Organizing Tips for a Smarter School Year

These fun finds and simple fix-ups will help you stream line morning routines, cutback on homework stress, and turn your house into a launchpad for outstanding achievements.

By Debra Immergut from FamilyFun

  • Photograph by Kate Sears

    Get the Message

    A central spot to corral reminders and papers is a must. Combined with magnets, this 36- by 25-inch oil drain pan (we got ours at Autozone for $10) makes an attractive spot for artwork and messages. Add flash cards, and it's a great place to practice math and spelling, too. Before using it, wash the pan with dish detergent and warm water. Attach two D-ring picture hangers with outdoor mounting tape or drill holes in the top corners, and suspend it with a ribbon.

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  • Photograph by Kate Sears

    Create a Winning Entry

    Labeled drawers give each family member a place to stash those grab-and-go necessities: mittens, bus passes, shin guards. A fun wall-hung cubby unit holds small essentials, such as lip balm and sunglasses.

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  • Kate Sears

    Set Up a Reading Nook

    To encourage kids to discover the pleasures of a good read, define a quiet, cozy space for book-browsing. It can be as simple as a comfy seat and a plush rug -- or you can create an irresistible retreat with our no-sew canopy made from a bed sheet and a quilting hoop.

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  • Photograph by Kate Sears

    Shelving System

    Use electrical tape to color-code volumes by subject, then hang a simple key to help even very young librarians shelve books in an orderly way.

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  • Photograph by Kate Sears

    Reading Notes

    With this Playtime for Kids Pad (Knock Knock, $6.50) kids can record their reading. Plus, the prompts invite kids to play the role of reviewer.

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  • Photograph by Kate Sears

    Borrowed Book Basket

    Tired of hunting for an overdue Dr. Seuss title? A dedicated tote is a great way for readers to keep track of checked-out books, and it can travel to and from the library when it's time to refresh the kids' reads.

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  • Photograph by Kate Sears

    Chalkboard Dresser

    To create designated spaces for each family member's gear, start with a dresser appropriately sized for your entry space (ours is the Tarva from Ikea, $149). Paint the drawers with chalkboard paint, then write names with chalk markers (we used Chalk Ink Wet Wipe Markers; a set of 8 is $36).

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  • Photograph by Kate Sears

    Road-Ready Kits

    To keep the drawers neat, gather those little last-minute supplies -- flash cards for the car, grooming goodies for on-the-run touch-ups -- in take-along bags, such as these zip-top mesh pouches (from the Container Store, $8 each).

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  • Photograph by Kate Sears

    Packing Station

    Gather all your lunch supplies in one place and consider making the switch to reusables. For an easy change, ditch plastic forks and spoons and pick up orphaned flatware at thrift stores or garage sales instead. The utensils usually cost pennies, so if a spoon occasionally ends up missing, it's no great loss.

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  • Photograph by Kate Sears

    Drying Doodad

    Give lunch containers a quick soapy wash when you're doing dishes in the evening, then hang the items on a space-saving drying rack (Beaba Bottle Drying Rack, Pottery Barn Kids, $35). By morning, they'll be ready to be filled and packed up.

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  • Photograph by Kate Sears

    Homework Supply Stash

    If your kitchen table doubles as homework headquarters, this update on the trusty shoe organizer will keep papers, pens, and other study tools in clear view -- and clear of your dinner-prep area (Variety Stash organizer, Christy Designs, $37).

    Originally published in the September 2012 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

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