
The New Year is a great time to sit down with your child and update academic goals, now that she is settled in and familiar with this year's expectations. By now your child knows her teachers well and the level of rigor of her classes. Examples of second semester goals may be "complete math homework before dinner" or "write in assignment book everyday".
1. Getting Organized
Explain that this step is all about getting ready. It's about figuring out what kids need to do and gathering any necessary items. For instance: "So you have a book report to write. What do you need to do to get started?" Help your child make a list of things like: Choose a book. Make sure the book is OK with the teacher. Write down the book and the author's name. Check the book out of the library. Mark the due date on a calendar.
Then help your child think of the supplies needed: The book, some note cards, a pen for taking notes, the teacher's list of questions to answer, and a report cover. Have your child gather the supplies where the work will take place.
As the project progresses, show your child how to use the list to check off what's already done and get ready for what's next. Demonstrate how to add to the list, too. Coach your child to think, "OK, I did these things. Now, what's next? Oh yeah, start reading the book" and to add things to the list like finish the book, read over my teacher's directions, start writing the report.
2. Staying Focused
Explain that this part is about doing it and sticking with the job. Tell kids this means doing what you're supposed to do, following what's on the list, and sticking with it.
It also means focusing when there's something else your child would rather be doing — the hardest part of all! Help kids learn how to handle and resist these inevitable temptations. While working on the report, a competing idea might pop into your child's head: "I feel like shooting some hoops now." Teach kids to challenge that impulse by asking themselves "Is that what I'm supposed to be doing?"
Explain that a tiny break to stretch a little and then get right back to the task at hand is OK. Then kids can make a plan to shoot hoops after the work is done. Let them know that staying focused is tough sometimes, but it gets easier with practice.
3. Getting it Done
Explain that this is the part when kids will be finishing up the job. Talk about things like copying work neatly and asking a parent to read it over to help find any mistakes.
Coach your child to take those important final steps: putting his or her name on the report, placing it in a report cover, putting the report in the correct school folder, and putting the folder in the backpack so it's ready to be turned in.