Tag Archive for: Back to School Organizing

How to Kick Start the School Year with Organization

back to school organizing

 

Kickstarting the school year with an organized space can set the tone for months of positive energy for learning. As you and your family gear up for the start of the school year, there are 4 key areas to organize to gain momentum. Your proactive work on systems and routines at this time of year has a big payoff in building confidence and enthusiasm. This also results in higher productivity and engagement.

 

Get in the game

Your mindset makes the biggest difference in kickstarting your organizing. Bring high energy and positivity to this fresh start. Think about the start of a new season and how your modeling organization makes an impact on your family. Bring on the fun and enthusiasm for the start of the school year.

 

Where to organize

Focus your time and energy with the most bang for your buck. Kids’ clothes, school supplies, and lunch prep are important areas of focus. You will find it easiest to organize in categories so you can start and complete the job.

 

How to get started

Set aside 2 weeks before school starts to organize. You can work in time blocks or set specific days for certain areas. Work in partnership with your kiddos to help them learn about organizing and partner with you to make decisions. Have a reward for your work together to incentivize their participation.

 

What to do

Keep it simple sweetie! While there are many emotions about moving from an unstructured Summer to the routines of Fall, be sure to engage in positive energy as you organize. The simpler the process the better. While you are working with your family, chat about new goals and how you will accomplish these together.

  • Kids’ clothes need decluttering so they have only what fits and is organized in a way so they can independently get ready. Go through all the clothes with one kid in one day, declutter, and then make a list of what is needed to purchase.
  • Gather your kids and gather all the school supplies. Be brutal about what you keep for the year. Stock backpacks, homework caddies, and your school supplies back stock. Use a container to sort and label the back stock.
  • Keep lunch prep easy to manage. Set up a space in the refrigerator and pantry for lunch prep supplies. You can also use labeled bins on the lower refrigerator shelves to stock for easy lunch prep each evening.
  • Make it fun with a high-energy playlist, a filled water flask, and a snack as needed.

 

Maintaining your system

Every system needs a routine that keeps it going.

  • Efficient laundry helps kids get ready each day. Manage laundry with small loads completed daily. Get help with laundry from your cleaning person. Or teach your kids how to do their laundry.
  • Restock school supplies every month. Set a reminder in your device for you and your students to partner in restocking school supplies in backpacks, caddies, and other spots.
  • Restock lunch supplies each week. During your family meeting, talk about lunch and dinner. Make a list of 5-7 options for lunch and dinner. Add that to your weekly online shopping list.

 

Getting organized before the school year starts is the best investment for school success. Start two weeks in advance of the first day of school to be proactive and ready for the new school year.

5 Things To Do Before School Starts

5 things to do before school starts

 

A successful school year starts at the end of July with preparation and organization.  With the start of school just a few weeks away, you have just enough time to be ready with the stuff you need and the routines to embrace that you will feel positive about the start of the school year.

Organize School Stuff Together

Engage your students with organizing school supplies together. Gather all the supplies from your home and categorize them. Next, find the “home” for these items and gather organizing supplies. Label your supplies for easy access. Place supplies in a zipper case in a divided backpack to use at school.  Add a supply caddy for your homework station.

 

Create Homework Spots

Having multiple homework spots keeps homework engaging. The best areas for this are near supervised devices and computers. Some options might be your dining room, your office, or at any large table where you can see the screen and there is ample space to spread out. Be sure to designate a landing strip at the door your family exits for fully loaded backpacks ready to leave the house. A packed backpack is the last homework step.

 

Plan After School Activities and Tutoring Help

Get ahead by planning afterschool and tutoring help. Physical activity after a day of sitting in school helps students focus, sleep better and build self-esteem. There are many homework helpers available from tutoring companies to high school students. Set up afterschool activities that allow for a positive afterschool and evening routine.

 

Review Calendars

Families need two calendars for school.

  • The Family Calendar either digital or paper enhance communication and collaboration. With this calendar, everyone knows the dates school starts, school holidays, family vacations, and all family activities. Reviewing the Family Calendar weekly at the family meeting keeps everyone on the same page.
  • The Student Planner either digital or paper holds the list of assignments, tests, and projects that the student is responsible for. This list is what is used every day for homework. Teachers offer a Week At A Glance (WAG) online on the school website. Information for the Student Planner is a consolidation of all class work and after-school activity dates.

 

Plan for positivity and self-care

No matter if you are a parent or student, you will thrive by including self-care in your plan. That includes community self-care like laundry, meals and taking care of your home. With a chart for your family to work with, you can partner up with responsibilities. Included for self-care is an organizing reset each week. That is each Sunday evening in preparation for the new week ahead. Individual self-care includes setting a bedtime with adequate rest. A positive plan for self-care is a priority for your best school year.

 

More tips on Back to School here!

What to Organize Now Back to School Kids’ Essentials

 

what to organize now kids' essentials for back to school

There is so much uncertainty with Back to School in 2020. Changes are happening each day.  There are items to organize to get ahead, be prepared and get started as the school year begins.  We always need to organize our clothes, our time and now our technology.

 

Kids’ clothes

No matter if your child is attending online or in a school building, kids always need clothes for school.  School attendance is being delayed for some districts, however your kid will need a uniform and school clothes as the year progresses. Dive into your kids’ drawers and closet and edit what does not fit currently. This will make it easier to get ready every day and there will be less laundry.  How many clothes do your kids’ need for school? I recommend 5 – 10 sets currently so that you have less to purchase and less to store. This will be easier to maintain with your laundry cycle. Set up your kids’ clothes where they can get ready on their own each day and put away their own laundry.

 

Kids’ appointments

Just like every year, you want to start the year fresh with doctor, dental and grooming appointments. These essential appointments have been delayed this summer and now it the time to cautiously attend to these. Be sure to contact your doctor to learn the protocol for the office.  Grooming like nails and hair appointments can be made at low attendance times. Be sure to get your required immunizations and health history records.

 

Kids’ school supplies

Take stock of school supplies already in your home.  We often stock up for more than a year at a time and have an over abundance of supplies. Consolidate supplies to an easy access area for your kids.  Wait to purchase items to see what is required this year. Set up an easy access system for your kids to retrieve school supplies through the first part of the school year.

 

Kids’ technology

Last school year we learned how vital technology is during online school.  Assess what you have and what is needed after last year’s at home COVID school. Were there sufficient computers or devices for everyone to be online at the same time? Did you have enough internet service to work smoothly? Working through your technology challenges early will smooth out your school year. Set up a common charging spot for all devices to be placed each evening. A great night’s rest comes happens in a technology free space.

 

Meals and more

Gather your family together and create a family meal list. On the list are all the easy to prepare meals that everyone loves. Add this list to your online grocery shopping now and test it for 2 weeks.  Add in breakfast and lunch items that you are grab and go to ease preparation. There are many easy ways to be sure that we gather together, laugh and talk.

 

Family Meeting time

Gather everyone together to start your family meeting routine. Setting routines, discussing school success and reviewing family values are important parts of family communication and collaboration.  It’s going to continue to be a different school year and talking about this with your kids helps them and you.  Together you are teaming up to support and nurture each other while back to school.

Now is the time to get back to your family calendar. Add dates during your family meetings and model how to use a calendar. Whether paper or digital, a family calendar keeps everyone up to date on activities and events.  It’s also the time to update your kids on family gatherings and holidays. Most especially this is also time to schedule self care.  Reset and rejuvenate time happens only because it is scheduled into your planner.  Be sure you have added this to your week and your family’s time.

 

While it is going to be a different school year, organizing your kids’ essentials for Back to School give you and your kids a sense of time and purpose. This year most especially we need to intentionally and purposefully focus on personal growth and education. It’s a time to focus on reading, math and science for stimulation and education. The big take away as school starts is to focus on doing our best work, being resilient and that learning as an important part of life.  Being prepared and organized helps us remember that there are consistent, ongoing and important activities that happen regardless of global situations.

 

Back to School Time Management

Back to school means getting back into schedules, activities and getting to school on time.  It is hard to do, especially after summer.   One of the most important parts of back to school is getting back or getting going on good routines.  Routines are the consistent, every day ways of getting things done that make life easier.  Try out these routines this fall, starting them the third week of August, so that by the first day of school you are already in the groove. 

  •  Have a set schedule for homework and other chores.  Designate a little time for down time, and then start on homework in the late afternoon. The later you start homework, the longer it takes.  Decide on what chores are done on what days and post a chart so everyone is on board with this plan. 
  • Use power periods to get homework done. Instead of 2 hours straight, break your homework time into 15,30 or 45 minutes of work and 5 minutes of walking around, getting a drink,texting friends or taking a very short break. Your kids will be more efficient if they know that the homework needs to be done in 45 minutes.
  • All kids and parents need planners and calendars.  Host a family meeting each week to write in on a month at a glance calendar what upcoming and regular events are going on. Include even the weekly activities, like ballet, football or other kids and parent activities.  You can use the google calendar or Cozi.com if you are a techie, and print the calendar to post too.  Kids bring their planners too to fill in so everyone is modeling and practicing how to use their planners.
  • Set a bed time for the kids and parents.   Well rested kids do better in school. Well rested parents are more productive.  Set alarm clocks for everyone to get up and get going. 

Take a good look at the big picture and what you want this year to be for your family.  At your family meeting, have everyone talk about this and share.  Also think through over scheduling.  Be realistic about what your kids participate in and your commitment.  Being involved is a positive, but being over involved can cause stress and frustration.

Back to School Supplies

Shopping for school supplies is creating a boost for our economy!  Choose where to shop first based on your most expensive item. If you need new backpacks for the kiddos, shop first at the store where these are most on sale.  Don’t forget our sales tax free weekend on August 21 – 23! Its a little late but a great date!  

Some outstanding websites to help you save for school supplies!

www.houstononthecheap.com

www.target.com

www.officemax.scom

www.orientaltrading.com

www.discountschoolsupplies.com