Are you constantly leaving home without everything you need? Do you forget your lunch and your classroom keys on a regular basis? Don’t worry, you are not alone! In the rush to get out of the house in the morning, it’s easy to forget the essentials for the day. Try some of the quick tips below to help make life easier as you leave the house for school.
Remembering The Things You Need
Gather
The first step to being organized for the morning rush is to gather everything that you need for the day the night before. Place graded work, lesson plan books, the laptop and anything else that needs to go with you to school in a bag together. By doing the gathering the night before, you are less likely to forget things in the morning. Don’t forget to also gather any special items that you don’t normally bring every day.
Routine
Just as your students thrive on routine, so will you. Get in the habit of putting the things that you need right by the front door. Keep a pretty basket or bin at the entrance way where you can place your school items. Either take the entire basket with you every day or take just the bags. Some people prefer to take the entire basket or crate so that they can bring home extra things at the end of the day. For things like keys and ID badges, make a habit of putting them in the same place every day, as well. A special pocket in your purse or school bag is a great spot.
Lunch
Make your lunch the night before and have it ready to go in the refrigerator the next day. Keep your insulated lunch bag in the fridge or on the counter with your crackers, granola bars, etc. The key to remembering your lunch is simply to get in the habit of bringing it. You can even leave yourself a note by the front door that says, “Got lunch?” as a reminder to bring it along.
The more you can accomplish the night before, the more likely you will be to remember everything in the morning. By taking the time to gather your items before bed, you’ll rest easier knowing that the morning will go smoothly. What are your tricks for remembering everything you need for school? Share with us below or on the forums!
Amy Dittman says
I even lay out my clothes the night before. It makes getting ready for work that much easier. I also give all these suggestions to students and their parents as a way to make mornings less traumatic!
Raye Wood says
I have found that if I prepare for my school day the same way I ask my children to, we all get off to an easier start each morning. They get their clothes out and pack their backpacks the night before so getting going in the morning is much simpler. I have made it a practice to do this as well, since they’ve started school. Now we all do it and it makes the morning rush less hectic and also ensures that we all leave the house without forgetting anything. I recently purchased a cascading file tote that has a little handle on it that can be brought home to house any papers/notes or To Do items. Everything then gets placed back into the tote for the return trip to school so papers are much less likely to be left on the table (which I have done before) in the mad rush to get out the door in the morning.
Jill says
Keys go on what you don’t want to forget! Put them in the fridge if you have to! Notes written with a red marker help but I even overlook those. 🙁 Having a designated spot sure helps.
Penny says
I don’t seem to have a problem leaving things at home but leaving my classroom without my … cellphone, purse, lunchbox, etc. It seems I’m always making trips back to the room for something!
Sharon Podlin says
I hang stuff on the door knob of the door I go out in the morning. If I can’t hang it, I prop it. This is the one way I won’t forget stuff during the mad dash out the door!
Barb J says
These are all great tips. I have always packed my bags the night before, and I leave everything in the same place, every day. The routine helps me remember, because I don’t have to think about what I need to take, I just grab what I put there!
Chrissy says
Last night I learned that I can’t take my lesson plan book to bed with me; it was left on the floor this morning!
I try to use the same bag for my teaching tools and leave it in a consistent location (back door countertop). With four children still in school, and my schedule as a Kindergarten teacher, we are on paper and supplies overload at my house!
Beth M says
Not only am I a teacher, but I am an adult living with ADD, so this topic hits close to home! Being a mom and a wife also means there’s more than just me to consider each morning. To assist me in remembering things for myself and my family, I write checklists (and I keep a thorough calendar notebook). I keep a pad out and I add to it the night before as I remember what else needs to be done. To help with organization, we each have a place in our home that is designated for our belongings to assist us in a smooth transition from day to day.
For us, if you can’t see it, it most likely becomes forgotten. Routine is KEY and sticking to it creates a pleasant morning of not rushing around to find necessary items. For me, I place my school items by my purse and keys, so it is all in plain sight. And to help our children, we have their clothes laid out the night before. Also, to help me be successful with getting me and others ready, I wake up about 30-45mins before the kids, so I can do the majority of what I need to do to get myself ready that way I can focus on them as they get up.
My husband and I already know who is responsible for helping each child. To assist our kids in the morning, I also use the Time Timer (shows elapsed time since time is an abstract concept for them), so they can see how much time they have left before leaving for school and to see if they are using their time wisely. My eldest son even uses a 2 min hourglass timer to help when brushing his teeth, so that he spends time doing it! Otherwise, it would be a rush job!
Starting these routines now has definitely helped my family have more positive mornings together! 🙂
schelly says
I teach 3 different preschool classes and a 5th grade math class in 3 different rooms!!! I have one tote bag that everything goes into each day. It sometimes gets very heavy because things accumulate in it that aren’t necessary. It definitely helps me keep what I need where I need it. No matter how organized I try to stay, I still have the days that I have left a needed paper/supply/water bottle at home or in another room (usually in the room at the opposite end of the building and up or down a flight of stairs!!!) Happy to add more ideas to organizing!!!
Amber J says
Packing a lunch the night before really seems to be the key for me- when I remember to do it! 😉 Thanks for sharing!