Back to School Basics

Its that time of year! Back to school is upon us, and some of us are more ready than others. Here are some tips and tricks for the school year, and may help your transition from summer to school easier. From organizing loose papers to waking up earlier, here is your ultimate guide to help you go back to school the fun and easier way!

Everyone hates getting up in the morning to go to school. Here are some tricks to help you get up at your designated wake up time so you don't miss the bus! Try out a few of these and see which one works for you!

1. Place your alarm clock across the room so you have to get out of bed to turn it off. By getting out of bed and waking around, your body wakes up faster.

2. If #1 didn't work for you, try hiding your alarm clock in a different place every night, or have someone else do it. This will force you to get up and find your alarm clock to turn it off, turning on your brain and helping you wake up easier. Make sure you hide your alarm clock somewhere you can hear it though.

3. Don't hit the snooze. This is possibly the simplest way to get up on time. Force yourself to not hit the snooze and get up and out of bed. When you hit the snooze once, you will hit it again and again, so not hitting the snooze once can give you 20 more minutes to eat breakfast.

4. Set your alarm clock to a song. This may help you get up and moving quicker. Making the song upbeat may help you more.

5. Set your alarm clock 15 minutes ahead. By doing this, when your alarm goes off and you look to see the time, you will shock and scare yourself into getting out of bed because you think you are late, but really are on time. You won't even be able to go back to bed you're so spooked! You can set it back 20 or 30 minutes if you have to, but make sure you only do this to your alarm clock, not your other clocks.

6. Sleep well. Go to bed earlier if you are going to wake up earlier. The more sleep you get, the easier it is to wake up.

Being organized in school is very important. It makes transitioning classes easier, and getting things out of your locker or desk easier.

1. Use a different binder for each class. Using one big binder for all your classes can make you unorganized and you can lose things much easier. By using several, smaller binders, everything will be organized nicer and everything will be easier to find.

2. Color code your class books. Assign each subject you are taking with a color, such as blue for Spanish, or green for Science. Use colored tape and place a strip on it of the spine of the COVERED book, binder, or composition book. This makes them easier to find in your locker or desk. Make a chart stating which subjects go with which color, in case you forget.

3. Use an accordion folder to store all your old papers. After each grading period, go through your binders and put all of your old papers you aren't using anymore in a designated space in your accordion folder. Keep this accordion folder at home or school. This way, if a teacher needs one of your old papers, you know where it is. After each school year, clear out your accordion folder.

4. Use a locker shelf. And not one of those cheap ones that collapse if you put one book on it. A good locker shelf is a good investment. If it is still in good condition, you can use it again and again over the years. The links have good locker selves that are sturdy and smart to use.

http://www.fivestardirect.us/fivestar/browse/produ...

http://www.lockershelfco.com/products/bestsellers-... (This one I used in middle school. Still doesn't even have a mark.)

http://www.amazon.com/LockerBones-Ultimate-Organiz... (My friend used this one, worked great!)

http://www.organizeit.com/adjustable-double-locker...

5. Keep a planner. A planner can help you keep track of homework assignments, papers, appointment, and others. It is a absolute necessity for students. You can get these almost anywhere that sells school or office supplies. My local dollar store sells them for $1 each.

6. Keep a homework folder. Instead of lugging all your binders home with you, keep your homework in a homework folder. Put all new homework and completed homework in there and take it to every class, and home with you. Make sure it is bright and colorful so you can't confuse it with other, schoolwork folders.

7. Plan out your homework. Estimate how much time each assignment should take and add all the time together, adding little 5 minute breaks here and there. this way you have an estimated time on how long your homework should take. Don't get up and get sidetracked while doing our homework. Getting it all done before sports or other activities will prevent stress. Make sure to bring a snack and water down with you so you don't have an excuse to get up. Don't use electronics while doing your homework.

Backpacks are necessities for school, but what backpack you use can have different effects on you and your body.

What your backpack should have:

- TWO STRAPS! Messenger bags may look cool, but are very bad for your body. Use regular, two strap backpacks.

- padded straps

- a large back pocket

- a water bottle holder

- (optional) a colorful print

Here are some links for good quality backpacks:

http://www.landsend.com/backpack-guide/?002=222436...

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/818?page=school-bac...

http://www.amazon.com/JanSport-Student-Classics-Se...

http://www.jansport.com/shop/en/jansport-us/backpa...

As a student, I know that the required pencil and pen buys for school are gone by winter break. To avoid this crisis, buy one or two extra boxes of pens and pencils and keep them at home. When your pens and pencils run out, bring in 3 pens and pencils from the box to school. Do not share these. If those end up running out, get more from your stash at home.

I'm not going to pretend I now how everyone likes to dress, because I don't. But I do know that school clothes should be modest, but reflecting the persons style also. Below are some links that may be appropriate, but as I said, I don't know everyone's style.

Kids:

http://www.hm.com/us/products/kids

http://www.childrensplace.com/shop/us/home?sisearc...

http://www.landsend.com/shop/kids

http://www.oldnavy.com/products/back-to-school-clo...

Teens:

http://www.kohls.com/sale-event/juniors-teens-clot...

http://www.jcpenney.com/women/plus-size/new-arriva...

http://www1.macys.com/shop/juniors?id=16904&edge=h...

Here are some recommended supplies that may not be on your class list:

-white-out

-graph paper

-paper clips

-binder clips

-sticky notes

-sticky tabs

-calculator

-label maker

-hole punch

-stapler

-magnets

-hand-held pencil sharpener

-compass (mathematical kind)

-protractor

This is a sweet way to make a composition booklet using loose leaf or grid paper. All you need is a stack of loose leaf or grid paper, X2 rubber bands, X2 Paper Clips, and 5 minutes of Time!!

1. Thread the rubber band through the first hole of the packet.
2. Attach a Paper Clip to 1 end of the rubber band.
3. Pull the rubber band through the middle hole
4. Connect the other end of the rubber band to the paperclip
5. Repeat for the other end hole, and the middle hole.
6. SPECIAL TIP!!** You can triple hole punch two pieces of cardboard and add it to the top and bottom of the stack for covers!
7. Your composition book will open like magic! It will keep the pages binded together like a real book!

Here are some random tips and tricks for your enjoyment!

-eat a healthy breakfast and healthy lunch

-use locker magnets to hold up reminders or papers that have been completed but are due later

-attach magnets to a metal cans and place it in your locker to use as caddies to hold hairbrushes, pencils, pens, etc...

-decorate your binder with sharpies or printed pages of things that remind your of the subject that they are for

-buy a 3-hole-punch to store in your most commonly used binder or homework folder

-break in new shoes fast by using a blow-dryer

-if picking your clothes first thing in the morning isn't your thing, pick out your clothes the night before

-create an outfit for each day of the week on Sunday so there is no hassle about what to wear during the week

-keep a calendar to keep track of monthly tasks

-add a magnet to composition book or zipper so you can attach it to your metal part of your desk or locker

-put a strip of metal in your locker or at home and place magnets on school necessities (calculator, protractor, etc..) and stick them on the magnets strip

-use duck tape on your pencils so you know when someone is using yours

-organize your books in your locker by class in the order they go in

-keep a flash drive in your locker at all times

-don't use your school email account for personal uses. They can track you!

Everyone asks themselves "What do I bring home?" after the school day. You want to keep your load as light as possible.

Steps:

1. Look at your planner and see what homework you have.

2. Place all your homework (papers) in your homework folder.

3. See which books you need to bring home.

Always bring home your planner, homework folder, and pencil case. Also bring home any books you need to help with homework. Do not bring home books not needed. If you are allowed to bring phones or tablets to school, take a quick photo of a pages you need to study instead of bringing the whole book home. But always make sure you bring home the books you need. Better to be safe then sorry, even if you have a heavy load.

If you have trouble remembering to bring books home, ask your teacher for, or buy, extra textbooks that are the same as your ones at school, for at home. This would be a good idea for workbooks as well.

Make sure, if you have math homework, to bring home a calculator so you can check your work!

Thank you for reading this instructable. Please vote and favorite. If you have any suggestions, questions, or things you would like to share, please do in the comments section. Positive or constructive comments only please! Thank you!