Get Organized Pittsburgh

As the school year comes to an end you are probably as eager as I to start the summer and get rid of all of your old school work. It is the familiar mentality of “I never want to see this again!” and there is definitely a feel of satisfaction that comes from dunking your binder into the nearest trashcan. However, this year, think about taking a little extra time and going through those old notes. I do this every year and find at least 200 pieces of paper that are only one-sided and aren’t ready for a fate in the dumpster, they belong in your printer as scrap paper! You might be thinking that this seems like a tedious task but it can actually be fun as you stumble upon old notes and doodles or a good test score. Not to mention you’re saving money along with trees!

It is a fresh start! Pristine new notebooks and binders, pointy new crayons, a cool lunch box, and those brand new shoes! It is like a transformation that happens every fall. All the mishaps of last year are forgotten and children are ready to meet their new teachers and new friend. Embrace this “newness” with your student! Be their support for what’s ahead without looking back on previous trouble spots. They know they exist, but NOW they are navigating new waters and need you to support this new journey! Just think about how it would feel to walk into a your job every fall to find a whole new system, a new boss and new co-workers! That’s a lot to navigate. Student need to feel like they have some control over their environment. So develop systems together. Let them tell you how they use their locker, how they want to organize their back pack and where to put papers when they are home. Now this does not mean that you can’t make suggestions, just try let them come up with ideas with in you parameters. Be a good listener and don’t point to past failures. You will be amazed what a child who feels comfortable and safe to share will tell you! Sometime this will unlock the mysteries of where breakdowns occur.

So this is your chance to get on your students team. Keep an open mind, be positive and let them tell you what they need. You get to provide support and accountability and they get feel proud about taking responsibility for their school work.

Hopefully these are lessons that last a life time!

OK, I’ll admit it, I really don’t like 3 ring binders! This is a huge confession coming from a professional organizer! Organizers LOVE binders. Professional Organizers will “binderize” anything that is not nailed down! I always found it laborious to punch holes in hand outs and those jaw-like clips scare me! More things would lay on top of my binder than get in. But the point was driven home when i was reading Donna Goldgerg’s book, The Organized Student. She addresses the student’s organizational style and suggests that binders don’t work for some students. Her main point was that LEFT HANDED students can’t write on paper that is attached to a binder. Well call me slow, but I AM LEFT HANDED and I really never realized that all of you RIGHTIES were actualy writing in those binders. No wonder I can’t stand them. I guess on some level I knew because LEFTIES even have trouble with spiral notebooks, but I felt so much better after seeing it in print! So Mothers of LEFTIES, please don’t make your child use a binder if they resist. Use an accordian file or folders and you may see them have more success!

With ten days left before our daughter goes to college, we are preparing and packing to help her “fit” into her new life. This transition involves saying good bye to friends and family, and trying to get ready in many ways for a whole new lifestyle! We all know that space will be tight and we want this transition to be a smooth as possible. It is tempting to show our love and caring by making sure our new college student has everything they need!

But what do the NEED? If parents paid attention to all the prepared lists that retail outlet produce we would be having new bulletins of college dorms exploding all over the country! The more they have…the more they need to maintain. We want them to live simply and concentrate on their studies and having fun. So here are a few tips:
As you pack things, think about where they will fit in your child’s room. Pack in storage containers that will be used.
Use vertical space. Hang things from the wall. The 3m removable hooks are great. There is more hang up space than drawer space–use it!
Wait until you get there for the finishing touches. This will give room mate a chance to work together on a little decorating and to develop systems that work.
Pack a little tool kit for move in day and buy some laundry pre-stain products to help between laundry days.

Your job is to simply get them started and let them figure out the details!