Comments | with_apostrophe: HELP! How does one train someone to alphabetise?!

with_apostrophe

HELP! How does one train someone to alphabetise?!

Oct 22, 2010 18:18

I have a situation at work where one of our Apprentices does a job, a part of which entails her being able to file things alphabetically ( Read more... )

Comments 11

fififolle October 22 2010, 17:31:21 UTC

Gosh! Well, I suppose. Quite hard to learn the alphabet when you're past a certain age! I assume that's the root of the problem, they just don't have the order of the letters memorised.
You'll just have to explain the process, give them an alphabet line, and set some tasks :) What about finding an alphabet song on Youtube to help reinforce the order of the letters? That's what they probably do at school. I can still sing my French alphabet song *g*
How awkward! Good luck with that :)

with_apostrophe October 22 2010, 22:59:00 UTC

There's definitely a lack of confidence with the order of the letters, and I did encourage her to have a print out of the alphabet near her, if it would help.

I'll have to ask if she knows an alphabet song. It's less intrusive (if sung silently!) than a print out or screen display of letters.

Thank you!

fififolle October 23 2010, 08:18:15 UTC

Love your icon. Who can resist Elmo?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML8IL77gQ3k

aelfgyfu_mead October 22 2010, 18:42:47 UTC

Is it that she doesn't know the order of the letters (in which case I second fififolle's suggestion about an alphabet song, but I'm afraid they're all for children, and an adult might not take it well), or that she doesn't get doing the first letter, then moving to the second letter and making sure that is in order, then the third ( ... )

with_apostrophe October 22 2010, 23:27:40 UTC

I think it's a lack of confidence with the alphabet, and then simply being unsure of what to do next.

Those instructions are good! It seems so simple, but when it is something you yourself do automatically, it's not always obvious what you're doing.

Fortunately, it's names we're deaing with, so spacing isn't a problem.

aelfgyfu_mead October 27 2010, 22:50:39 UTC

Were you able to help your apprentice with the alphabetization successfully?

with_apostrophe October 28 2010, 08:29:05 UTC

She's been off ill, so I've not had a chance yet.

Thread 5

trystings October 22 2010, 21:18:52 UTC

How about one of these?

with_apostrophe October 22 2010, 23:29:59 UTC

Ooh!

My manager had mentioned these, but didn't know what they were called, to be able to order one.

I don't suppose you know, or where we could get one?

trystings October 23 2010, 01:12:29 UTC

I think it's called an alphabetical desk file sorter?

Smead, Esselte and PaGna have them in their selection; a local office supplies store could probably order one for you. They are incredibly handy, we use one for filing. :)