Back to School Resource Roundup
Back-to-School success is LESS about what you HAVE (i.e. the perfect school supplies), and MORE about what you DO on a daily basis. Here are some of my favorite tips and resources for making things go more smoothly:
For Starters (if you read nothing else, read this):
- 12 Back-to-School Organization Tips (School Family)
Family Routines:
- Video (6:51): Avoiding Back-to-School Morning Craziness (Maria Gracia)
- Video (8:41): Organizing Your Children’s After-School Routines (Maria Gracia)
- Printable Chart: Age Appropriate Chores (The Happy Housewife)
Launch Pad: I don’t care what you call it — launch pad, staging area, landing zone, destination station…YOU NEED ONE. (P.S. Everyone needs one, not just parents with kids!)
- Article: Six Organizing Systems Everyone Needs – System 3 – Launch Pad (Org4life)
- Video (4:21): Streamline the Daily Routine with a Destination Station (Lorie Marrero)
- Article: Our Organized Entry (IHeartOrganizing)
Kids’ Paper Management:
- Flow Chart: Kids’ Paper Clutter Flow Chart Module (Org4life)
- Article: Six Organizing Systems Everyone Needs – System #4: Flow of Paper (Org4life)
- Video (3:50): How to Deal with Kids’ School Papers (Lorie Marrero)
College Kids:
- Setting Up a College Dorm Room – Printable (Geralin Thomas)
Tips from Parents:
- Article: Back-to-School Tips from Facebook Fans (Org4life)
- Article: Pimp My Locker (IHeartOrganizing)
- Article: Back-to-School Organizing Link Party (IHeartOrganizing)
- Video (1:59): Christine Carter on kids’ chores (GreatSchools)
Tips from Org4life Teacher Clients:
- “If your school doesn’t already do this, make an appointment for you and your child to meet their new teacher before school starts.”
- “Teachers don’t want gifts that say ‘Best Teacher’ and have apples on them. They want gift cards to Target, Olive Garden, and Starbucks.”
Just for fun:
- The Mom Song (an oldie but a goodie)
- Org4life Tip: Search Pinterest and Google Images for phrases like “chore chart”, “locker organizing”, “entry way furniture”, “organized classroom”, etc. (Are a thousand pictures worth a million words?)
And if that’s not enough:
- Professional Organizers Blog Carnival — here is a wealth of Back-to-School Tips from my esteemed colleagues!
Teacher Client Photo Stories
These stories feature teachers in different phases of their careers:
 BEFORE |
| The Art of Organizing: Jane is a recently-certified Denver art teacher whose classroom is overflowing with supplies. Click here to view Jane’s photo story. |
BEFORE Teacher Gets an A+: Margaret is a 2nd grade teacher who wants to set a good example for her kids. Click here to view Margaret’s photo story. |
 BEFORE |
| Teacher Gets Organized for the Rest of Her Life: Linda has retired and desires to turn her house into a home so she can live there more comfortably. Click here to view Linda’s photo story. |