Geometric Shape Geometric Shape

Top Back to School Organization: Tips to Simplify Your Family’s Life

Preparing for the School Year

Plan Ahead for the School Year

  • Start planning and organizing early in the year to ease the chaos of transitioning back to school.

  • Figure out your goals and priorities for the year. This may sound obvious, but taking the time to clearly articulate goals for yourself or your child, as well as subsequent priorities such as focusing on certain classes, achieving athletic victories, and/or dedicating time to extracurriculars.

  • Create a calendar to keep track of important school dates and events that you know of in advance.

Shop for School Supplies Early

  • Take advantage of early shopping to get a head start on organizing for the school year, avoid crowds, and ensure you get the supplies you need.

  • Stock up on essential school supplies, such as pencils, paper, and extra folders. Some extra supplies will always be needed, so having them on hand in your house allows you or your child easy access and no excuses to create a new folder, for example, when one becomes overwhelmed with papers.

Creating a Command Center

Set Up a Family Command Center

One of the biggest struggles for students, especially those with executive functioning challenges, is ensuring that critical materials and homework assignments make it to school each day. A command center is like a “drop zone”, a central spot for all family members to drop off their belongings and papers for school. Many creative and chic drop zone ideas exist online and elsewhere.

  • Designate a spot for each family member to keep their school supplies and personal items organized. You can use bins, cabinets, hooks, and other simple items to maintain an organized space in which it is easy to grab your belongings and get out the door on time each day.

  • Implementing this system will save time each day, and enable smoother transitions between school and after school activities.

  • Students can get organized on Sunday night by packing up their bags for the next day, and ensuring everything they need is ready to go in the family command center.

Gorgeous backpack and homework center from pneumaticaddict.com

Organizing Spaces for School Work

Homework station inspiration from winterdaisy.com.

Designate a Homework Station

Students should have a designated location to complete school work, reading, and similar tasks which require sustained focus. A homework station or area should be clean and tidy and should have good lighting and necessary school supplies like sharpened pencils so students can complete their work with ease and minimal distractions.

Declutter and Organize School Clothes

Making sure you or your kids start each school year with clothing that fits and is wearable is an important but frequently overlooked organization hack to make mornings easier. Before you organize any clothing, go through your child’s wardrobe and have them try on everything, getting rid of anything that does not fit or is too worn out for school.

  • Organize school clothes by type to make mornings easier.

  • Use a laundry system to keep clothes clean and folded.

Streamline Morning and Afternoon Routines

Create a Morning Routine

  • Establish a consistent morning routine to help you or your child get ready for school on time.

  • Include time for eating or making breakfast, getting dressed, and packing lunches.

  • Use a checklist to help yourself or your child remember what to do each morning.

Using Afternoon Hours Wisely

  • Create an after school routine for completing homework, eating dinner, doing meal prep, and getting organized before bedtime.

  • Pack lunches and healthy snacks in the afternoon or evening when possible, which will save time in the morning.

Home Organization Tips for a Smooth School Year

Use Labels and Signs

  • Use labels to identify your child’s school supplies and personal items, as needed. Some students tend to forget their belongings more than others, and these students will benefit from clearly labeling their belongings.

  • Label lunch boxes, water bottles, backpacks, and electronic devices to prevent loss.

  • Use signs or post-its around the house as remindersof important tasks, such as packing lunches or doing homework.

Implement a System for Paperwork

Students should ideally clean out their folders, binders, and backpack each week so they stay organized. It is common for useless papers such as old permission slips to get shoved into a backpack, eventually causing a chaotic mess of papers, some of which may actually be needed.

  • Create a system for managing school paperwork, such as a file folder or binder.

  • Use a designated spot for each family member to keep their school papers organized.

  • Teach your child to prioritize tasks and break them down into smaller, manageable steps.

Back to School Season Essentials

Establish a Bedtime Routine

Research consistently validates the importance of sleep for healthy development in children and adolescents. Establishing a solid bedtime routine will help kids get more and better quality sleep, which can only improve their memory, cognition, and overall mental health. Any

  • Establish a consistent bedtime routine to help your child get enough sleep.

  • Make sure your child has a functioning alarm clock which is not a cell phone.

  • Cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices should

  • Include time for relaxation, reading, and winding down.

  • Use a bedtime chart or evening checklist to help you or your child remember what to do each night.

Plan for Extracurricular Activities

  • Use a calendar to keep track of practice schedules, game times, and other extracurriculars.

  • Ensure that afternoon routines are flexible enough to account for changing activities and club meeting times.

  • Pack necessary equipment, such as sports equipment or musical instruments, in a designated spot.

Use Back to School Organization for Success All Year

Back to school season can be stressful for students and parents alike, as everyone struggles to return to the routines of fall after the freedom of summer break. With some preparation and thought, it is fairly simple to get organized for yourself and/or your children, which will result in a more successful school year for everyone. Not all of these school organization tips need to be implemented at once; the idea is to do what you can and what makes sense for your family to establish routines and structure which will help everyone stay on track with their goals throughout the year. While these organizational ideas are aimed to help people navigate back to school season, they can be useful anytime throughout the school year, and it is never too late to implement organizational strategies and structure into the school or other life routines. Organization hacks are common, but there are no real shortcuts or newly invented ideas about how to stay organized and on track for school and life. The common themes in most school organization advice are being proactive, planning instead of reacting as much as possible, and being mindful about your physical spaces. With a little intention and attention to these areas, you and your family can coast more easily through the back to school season and hopefully, the rest of the year. Call or message Alex, The Savvy Tutor, if you need more help!

Share:
Alex Yoken author photo

About Alex Yoken

Alex Yoken is a New York State certified teacher with over a dozen years of experience tutoring, coaching, advising, and providing advocacy services for students of all ages. She is passionate about helping individuals achieve their unique goals through tailored plans and the most effective strategies. She has given numerous workshops on college success, writing, and special ed advocacy.

Alex’s students have received Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars and The Journal of Trauma Nursing Literary Excellence Awards. She has helped dozens of students get admitted to college and study at prestigious institutions, including Cornell, Pepperdine, Tulane, and Duke.

Quote Icon
“Consistent source of support and guidance”

I cannot express enough how fortunate I was to have such a dependable tutor throughout my academic journey. From my undergraduate studies in psychology to my master’s degree program, she was a consistent source of support and guidance. Her expertise and dedication made all the difference in my success. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking a knowledgeable and reliable tutor. Thank you Alex!

Madison C., Los Angeles, CA
“Patient, understanding and very supportive …”

Having Alex as a tutor was amazing. She is patient, understanding and very supportive in many ways. Alex not only helped our son with his writing and vocabulary, she helped him organize his thoughts and strengthen his study skills. I highly recommend Alex as a tutor.

–Celina M., Greenburgh, NY
“Personalized teaching style, depth of knowledge, attentive manner”

When there are so many great things that can be said about a person, it is hard to find the right words that truly satisfy that person’s character. I first began working with Alex when I was a freshman in high school. Not having success with previous tutors, I concluded that tutors simply are not for me. However, Alex showed me otherwise; her personalized teaching style, depth of knowledge, attentive manner, and even sense of humor is above any tutor I’ve ever encountered. Beyond the skills that make Alex an effective yet enjoyable tutor, she also provides insight and guidance to those who are struggling in certain areas of their life. I have sought Alex’s help with challenges both big and small, and she always steers me in the right direction while teaching me important life skills in the process. As I am now approaching my senior year, I am overwhelmed with feelings of confidence and excitement because I know that I will have Alex by my side.

–Victoria L., Armonk, NY
“Effective, Articulate Advocate”

I hired Alex to help me obtain a private school placement at the district’s expense for my 3rd grader, who is nonverbal and autistic. After hiring an ineffective attorney for the same purpose when my son was in first grade, Alex was able to accomplish this goal and got my son a placement in a specialized, private school program. While this endeavor took months of work, meetings, emails, and school visits to accomplish, my son is now in an appropriate program where he is able to learn and thrive. Additionally, Alex was able to get the school district to provide every single service, accommodation, and technology that I was requesting for my son. Alex is assertive, articulate, and knows the law and best educational practices. As such, she effectively and vociferously advocated on my son’s behalf and accomplished all of my goals. I highly recommend her to anyone in need of an advocate!

-Angela F., New Rochelle, NY
“High Quality Tutor”

Alex is a highly skilled and knowledgeable writing teacher. Warm and nurturing. Reliable. Made learning meaningful, engaging and fun. Definitely recommend and will use again.

-Wendy D., Tarrytown, NY
“Knowledgable and Dedicated”

I must admit that I was absolutely fortunate when I stumbled upon Alex’s website during my internet search a year and a half ago. I was desperately looking for someone to proof read my papers and assist in guiding me throughout the pursuit of my doctorate degree. With the guidance, support, and constructive criticism from this very knowledgeable, insightful, and patient individual I received As in all my courses. I truly enjoyed working with Alex.

-Jessie M., White Plains, NY
“The Best Tutor”

Alex is very well-versed and knowledgeable about many subjects. I have not been in school in over 20 years and now I am back to obtain my doctorate degree. Alex has helped me get organized and has assisted me with my APA citations, grammar, and word choice. My writing skills have improved significantly and every one of my papers has received an A. Alex has provided me with the skills I need to continue my studies. I am so lucky to have met Alex.

– Renee C., Yonkers, NY
“Awesome Teacher and Person”

Amanda: I am a student of Alex’s. I would recommend Alex to other students because she pushes you, gives you confidence, and she has a great sense of humor. She turns around any of your negative feelings into positive ones so you can believe in yourself to succeed.

Doretta: I am Amanda’s mom. Alex has a tremendous amount of patience. She is creative, funny, and very knowledgeable of her material. Alex tutored my daughter to obtain a driving permit. This was a major challenge for Amanda. Aside from needing help to learn the material, Amanda also has severe test anxiety. Amanda also has had many many tutors throughout her life. Alex not only helped Amanda learn the material and prepare for the test, but also made her believe in herself and decreased her anxiety. She is truly an awesome teacher and person. I highly recommend her to any struggling student.

– Amanda and Doretta Tarangioli, Eastchester, NY
“Hardworking and dedicated”

Alex is a hard working and extremely dedicated person. Not only is she able to help me better understand what I am studying but she also has a way of inspiring me to learn more. I have had many tutors and I know for a fact that Alex is by far the best. She pushes me to better myself and helps me become increasingly more interested in school. Alex helps me with whatever I need to improve on and is always the first and most excited to congratulate me on my accomplishments. After studying with Alex my grades have dramatically improved. This made it possible for me to get into a high honors English class after years of special Ed. Also with her help she made looking and applying for colleges an enjoyable experience. She is an amazing tutor and person and I can go on forever stating how much she has helped me become a confident student.

– Nicole L., Armonk, NY
“Extremely knowledgable about the admissions process”

My daughter struggled with writing her college application essay. We were fortunate to meet Alex who not only helped our daughter select the appropriate subject matter and prepare a well-written essay, but minimized the stress and drama that comes with this process. Alex has great writing skills and she is very creative and extremely knowledgable about the admissions process. Alex is a pleasure to work with.

–John S., White Plains, NY
“Knowledgeable and Helpful”

Alex helped me with my personal statements for graduate school. It was helpful to brainstorm ahead of time because it made our sessions more productive. However, we brainstormed more throughout our sessions. She made me feel confident in my writing and the writing process less stressful. She took notes as we talked and cares about making a connection with her students. I definitely recommend her assistance! It was such a pleasure to work with her and I will be sure to keep in contact with her for future assignments!

– Desiree, R., Homer Glen, IL
“Far exceeded expectations”

Alex has worked with my son for three months and the improvement we have seen has been tremendous. My son went from failing in math to exceeding his peers in class. He enjoys his sessions with Alex and as a matter of fact, looks forward to her coming to tutor him, he refers to it as “so much fun and interesting”. Alex provided our son with the necessary strategies to apply to solve math problems and we can see him applying those strategies in his homework assignments.  Our son went from 60’s and 70’s to 95 in scores for his math tests.  We are incredibly lucky and grateful to have found Alex. She has done wonders for our son and has been able to teach him in a manner where he understands and retains the information.  She has far exceeded our expectations in so little time.

–Nadira B., Scarsdale, NY
“Insightful, inspirational, and enthusiastic professional”

Alex has been working with our 2nd grade daughter for over a few months now, and she has had an amazing, positive impact on her. Alex is knowledgeable, hardworking, and extremely patient with our daughter who has been having some challenges reading. Alex was able to identify our daughter’s weaknesses and help provide the necessary strategies and techniques to help her improve her reading skills. Alex is an excellent tutor who my daughter says “makes reading fun”! She eagerly awaits and looks forward to her sessions with Alex as Alex never fails to have a clever game and fun worksheets for them to work on together. With Alex’s help, our daughter’s confidence has really grown, and her reading has significantly improved –she will actually read aloud now! We are so grateful to have found Alex – she has truly been able to teach our daughter in ways that she can understand and learn. We can’t thank Alex enough for all her hard work, and would highly recommend her. If you’re looking for an intelligent, dedicated and incredibly responsive tutor, look no further!

–Eileen B., Tuckahoe, NY
“Dedicated, professional, reliable”

Alex is an inspiring tutor, full of enthusiasm and knowledge. Her lessons are always personalized and tailored specifically to my daughter’s needs.  My 5th grade daughter always looks forward to meeting with Alex, as Alex always includes activities and games that make learning fun for her. I noticed her increase in confidence and it showed through her improvement in grades. Dedicated, professional, reliable – what more could you ask for! I would highly recommend Alex without any hesitation. Thank you, Alex!

–Jen A., White Plains, NY
“Excellent tutor, very helpful”

Alex worked with me very diligently and helped me with several college supplemental essays. Alex knew exactly what college admissions officers were looking for which helped me include critical information in my essays. Also, I was able to engage in conversation with Alex about how to go about revising my essays. She approaches the essay sentence by sentence and makes sure that the essential question: “so what?” is always answered within the writing. I recommend Alex as a tutor for anyone in need of help for any piece of writing.

–Brian W., Greenwich, CT
“Professional, effective tutor and advocate”

I hired Alex as a tutor and an advocate to help me prepare and receive accommodations for an NASM personal training exam. Alex was critical in helping me successfully study and prepare for the test by teaching me effective study skills and test-taking strategies. Alex was able to get NASM to provide me the full extent of accommodations that I was legally entitled to. She also made sure that the reader for my test was competent and prepared by personally escorting me to the testing center to make sure that they were following the appropriate procedures. I am extremely thankful to Alex for her dedication to my success and for helping me pass the exam.

–AJ Sauer, Tarrytown, NY
“Terrific tutor”

Alex is well prepared and detail-oriented and works hard during the sessions to make sure my son understands what she is working on with him.

–Bonnie Y., Scarsdale, NY
“Professional problem-solver”

My adult brother has been working with Alex for the past few months. She is amazing! I have never known someone in this profession to be so patient, insightful and so good at breaking down challenges into pieces of a puzzle in order to find the best possible solution.

–Andrea Weinberg, New York, NY
“Competent, knowledgeable, and committed”

Alex was able to help me improve my study and test-taking skills and I’m so glad I hired her! I am a nursing student in a competitive program and I felt lost given the vast amount of material that I had to study. Alex helped me use recall strategies like mnemonics to remember difficult terminology for exams. She was also helpful in teaching me metacognitive strategies for focus and self-monitoring during testing. I am especially grateful to Alex for helping me navigate through the difficult “red tape” of my program. She taught me effective self-advocacy techniques so that I was able to attain the outcome I was seeking by being assertive about my rights. I am now much more confident about going into my next semester of school and feel like I have the necessary skills to succeed.

–Sam Kudelka, Pleasantville, NY

TESTIMONIALS

Geometric Shape