How to Organize Your School Supplies

A simple guide to help you keep your backpack and desk tidy so you can find exactly what you need for class. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Clear everything out. Empty your backpack and your desk drawers completely onto a flat surface. This helps you see exactly what you have and what might be hiding at the bottom of your bag.
2. Sort your items. Group similar items together: pens with pens, markers with markers, and notebooks with notebooks. If you find something that is broken or dried out, ask a grown-up if it should be recycled or thrown away.
3. Give everything a home. Put your most-used items, like your favorite pencil and eraser, in an easy-to-reach spot in your pencil case. Place your notebooks and folders in your bag or desk in the same order every day so you know exactly where to grab them.
4. Label your gear. Use labels or masking tape to mark your folders by subject, such as 'Math' or 'Science.' This makes it much faster to pull out the right folder when the teacher asks for it.