The first few days of school can be a little slow, as you go from class to class hearing course descriptions, rules and expectations, but the pace will ramp up quickly. Time spent getting organized now will pay off over and over again throughout the school year.
The key to getting organized for school success is to put systems in place to allow your daily work—in school and at home—to flow smoothly. Here’s how:
- Designate a distinct binder or notebook for each class. Consider color coding! Let math be blue, English green. If you need a binder and a folder for one class, make them the same color.
- Commit from day one to keeping everything where it belongs. Math notes and HW in your math binder, French in your French folder, etc. This habit will make it a lot easier to study as you go, and don’t have to waste time searching for missing notes and reorganizing notebooks when it’s time to study for major unit tests and finals.
- Make a habit of starting class notes with the date and a title. For example, if your history teacher is lecturing on WWI, writing “WWI” and the date at the top of the page will make your class notes easier to study later.
- Use the planner your school has provided or get your own, no matter what—even if assignments are posted online. Keeping your planner up to date puts you in a good position to know what to take home when you hit your locker at the end of the day and gives you a ready-made homework checklist when you get home.
- Use your locker well! Once you’ve walked your schedule a few times, you will know when it is most convenient to stop at your locker. Also, keeping materials for afternoon classes together in a neat pile in your locker will make for a smooth switch.
- Identify a space that will be your reserved spot for doing HW and get it set up now. Make sure you’ve got a pencil sharper, eraser, ample loose leaf and printer paper, and—most important of all—a clear work space!
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