Skills Guide Content
Goal: Understand the reason why making a physical list can reduce the load on your memory, and learn to create usable and workable lists
Making lists can feel like a chore, which is why a student will often avoid making one. But, a personalized and individualized list can make the difference between good intentions and good task completion.
The way a list looks isn’t that important: it doesn’t have to be all in line, with checkboxes and bullets. It can be, but that might not work for your student. The act of recalling the items needed, writing them down, and putting the list somewhere easy to access is the key to actually completing the items on the list with more ease. This planner will continually direct them to make lists, move items to another page, or generate new items to put on a list.
Activity from Planner
Stop relying on memory, and make a list! Lists help you keep track. The important thing is to keep it handy, and mark things off as you go.
Lists can look like this:
- Fill in this week with events and things you need to do
- Build your skills — read about lists
Or they can look like this:
Extended Activity
Lists! (Stop relying on your working memory!)
What are lists good for? When trying to get a lot of things done, lists can feel like the most stupid task or the best idea ever. Understanding what they are good for will help you decide when to use them. A good list has these details:
- A general idea of what makes these items similar (see examples below)
- A short phrase or word about the task
- Some extra space to add to the list when you remember more tasks
A list does not need to look pretty; it does not need organization; it does not need nice handwriting; it does not need checkboxes. But it does need small details that help you remember the big picture.
Here are some examples of lists you might make throughout the school year:
- A lot of assignments due around the same time
- A large project that has lots of details, deadlines, or parts
- Many activities with different belongings needed for each activity
- Daily to-do list so you can keep track of what is done and what is left to do (think chores, school, assignments to prep, assignments to turn in, a person you need to check in with)
How to use a list — Keep it handy and near you, look at it often (it keeps you focused and on task), and cross things off! People love completing a list – it makes the rewards centers in your brain happy. It’s ridiculous that humans get the good feels from something so basic, but it works. And because it releases happy chemicals in your body, it helps you build good habits over time. Give it a try below!
- Read this page about lists
- Google working memory
- Mark off the items on this list you have done
- Notice how completing things feels
Lists can look a lot of different ways — like the one above or like this:
They both work and get the job done! Do what works for you!
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