Moms, how are you coming on your organizational skills this year? 

I’m going to admit right now that I have not always been the most organized person.  But over the years and with much prodding from my dear husband, I have become much more organized in all that I do (from running the house, to my writing, to teaching the children and everything in between).

So this year I started off with great expectations.  At the beginning of the school year I had everything scheduled and organized.  Of course, I must give credit where credit is due and The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner sure has helped in this area.  So I’m off to a good start.  Now comes the challenge of imparting to my children the same organizational skills.  After all, it is important for children to be structured.  It’s important for them to have order.  And as they get older it is even more important that they learn the self discipline it takes to keep them organized.

There are two things I have learned to help my own children with these skills.  First, I have to emulate the behavior for them.  After all, when it comes to children, more is caught than taught.   Secondly, I must provide for them good resources and tools to use.  For example, if I want to teach my children to be early risers then I myself must be an early riser.  Secondly, I should invest in an alarm clock for them (giving them the proper tool). 

To teach my children to be organized I first must be.  Then I need to give them the proper tools or resources.  This is where the Schoolhouse Student Planner comes in.  I received the Middle School (7-8 grade) planner from TOS in exchange for an honest review.  It is 278 pages of informative articles, helpful calendars, valuable forms, and so much more.  In fact, there really is too much to list but below are a few examples.

• To-do lists (today, tomorrow, next week . . .)
• Audio/Visual log
• Log sheet
• Marking period planners
• Wish list (stuff to buy later)
• Science lab sheets (use to gather all the supplies and record the experiment too)
• General book reports
• Early elementary book reports (with room for pictures!)
• Chore charts (includes tasks and pictures for primary and secondary grades)
• Loaned and borrowed lists (no more lost books, CDs, DVDs . . .)
• Important phone numbers and contacts (never forget a phone number again)
• Address book (from A–Z)
• Family tree
• Community service record (college and scholarship applications may require this information)
• Dates to remember (birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, important events)
• Website login/password reference (handy!)

In addition, there are those much-needed, must-know lists for those hard to remember facts and figures:

• Thirteen colonies
• Multiplication table
• Branches of government
• Planets
• Measurement conversions
• Elements
• Capitals of states or countries
• Timelines
• Kitchen and measurement conversions
• And more!

The student planners complement the Schoolhouse Planners in a very nice way but can also stand alone.   At just $19 they are affordable as well.   I must say that our family is well on our way to having a smooth, well-run household and a very productive year!   Visit the store to learn more information.

Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. (Psa 25:4)