by CL Nelson

Created on: June 02, 2008

BACKPACKS, BINDERS, AND MORE: HOW TO STAY ORGANIZED IN SCHOOL
The school year beings with eager children entering the classroom with their spiffy new backpacks, sharpened boxes of crayons, pristine pencils, and dozens of fashionable folders. That first day of school is full of promises. Promises to stay organized this school year. Carefully kids unload their backpacks, showing off their favorite folders while placing each pencil with care into their shiny new pencil boxes. Meticulously children fill their desks with all the educational essentials. Books are neatly stacked in their respective spots. Folders are precisely labeled. Pencils are sharpened to a razor-sharp point. The classroom is a buzz with organizational optimism. As days pass, the promise of organizational upkeep slowly dwindles. By the end of the week, spiffy new backpacks are scuffed and stuffed with papers and pencil shavings. Books are carelessly shoved into desks, papers and notebooks overflow the once organizational haven like fluttering flags of surrender.

COMMUNICATION TOOLS: DAY PLANNERS
Whether it's second grade or senior year, most schools pass out day planners on the first day of school. However, if your school does not provide these organizational life savers, then head to your local office supply store and pick one up. Usually day planners are organized into three parts: monthly, weekly and daily. Monthly overviews are an excellent way to track quarterly projects, book reports, presentations, and field trips. Weekly overviews help students keep track of test dates and assignment deadlines. The daily overview is great for writing in nightly homework and reminders. Plus, the daily section is convenient communication tool for parents and teachers. Whether it's a school "gift" or purchased by a parent, planners are only effective if they're used regularly and become part of the school routine.

BINDERS AND BAGS:
Binders are a blessing if you know how to use them. Most children like three ring binders. They think they're cool carrying around their big binder of lined paper and funky folders. Again, these contraptions can easily become holding cells for clutter if they aren't used properly. Students have several subjects in a given day. Each subject needs its own folder, notebook, and loose paper which can make the binder a discombobulated mess. How then do you organize the binder? Simple. For each subject designate a color. Coordinate the folder and notebook with corresponding colors. Let's

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