Energize and Organize
  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Home Office Organization
    • Residential Organization >
      • Are You Chronically Disorganized? >
        • Common Characteristics of Chronically Disorganized Individuals
      • Are you Situationally Disorganized?
      • Organizing by Learning and Action Style Preferences
    • Senior Organization
    • Student Organization >
      • Executive Function
      • Improving Your Child's Organizing Skills
      • Organizing by Learning/Sensory Preferences and Action Style Preferences
      • Organization and Time Management Strategies for Kids with L.D.
      • Student Organizing Tips - Internet Resources
  • Gallery
  • FAQ
  • Resources
    • Charitable Donation Information
    • Decisions, Decisions, Decisions ... To Keep or Not to Keep?
    • Green Tips from NAPO-New England Professional Organizers
    • Insightful Education Websites for Children and Students with All Kinds of Abilities
    • Inspirational Organizing Quotes
    • Interesting Readings
    • Junk Mail and Telemarketing Phone Call Reduction Resources
    • Miscellaneous Organizational Tips
    • NAPO Code of Ethics
    • NAPO-NE Tips for Adopting Green Organizing and Celebrating Earth Day
    • NAPO-NE Tips for Practical Ways to Get Organized
    • Outstanding Professional Organizer Websites
    • Organizing Product Stores
    • Resale Information
  • Testimonials/In the News
    • Testimonials
    • In the News
  • Contact
  • Blog

Energize and Organize:  Back to School Success with Home and School Time Timer Clocks!

9/4/2017

 
Picture
Time Timer Clock
“Back to School” season can be overwhelming if you aren’t prepared. The key is intentionality about where, when and how you track and complete the various tasks that creep back onto the calendar each September. School already started in your area? These tips can help you dig out of the disorganization and bring order to your home and life.

1. Establish calendar central.
  • The rhythms of the school year also influence the kickoff of many other activities–for the kids and for you. Designate a place in your home to serve as calendar central. You need a place where you (and your entire family) can glance at everyone’s commitments at once. Consider color coding by each family member so that you can write shorter entries and easily track who’s doing what.
  • You might also consider a weekly dry-erase calendar with a column for each day and a dry-erase marker color for each person. Using your monthly calendar, write in each entry along with reminders, “Soccer practice–bring snack,” or “Dance class–black leotard.” You can also note ongoing homework such as “20 minutes of reading” or “Spelling Review.”

2. Create a homework space.
  • Studies show that routine is very important to helping kids feel safe and to create self-discipline. A designated spot in the house for homework should be part of that routine. Whether it’s the kitchen table or a desk in the study, strive to create a routine where homework is completed in the same place at the same time each day.
  • Fill a desktop caddy or special drawer with the items you use regularly for homework like highlighters, scissors, pencils and index cards. Have a younger child feeling left out? Keep crayons on hand, too, and “assign” some coloring or art projects.
  • A Time Timer can also help keep homework and other after-school activities on track. The Dry Erase Board is a great way to place reminders such as “20 minutes-Piano,” “Read for 15 minutes,” etc. so that kids know how much time is remaining for each activity.

3. Run to the in-zone.
  • An inbox isn’t enough space for most families. Create an “in-zone” where you can collect and sort invoices, medical receipts, the scouting popcorn/cookie sales sheet, club sign-up forms and more.
  • Establish a drop zone so that your children know to always hang their backpack and jacket in the same place. Create a bin for each sport or activity for easy access.
  • Create a filing system for every paper that comes home with an inbox where kids can place their take-home folders each day. A hanging magazine rack helps you sort by each child.
  • Review each take home folder and sort by Toss, Archive or Action. Toss papers right away. Archive each child’s special drawings, report cards award certificates and anything else you might want to keep, either with a digital filing system or a hanging file for each child. Action papers should be dealt with right away: Sign that form! Send in money for the teacher gift. Action papers can be returned to your child’s take-home folder for the next morning.

4. Establish a bedtime routine and stick to it.
  • Studies show that the blue light from electronics suppresses melatonin, the hormone we need to fall asleep. Experts recommend turning off devices two to three hours before falling asleep to promote rest.
  • Create a bedtime routine so that you can help your children wind down from the day. Set the Time Timer to let them know how much time before TV is finished for the day. Perform nightly rituals in the same sequence if possible: shower, brush teeth, read a book aloud. The more consistent the routine, the better chance that these activities alone will promote sleep by the body just knowing that shower-brush-read leads to bedtime soon.

5. Prep for Tomorrow Tonight
  • Set aside 30 minutes on the Time Timer to prep for the next day. Make lunches (or supervise your children making them). Lay out clothes for the next morning. Review the upcoming calendar. A little prep time goes a long way toward ensuring you and your kids are ready to tackle morning without moaning.
Source:  Sponsored Blog from Time Timer, a NAPO Corporate Business Partner
Note:  I used the Time Timer clock in my classroom for years and found it to be an outstanding teaching and learning tools for students!  


Remember if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ...
Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts  Contact 617.640.2366     www.energizeandorganize.com

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Family Life
    Home
    Office

    RSS Feed

Welcome
About Us
Services
Gallery                                                         
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Testimonials
Contact 
Blog
Phone:  617.640.2366

Email:  
 [email protected]


Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth    © 2025

Photos from jimmcsweeney jimmcsweeney, walknboston, frankieleon, tdlucas5000, marneejill, Larry Lamsa, Rina Pitucci (Tilling 67), tdlucas5000, wizardofozgurl, Rennett Stowe, kimblomqvist, cote, Hugo-90, likeaduck, jasleen_kaur, wuestenigel, Clint Mason, ЕгорЖуравлёв, dalecruse, tdlucas5000, tdlucas5000, cafecredit, Montgomery County Planning Commission, hellotidy, jerryrauth, Jeffrey Camphens, Rusty Clark ~ 100K Photos, Princess Ruto, Scioto Photos, AcrylicArtist, Bennilover, David Meurin, nahid-v, Eduardo Deboni, Swallowtail Garden Seeds, torbakhopper, avrene, roseannadana, quinn.anya, dalecruse, Bennilover, krossbow, (Imagine) 2.0, fontplaydotcom, Muffet, William_Doyle, tdlucas5000, LadyDragonflyCC - >;<, stockcatalog, David Paul Ohmer, SurFeRGiRL30, TurtleCreek-Branson, ThoroughlyReviewed, dullhunk, Michael Khor, susivinh, Kirt Edblom, anitakhart, zhaffsky, Giuseppe Milo (www.pixael.com), mnapoleon, wuestenigel, The Simpsons (Lee, Shirley, Luke and Rachel), homethods, vijay_chennupati, Gail Frederick, Kurt Stocker, Gail Frederick, (Imagine) 2.0, themostinept, Bennilover, cattan2011, cattan2011, frankieleon, FootMassagez, melissa richards photography, Kirt Edblom, Doolallyally, Topu Saha, Bennilover, tdlucas5000, cattan2011, Bobby McKay., amanessinger, blumenbiene, tnilsson.london, France1978, okchomeseller, ajay_suresh, njhomepictures, dee_dee_creamer, Bennilover, Ravi_Shah, macieklew, Jeffrey Camphens, Goedeker's, kennethkonica, cattan2011, e27182818284, vwcampin, dMaculate, Orchids love rainwater, PLeia2, David Paul Ohmer, ThoseGuys119, scootergenius02, judithjackson957, Scouse Smurf, Feathering the Nest, tdlucas5000, closet factory, cattan2011, Senior Guidance, kennethkonica, watts photos1, tdlucas5000, kennethkonica, Artur Malinowski, vwcampin, ЕгорЖуравлёв, Tobyotter, inbounduk, Diana Parkhouse, Paula R. Lively, tdlucas5000, France1978, Kirt Edblom, Gail Frederick, hellotidy, Digital Magic Photography, Infomastern, kennethkonica, Ani Carrington, spbda, Soupmeister, tdlucas5000, UnknownNet Photography, ancasta1901, wuestenigel (CC BY 2.0), torbakhopper, tdlucas5000, State Farm, Bennilover, marneejill, tdlucas5000, Jeff Kubina, amslerPIX, joiseyshowaa, Angelbattle bros, r.nial.bradshaw, Goedeker's, Antrell Williams, majolie46, symphony of love, wuestenigel, theglobalpanorama, cattan2011, tdlucas5000, pureplanetrecycling, Ruth and Dave, wuestenigel, Rawpixel Ltd, Got Credit, romanboed, Kelly Hunter, kud4ipad, Ozzy Delaney, Doolallyally, MICOLO J Thanx 4, 2.4m views, P_Linehan, taymtaym, steve p2008, mariaronnaluna, Nic's events, DaveCowieMT, Jocelyn777 - Celebrating Europe, Anders Ruff Custom Designs, michaelmueller410, kennethkonica, scriptingnews, Pictures from GTB, CJS*64 "Man with a camera", romanboed, POP'S PIC'S, judy dean, garlandcannon, Harold Litwiler, Poppy, Goedeker's, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Luciano Belviso, theanthonyryan, r.nial.bradshaw, PickComfort, Robert.Pittman, Goedeker's, Paula R. Lively, Me in ME, osseous, sunoochi, PLeia2, cattan2011, Patricia Pierce, mikecogh, Anthony Quintano, Kirt Edblom, Jeff Kubina, designsbykari, torbakhopper, roseannadana, orangemania, SparkFunElectronics, M. Martin Vicente, JeepersMedia, John Brighenti, chimpwithcan, wuestenigel, Bennilover
  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Home Office Organization
    • Residential Organization >
      • Are You Chronically Disorganized? >
        • Common Characteristics of Chronically Disorganized Individuals
      • Are you Situationally Disorganized?
      • Organizing by Learning and Action Style Preferences
    • Senior Organization
    • Student Organization >
      • Executive Function
      • Improving Your Child's Organizing Skills
      • Organizing by Learning/Sensory Preferences and Action Style Preferences
      • Organization and Time Management Strategies for Kids with L.D.
      • Student Organizing Tips - Internet Resources
  • Gallery
  • FAQ
  • Resources
    • Charitable Donation Information
    • Decisions, Decisions, Decisions ... To Keep or Not to Keep?
    • Green Tips from NAPO-New England Professional Organizers
    • Insightful Education Websites for Children and Students with All Kinds of Abilities
    • Inspirational Organizing Quotes
    • Interesting Readings
    • Junk Mail and Telemarketing Phone Call Reduction Resources
    • Miscellaneous Organizational Tips
    • NAPO Code of Ethics
    • NAPO-NE Tips for Adopting Green Organizing and Celebrating Earth Day
    • NAPO-NE Tips for Practical Ways to Get Organized
    • Outstanding Professional Organizer Websites
    • Organizing Product Stores
    • Resale Information
  • Testimonials/In the News
    • Testimonials
    • In the News
  • Contact
  • Blog