amo_mea_filiis. Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Dd is whining like there's no tomorrow. What does she have to do? Alphabetize 25 words. She wrote them on index cards so she can move them around before writing. Her whine is that she'll never need this skill. Can you guys list some IRL reasons we need to know this stuff? I know quite a few, but being mom, my reasons are not good enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emeraldjoy Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 phone book dictionary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Not singing the alphabet when you use a dictionary. Cataloging one's extensive music/comic book/collectible collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 You need to be able to alphabetize so that you can set up a file system, find things in an alphabetized file system, find things in a dictionary, pass standardized tests;), set up lists like phone lists of names in alphabetical order (though most programs like Excel will do it for you). . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVanGogh Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Finding books on the shelf at the library? Also, our library has their magazines filed alphabetically. Don't know if anyone does this anymore, but I used to work in an office and all our (paper) files were alphabetized. Actually, your computer lists your files alphabetically, so it saves time knowing where to go in a larger directory. If you go to a new doctor's (lawyer's, whatever) office and it is in a large building, you can look up the name and suite number on the directory posted in the lobby. Aids in using a map or atlas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 I alphabetize my spices and herbs so I can find what I need quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Filing documents. I've worked in several places that probably still maintain printed records. The stack moves quickly if you know how to alphabetize to the third and fourth letter well. alphabetizing your pantry Some people alphabetize their book collections, if you work in the library, if you use a library. If you look up baby names on babynames.com (I do that for picking characters in my writing) In case your smart phone and computer die on the same day, you should have written record of your contacts, preferably alphabetized. Looking up words in a dictionary. Amazing your friends with feats of organization. :tongue_smilie: My son balks, but he has to do it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthwestMom Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Searching email or other documents on the computer - your results will come up alphabetically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 My movies are in alpha order so we can find them quickly, as are my cd's. I've organized for people who like their books organized by author or by title. My files are organized alphabetically, easier to find that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 I work in pharmacy and our drugs are filed alphabetically. Patients prescriptions are filed alphbetically the drawer by name. Any list of names, is quite often alphabetical. Just looking around my room for ideas: Sheet music is filed alphabetically at the store. Movies are alphabetical in the store, at rental locations, and sometimes on Netflix etc. Vitamins are somewhat alphabetical in the store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 filing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natalieclare Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 At our library, the interlibrary loan books awaiting pick-up are filed alphabetically, by patron's last name, on the shelves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Alphabetizing 25 random words sounds like dumb busywork to me though. She might have been scoffing at that part. Yes, much better to have her come here and help me dig out my filing system!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beccad777 Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 I just had to make the snack schedule for my kids' soccer teams. It was done alphabetically to eliminate squabbling. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 I alphabetize my spices. I have 40 spice bottles on the inside of two cupboard doors. I have about 10 more on the inside of another cupboard (hey, 20 jars on the inside of one door is all I can reach!), but those are mostly cookie sprinkles, and very random spices. We have larger spice containers we use for refills that dh alphabetizes. It is SO much faster to find what you're looking for than to sort through them all and wonder if you're just out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 I contemplated organizing my board games which lost their boxes and now have parts in plastic bags.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 filing finding an artist or song in itunes looking up a recipe in a recipe book or using any index in any reference book using an atlas sorting to make individual paper entries easy to find as a 4-H leader running county events Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 She needs this skill to be organized in her own life. Her first job may entail collecting membership cards at the local pool or gym. I cannot say the number of times my cards could not be found at the end of a visit. Many people who work in these places have no idea whether to put a card under the first or last name. Many do not seem know that you don't merely put a card in a slot simply because the slot is empty (not many people have "Q" at the beginning of their name, that's why the slot is empty). One of the databases my office maintains is alphabetized by last name. It's often faster for me to find the name rather than do the search function. Many people's first jobs no matter what they trained to do required some organizational skills like filing. She should know how to do it so she will be efficient and promoted beyond such tasks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 You've already got a ton of good reasons...now here are some files that will make it easier for her! http://www.thephonicspage.org/Phonics%20Lsns/Resources/alphabethelps1a.pdf http://www.thephonicspage.org/Phonics%20Lsns/Resources/alphabethelps2a.pdf She can watch my phonics lesson #30 to see how to use them if it is not clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckens Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Finding the right subject in the Rainbow Resource Catalog. :D Looking up ANYTHING in old records. (Will your dd do any sort of historical research? Old scientific research? Old Lit research?) Some things you can only find in old texts. Finding which section of the college bookstore has your textbook that you need in the next hour for your college classes. ETA: Finding the pizza section in the phone book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 (not many people have "Q" at the beginning of their name, that's why the slot is empty). My parents noticed this, too, and used it to their advantage!! My parents could never find their pictures quickly at Costco...they inspected the alphabet spots, concluded that Q was the emptiest, and started filing their pictures under their new last name of "Q[real lastname]," so, if their name was formerly Smith, for the purposes of finding their pictures, their name was Qsmith! They said it cut down a few minutes each time they picked up photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paintedlady Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 I alphabetize my spices and herbs so I can find what I need quickly. You took mine.:iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Using an index to find info quickly in a textbook. You can read the entire chapter for that one bit of info, or check the index and move along. (Saves precious time!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatCyndiGirl Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 My spices, pantry goods and DVDs are all organized alphabetically. In fact, sometimes when I'm bored (like on loooooong deployments) I mess up the DVDs and re-alphabetize. :o Wow, that is kinda' more nerdy and pathetic than it sounded in my head. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Function at work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah C. Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Libraries. This one's a biggie. Both Dewey decimal and Library of Congress systems use it, especially LC. Filing. Indexes. Organizing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbi in Texas Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Spices are shelved (somewhat) alphabetically at the grocery store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I think it's a dying skill, honestly. I would imagine that in the future, it actually will be needed less because we use it for browseable organization systems - hard copy files, books on a shelf, names in a phone book - and we're moving toward solely searchable organization systems. But it's hardly dead yet, so you definitely still need it, nor is it terribly hard to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serabi Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 My job requires me to alphabetize all the time, to keep people's records in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquinas Academy Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 In fact, sometimes when I'm bored (like on loooooong deployments) I mess up the DVDs and re-alphabetize. :o I do that too! It's usually with my books though, because I don't have enough DVDs to make sorting them fun. Yeah, I do find alphabetising fun.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJ. Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Using an index. I do this all the time! Finding books in a library sorted alphabetically by author. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I am all for learning the skill. I've even taught it to my children. Yet I must ask, do you all really pick up that fat blue thing on your desk...just inches away from your browser anymore? I know I do not. Do I get the Colosseum thumbs down? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 Thanks! Within the first 3 posts she said "ok, ok, I get it!" I still made her listen to the rest! LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalicoKat Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I alphabetize my spices and herbs so I can find what I need quickly. :D me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 To make it more real life, I could write out 50-75 spice names on index cards and have her alphabetize them. She'll really love me! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nono Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I'm truly amazed at those of you who file your spices alphabetically! That's cool that your brain works that way. Mine are on a lazy susan, and grouped by taste. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 It landed me my first job :D I was a file clerk for a credit union, and spent my days alphabetizing loan files. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Our youth group plays word games where the answers need to be in alphabetical order (sorry, I can't think of any of them now) . Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be to be part of a group of kids playing around, and not know which letter is next? Heck, I've seen kids need to line up in alphabetical order, sorting themselves by first or last name, at various classes or whatnot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch at Home Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Even more real, give her your spice bottles and have her alphabetize them. Mine are on a shelf alphabetized. Dh teases me about it but my spices are the most organized thing in my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merry gardens Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 To help remember things. The reason why we physically file things in alphabetical order is so we can find them--and we can organize information in our minds in similar ways. Our brains files facts and trivia in a variety of way--and one of them is alphabetically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 Even more real, give her your spice bottles and have her alphabetize them. Mine are on a shelf alphabetized. Dh teases me about it but my spices are the most organized thing in my house. I don't have many, but this is a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I alphabetize my spices and herbs so I can find what I need quickly. :iagree: This is what I was going to say as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I am all for learning the skill. I've even taught it to my children. Yet I must ask, do you all really pick up that fat blue thing on your desk...just inches away from your browser anymore? I know I do not. Do I get the Colosseum thumbs down? lol What blue thing are you talking about? Our phone book is yellow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 What blue thing are you talking about?Our phone book is yellow. Maybe the dictionary? Except ours is red; the only blue things on my desk are the router and the checkbook. Oh, and a Totoro refrigerator magnet (what's that doing in here?). And it's true -- I tend to look up definitions and spellings online rather than consult a dictionary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 What blue thing are you talking about?Our phone book is yellow. The Blue Book here is the social services directory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slojo's Homeschool Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 (edited) Meant to post into a new thread Edited October 26, 2011 by Slojo's Homeschool Meant to post as a new thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fhjmom Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 At our local children's theater, the kids get a little punch card after every show for good behavior backstage, caring for costume, returning mics, etc. After putting everything away and getting their punches, they can take it to the concessions for a treat. I alphabetize those cards by the kids' names so I can hand them out quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 LOL Our dictionary is blue. I'm in the Ban Paper Phone Books camp. Waste. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I'm truly amazed at those of you who file your spices alphabetically! That's cool that your brain works that way. Mine are on a lazy susan, and grouped by taste. :) I'm an alphabetizer by nature, but mine are grouped by use/taste. :001_smile: In addition to all of these reasons, there's the fact that even if she never had to alphabetize one single thing her entire life, her brain would be more nimble for having learned it. Categorizing and organizing are logic skills, and learning any of them strengthens you ability learn more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kari C in SC Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I guess I am mean... I would tell her "because I said so!" and leave it at that! Ha ha! The other answers are great though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.