Dear Rocky,

I have a hard time staying organized, and my school work often suffers as a result. I’m determined to be more organized this year, but I don’t even know what that really looks like. My backpack basically looks like a bottomless pit of papers, and I never know what my homework is. Do you have any tips?

Sincerely,

“One Folder for Every Subject”

Dear “One Folder,”

Fear not, there are many different tips that you can use to stay organized and that can help lead you to a successful school year. Staying organized is how you present yourself to not only teachers and students, but to yourself as well.

The first thing you can do to stay organized for a successful year is to keep your school supplies in labeled, neat folders or binders. Place papers from one class in a designated class folder. You may want to try color coding items if that helps.

Always take great notes, and review them regularly just in case a teacher throws a pop quiz at you. Also, keep all assignments in a safe place to prevent them from getting lost before final exams. Write down your homework in an assignment notebook; it also may help you mentally de-stress if you cross out homework written down in your planner as you complete it. Staying organized will help you manage your time, too.

Lastly, you can always write down any questions you may have for a student or teacher, and ask them either before or after classes to make sure that you have everything correct and you can receive an A for your hard work. Communication is key, so make use of email, and Google Classroom as well.

I hope these tips help!

Meep Meep,

Rocky