advice for a soon to be junior in high school?

I guess since I'm comfortable with this site and I also need advice on what to do with kyo while I'm at school, I'd ask for some advice for my junior year. I have organization problems and can never get my assignments done on time. I would get all A's and B's if not for the point deductions for being late. I also have focusing issues from my ADHD, emphasis on the hyper. Advice is appreciated. Advice on school stuff I didn't mention is great too. Don't forget, what should I do about Kyo?

What are you doing now with Kyo?  Are there other animals in the house and that concerns you?  Maybe if you expand on that, we can better help you.

School.  I have never been diagnosed with ADHD, but friends would swear that I'm a card-carrying example of it.  I'm so easily distracted, my mind jumps for no reason to tangential or completely random topics, and I'm a terribly slow reader.  I have to make deals with myself to get work done.  It sounds silly, but it's what works for me.  "OK, read to the end of this chapter THEN I can get a diet Coke."  Deadlines?  How about getting a calender?  I would failed nursing school if it weren't for my smartphone, putting in dates of exams.  I wouldn't be surprised if your school had rules about phones in class, so take one piece of notebook paper and keep it in your pocket.  Each time throughout the day that you're told an assignment is due and when, write it down.  At the end of the day, plug in all your assignment dates/times.  Be smart, don't just say "paper due 7-17"...say "Literature - rough draft due 7-17 at 8 am."  That way, especially when you have more than one paper due, you know what is specifically due.

Breaks are important.  If you know you can't sit still for the next 2 hours reading some subject nonstop, then don't.  You may have physically read over the words, but you won't remember anything from the last paragraph, and especially anything before that.  Do things in segments.

Are you on medication for ADHD?  Have you spoken with the doctor about how the medication is working for you?

I 've got two weimeraners. And yes, they concern me. Kyo is kept in my room at all times unless being held by me outside my room. I'm medicated, but my chemical imbalance is so great that they have trouble medicating me because of my weight.

I used to carry a small notebook and each day I wrote down my classes and then next to it the homework that was assigned that day.  So once I was home I could just check stuff off.  I'd write "none" if there actually wasn't anything to do.  I still keep to-do lists because life with 2 little kids is hectic.  Some days I write down the stuff I did just so I can cross it off and feel productive.    Anyway!  My notebook looked sort of like this:

 English:

Gym:

Algebra:

Latin:

History:

Biology:

Click to expand...

Sometimes color coding things helps too; if it doesn't overwhelm you.  You could highlight say papers in blue, projects in green, leave everyday homework blank...etc.  A friend of mind uses colors for her calendar.  That's another thing that could help; a planner type calendar so you can visualize everything.  

As for Kyo; is your room kitten proof? How old will he be when school starts?  When M&N were small we kenneled them in a large dog crate when we weren't home.  They had a small litter box and all that in there.  You can keep him in your room; just be sure to give him good play sessions multiple times a day so he isnt up to TOO much mischief while you are gone!  Tire him out in the morning before you leave and again a few times in the evening.

Well, there's no difference in him staying in one room with you or without you.  As long as his things are in there, can you keep your door closed?  He should be fine.

Maybe keeping a journal will help with the ADHD.  Some people stop taking it over the weekend to make sure it still works for them.  Others stay on it...it depends on the person.

I have some school advice.

Buy a monthly calendar - make sure you can see the entire month at once. At the beginning of the school year, write in ALL the important events on the squares for those dates. Pencil in holidays and exam dates, as well as assignment due dates and test dates for each class. Good teachers will usually give out a syllabus at the beginning of the term.

Get in the habit of adding to your calendar the minute you know another test date, or due date, don't put it off or you'll forget. Having everything on the calendar really frees the brain for other things.

The monthly calendar helps us see what the weeks ahead look like so we can prepare, and don't end up overwhelmed.

Studying:  turn off cell phone and iPod and leave them in another room. Go to a place that is free of clutter and noise, if possible. Prepare a cold or hot drink to make it more pleasant. If you need your computer, be very strict with yourself and don't surf! Start studying for exams or tests in advance: 3 days before, read through materials and note most important parts. 2 days before: study most important parts. 1 day before: review.

Homework: allow at least an hour 5 days a week (or more as needed) for homework and studying. Make it the same time every day and stick to it. Get your work done during this time, then you have all the rest of your evening guilt-free. If you don't have homework for the next day, use the hour to get ahead on upcoming projects or assignments.

After your hour of work, you can cross through the to-do list for that day on your calendar.

The key to math is practice. If you know a concept, you still have to work it out in many different ways before having a complete understanding. That's why there are always math worksheets - for practice.

In class: the teachers want you to do well. They will let you know what materials are important and will be on the test. Take notes and mark as important when the teacher says, "You'll want to know this" or "Listen carefully" or "take note of this" etc. 

Good luck.