Effective Organizing
Solutions
August 2009 Newsletter
Back To School Organizing
Move over, summer–a new school year is coming!
With the start of school, families face new organization challenges.
School bells ring–and so do early-morning alarm clocks.
Shorter autumn days bring a hectic round of sports, activities and events,
and calendars fill with cryptic notes.
Get organized now for the best school year ever!
Use these ideas to prepare your home and family for the busy days ahead:
Back-to-school shopping time is here once again.
We received our school supply list for the new school year.
We will be using last year’s backpacks and some left over paper and pencils
but we needed to buy everything else.
Look at the sale ads so you get the best deal for supplies.
Try and purchase everything at one store to save time.
Another option would be to order on-line to avoid the lines at the store.
Take an inventory of last year’s clothes.
See if they fit and decide what they need to start school.
I have made the mistake of buying jeans only to have them too short
when they needed to wear them in the fall.
Consider waiting on them and maybe they will be on sale later in the fall.
Don’t wait until the last minute to shop.
Other parents will be scrambling at that time.
The stores will be crowded and the shelves won’t be as stocked.
Inventory your children’s school supplies 3-4 times a year.
Supplies are used, borrowed, easily lost or broken.
If you know what supplies you have and what you need,
you’ll never be caught short before a big project is due.
Back to School Organizing Tips for Middle School through High School Students
*Keep a schedule!
*They should keep a schedule of the classes and activities on the inside of their locker door.
I tape the schedule we received from the teachers to their locker.
*I also like using a white dry erase board.
They can write notes to themselves with what they need to bring home that night.
Remind them to keep it up-to-date.
*One thing I have found very helpful is having a magnetic pencil holder on the inside door of their locker.
When they can’t find their pencil/pen in class they know exactly where to go to find one quickly.
*Smart Locker Storage
*is needed to keep the stuff the kids needs at school easily accessible and neat throughout the year.
It is basically a home away from home.
They store books, papers, pens and pencils, food, clothes and who knows what else!
*It needs to be cleaned out and organized weekly.
*Take advantage of magnetic hooks to hang clothes, magnetic mirrors, magnetic clips to hold papers and magnetic holders for pens and pencils.
*Adjustable shelving systems can be used to divide the locker into sections for backpack, books, papers and other items they may need to store.
*Back Packs
*Back Packs are used to transport their stuff back and forth to school not a “catch-all” for everything. It should be cleaned out weekly. Or daily to look for papers that need to be signed. *Even Middle/High School Kids forget what they have in their. I have found soccer socks that desperately needed to be washed!
*FilingSystem *A Filing System at home and/or in their locker will help them find papers they need to hand in or study for a test. *Use an accordion type file and label each pocket for each class.
HOMEWORK
* Designate an area for homework such as the child’s desk or a kitchen table.
*Keep their supply box/container close to their work area for easy storage and retrieval.
* Get into the habit of doing homework at the same time and in the same place every day.
*Getting children into a routine will help to keep them organized.
* Organize time spent doing homework.
*One way is to encourage your kids to tackle the tougher subjects/assignments first.
*They’ll be relieved to finish and have enough energy left to complete the easier assignments.
REVIEW
*Think about your kids and how the school year progressed last year.
*Were papers lost?
*Homework not finished until 10pm?
*Were the kids always prepared for their school day?
*Take out a piece of paper. Fold it in half-on one side write
‘Last Year’ and on the other side write ‘This Year.’
In the ‘Last Year’ column, jot down what tasks/events/projects did not go smoothly.
In the ‘This Year’ column write how changes can be made for the new school year.
*Have a family meeting to discuss how to make the new school year
more organized and productive time.
*Work together to create systems as well as rewards for staying organized.
Here are some ideas that other mom’s do in their home:
*“I’ve got a ‘Mom calendar’ hanging in our kitchen. Everything is color coded. Appointments are in purple, ds’s activities/events are in green and mine are in red.
Activities for both of us are in yellow.” —
*“We painted one panel of our pantry door with chalkboard paint and attached a little strip of molding along the bottom to hold the chalk.
That’s where the grocery list goes, as well as the list of what we’re having for dinner that week.”
*“Write out simple checklists for every member of the family with the top five tasks that need to be completed during his or her morning routine
(i.e. brush teeth, bring hair clips and brush to Mom, etc.). Hang this list on the bathroom doorknob (a central location, since everyone visits the bathroom daily).”
*“Create an area in your entryway (nearest the door you use most often) for everyday life accessories (keys, cell phone and charger, bills to be mailed, etc.).
An over-the-door clear plastic shoe holder makes a perfect storage spot for these items. (Use lower pockets for small children so they can get their own belongings.)”
*“Make lunches and pack backpacks while making dinner. You’ll have one clean up instead of two.
Plus, you can fill out important forms like permission slips while you’re waiting for the pasta to boil.”
* “Place one large clip per child on the front of the fridge. Have the children place important papers on the clip so that Mom can sign or review them.
Once she’s done, she can put them back on the clip or right into the child’s backpack.”
Get Ready the Night Before
*Prepare the night before for the next day.
*Preparing items the night before makes for a less stressful morning for both parent and child.
*Some things you can do ‘the night before’ are:
-Fix/pack lunch and leave in refrigerator
-Pick out the next day’s clothes
-Pack bookbag with all books, papers, necessities for the next day after homework is finished.
-Set out plates/bowls for breakfast
-Fill the coffee maker
*Make sure to include your child in the preparation process.
*It may take them longer to complete a task but they will benefit in the future through ‘learning by doing.’
Quick Breakfast Option
Have simple and healthy breakfast options-such as
yogurt, fruit, and breakfast bars-on hand at all times.
If you are running out of time in the morning,
these options can be quick substitutes for a more labor-intensive meal.
Here’s a great recipe from chef and Home Maven Allison Fishman for breakfast smoothies:
INGREDIENTS
Makes 3
1 one lb. bag frozen strawberries
1 cup ice cubes
1 cup yogurt
1 banana
½- ¾ cup milk
Honey, to taste
Directions: In a blender, combine strawberries, ice, yogurt, banana and milk.
Blend on the strongest setting until smooth.
Taste, and add honey as needed.
Serve with a wide straw.
One Last Note:
*Make sure you as a parent aren’t rushing in the morning. Children follow by example.
*If you are running around at the last minute, your children will learn to do the same.
**If you can wake up just a half-hour earlier, you will have time to get ready and then help your children with their morning routine.
There is so much more I could cover in getting organized for school.
If there is a specific area you need help with, feel free to contact me.