As a new school year approaches, teachers are busy preparing: reviewing their curricula, developing materials, and organizing their classroom resources. Most teachers would probably agree that there is no better way to start a school year than to be well prepared and organized.

Many students from kindergarten through high school never feel the satisfaction of being prepared and organized. From the first day of school forward they struggle to remember assignments, find their homework, and prepare for exams. Unfortunately, this lack of organizational skills can lead to underperformance and lack of confidence. To get your students off to a good start and to help them maintain a sense of order, try these simple classroom strategies:

• Send a note home prior to the start of school with a list of materials that the students should have on the first day of school.
• ask each student to bring a daily planner to class each day. For very young children, you can make planners as an art activity.
• Have a "school supply drive" during the first few weeks of school. Similar to a food drive, ask people to donate extra school supplies. Request those things that are most needed. Offer these supplies to students who don't come to school with the necessary items or as incentives for keeping organized throughout the school year.
• Teach a lesson on using a daily planner during the first week of school. Use samples and have students practice planning for upcoming tests, homework, and reading time.
• Teach a lesson on locker and backpack organization. Review the lesson periodically throughout the year.
• Take five minutes each week to allow students time to clean out their backpacks/lockers/purses.
• Pair students up with a mentor in an upper grade who will meet with the student once a day (toward the end of the school day) to check their planner and the materials they are bringing home.
• Write daily homework assignments in a specific location in the classroom. Keep the assignments for each class posted all day so that students can check their planners.