So you made it to high school. Do you have what it takes to make it the next four years? Things are different, expectations are higher. Tardiness, late homework, and laziness are no longer allowed. Teachers expect a lot more, so do your parents and friends. Things get pretty hectic quickly. The secret to staying on top of it all is to get organized.

How do I get organized? First head out and buy a planner. A planner is an indispensable tool for high school. Its pages can hold homework assignments, doctors’ appointments, club meetings, sports practices, parties, and much more. The ideal planner is neat and organized, and allows for a quick and easy way to organize, see your daily, weekly, and monthly activities. A big bulky planner is not needed, buy one that is small and can easily fit in your purse or book bag. Now that you have one…Use it! Planners are no good to you if you do not use it.

Planner Success:

“I have been to Middleton since 2006 and every year I have used my planner. My planner helps me to stay organize and it also helps me to pace myself so I don’t fall behind. I use my planner to store things like meeting dates, homework assignments, and also for appointments. Thanks to my planner and AVID, I am still very organized and now I keep good grades all the time due to organization. Want to excel and make the workload easier, USE YOUR PLANNER!!”

Jamarcus R. Godwin—MHS Senior

AVID Student

Remember the planner is a tool; it needs to be used to be effective. Anytime something comes up, write it down in your planner. Consult your planner daily to see if you have to prepare for any upcoming events and to see what homework you’ve got to do. Check your planner in the morning to see what the day holds and if there is anything for you to hand in, do, or accomplish. Shoving your papers in a notebook or a book bag is not the way to go. If your book bag or notebook looks like underneath your bed, you’re in trouble. You need to keep track of things so you can verify grades with teachers and ace those notebook checks.

How to keep your papers organized:

1) Use a plastic file organizer

2) Separate folders or binders for each class-get a different color for each one and label it.

3) Avoid stuffing papers into the pockets of a binder.

Have two notebooks for each individual class. The day notebook is used to take notes daily in class. That night use your day notebook to copy over the notes neatly. Have you ever tried to read your notes a week or two later? Difficult right? If you get into the practice of taking notes daily and rewriting them that evening, you will have listened, written, and rewritten, as well as given yourself the opportunity to synthesize. Summarize notes at the end of the week or at the end of the unit.

Lost your little brother? Have you checked your locker? Perhaps under all that mess you will find him. Keep your locker and back pack in good shape. It’s impossible to be organized if your locker is jammed with loose handouts, old folders, and broken pencils, or when your back pack is filled with gum wrappers and scraps of paper.

Get into the habit of weekly cleaning, put things back neatly! Oh, make sure when you clean out the locker you don’t throw out your little bro.

7 easy steps to remember:

1) Come up with a set time to

study.

2) Check your back pack to make sure you have what you need to do hw and study.

3) Review weekly

4) Consult your planner often.

5) Organized people are constantly tweaking their systems to adapt to new situations.

6) Be on time to class and make sure you have paper and a writing tool.

7) Never wait till the last minute to do a project.