Little things organize for back to school

With all the back-to-school shopping and preparations, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. I always came back to a few simple ideas that helped to make the task easier.

1) Give things a home. Make folders, files or locations for papers. Have hooks, closets or other locations for jackets, shoes, boots and backpacks. Put school supplies for homework or projects in a box, a basket, a drawer or other location. Then you don't waste time looking for things.

2) Create a family calendar. Write down due dates, school projects schedules, appointments, school events, days for classes or youth group sports or activities, church events, family gatherings and celebrations and dates for local events that you would like to attend. Keep all information, invitations, directions or schedules related to your calendar in a folder near the family calendar that everyone uses.

3) Set up an area for homework and school projects. Keep supplies near by and make sure that the TV is not visible or is turned off when school work is being done. Establish a routine that includes regular times for schoolwork and a habit of going through papers to find anything of interest to parents (such as things that need to be signed and returned) and of putting papers back into a backpack so that they make it back to school the next day.

Little things can make a big difference in education.