Some pupils have just never been taught to organise. Some are ?physically disorganised? with messy desks for instance while others just cannot organise their time properly. It is the teacher?s duty to help them achieve some organisation ? a skill that is going to help them a lot in the future.

If they don't learn organizational skills, they will always have problems- in school, in jobs, and in their lives. Explain to the class that learning to be organised is a skill that is learned AND it is important. It is the teacher?s duty to check on pupils who are slightly disorganised and help them prepare for lessons.

The first step may be for instance to help pupils to clear their desks by emptying them of everything, getting rid of rubbish and putting their belongings in order.

Then, pupils should be taught to do one thing at a time. For instance, they can?t chat and listen to the lesson at the same time.

But, more importantly, teachers have to be organised themselves in order to set a good example. Pupils want to feel that they are getting a "good deal"; they do not like to feel that due to your disorganisation they may have missed chunks of the syllabus, or that you have lost course work.

Ensure that when you arrive at each lesson you know what you are teaching. You will need to plan each lesson out in punctilious detail.

Aim to arrive in the classroom before your students (although this isn't always possible).

Have your equipment ready and know your room. Do you have a board pen or chalk? There are bound to be a few miscreants without books, pens, paper etc.- sorting them out wastes time. If you lend them a pen note it down and get it back at the end. Or, just lend them a pen on one occasion. If they have to copy out all the work several times after school, it is amazing how many pupils suddenly improve their memories ? and teach them to become more organised in the future! Try not to get into the situation of allowing them to ask each other for stationery - this leads to bedlam.

Never give the impression to the pupils that you are disorganised, even if you are!, - it sets a bad example and they will exploit it; e.g. "I definitely handed it in, it was on the pile - you must have lost it".