BACK TO SCHOOL 2011: 6-Step Organizational Timeline

Slow down and create your own back-to-school timeline. GoLocalProv breaks it down to 6 simple steps to help parents and students get organized for school. Begin to look at back-to-school as more of a process, a 6-week transition, and less of an all-or-nothing event. You will put less stress on yourself as a parent and ease the anxiety on the students.   

Local expert, Carolyn Dalgliesh, Owner of Simple Organizing Strategies and Systems for Sensory Kids offers tips for back-to-school organization for middle school and high school students, with extra suggestions for “sensory” students, those with ADHD/ADD, anxiety disorder, OCD, high-functioning autism, and Asperger’s. 

Back-to-School Organizing Step-by-Step

1. Get the essentials.

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Hold off on buying binders and folders until you know exactly what the teachers request. Be sure to start school with “a solid backpack or book bag, access to a keyboard or laptop for papers and/or projects, a student planner to organize their schedule and homework or, if using technology, a PDA or other handheld device,” said Dalgliesh. Once the year begins, you will have a better idea of what organizing system best supports the paper flow for your child.

2. Wait on clothes shopping.

Warm weather lasts through October so there is no rush to buy a new wardrobe in August.  “Another benefit of waiting is that your child gets back to school and sees what the latest trends and ‘in’ items are among their peers.  This will lead to more focused and productive clothes shopping and allow you to take advantage of the great sales that will take place 2-6 weeks after school starts,” said Dalgliesh.  

3. Learn the new schedule and routine.  

This is a simple but essential step to early success in the school year.  “Make it a priority to help your child get a copy of their daily schedule and/or after-school activities to keep at home to review at night as they are planning for the next day,” said Dalgliesh. Managing commitments is the first step to good time management. For extra support, “laminate the new schedule for them to keep in their backpack or hang in their locker to review as they learn their new daily schedule,” said Dalgliesh.  

4. Organize the locker.

“The locker is like your child’s closet at school and can quickly get out of control,” said Dalgliesh. To utilize the small space, stock up on stackable shelves, magnetic organizers for pens and pencils, and stick on cork squares/magnetic boards. For extra support, “use a color coding system for books, organize books by class time (am classes on bottom shelf, pm classes on top shelf), and make a visual map of coding system that hangs on locker door for quick visual support,” said Dalgliesh. 

5. Consolidate paperwork management systems.  

Work with what the teachers suggest for the class. “Creating a weekly backpack maintenance system at home, and using a Trapper Keeper to organize a few subjects together in one binder are a few ways to get papers home and back again,” said Dalgliesh. For extra support, use one big binder for all subjects with color-coded tabs for each section so your child has less to remember to bring home. Consider talking to the school about borrowing an extra set of textbooks to keep at home.  

6. Strategize homework.

Help your child design a homework area at home that incorporates everything they need in one place.  “Hang a whiteboard monthly calendar for homework/study planning and check-in weekly to see if they need help adjusting plan or staying on target,” said Dalgliesh. For extra support, graphic organizers can be a great way to help get your child started on challenging homework. “You can also laminate a few step-by-step planners for organizing and writing a story, memorizing tips/tricks, and note taking techniques to keep in the work area for easy access,” said Dalgliesh.  

By spreading out the timeline of buying the back-to-school items, focusing on incorporating important organizing techniques, and learning time management skills, you will help your kids get off to a successful start.