45+ Genius Back-to-School Organization Ideas to Kick Off the School Year Right

Weekdays can be hectic. Keep your kids on task by hanging a dry erase chart that lets them easily keep track of their daily chores. Amazon reviewers note that the magnetic back sticks really well, even when small kids are pulling on it.

Late on the first day? Not a good look. Keep stragglers in line by setting an alarm clock or timer to ring at strategic intervals, like 10 minutes before the bus comes.

Backpacks don't have to be left in complete disarray. Colorful pouches like these can be put to use to organize everything from pencils to earbuds to charger cords.

Digital calendars are great for keeping track of all the details: the addresses, the notes, the directions for getting places. But it's also helpful to have the big events posted IRL, where everyone can see the shape of the week at a glance. Use a dry-erase board, a chalkboard, or even index cards hung from a clothesline with clothespins. Use a different color marker or chalk for each member of the family.

Start the day off right with a polished entry, including a stylish wall organizer for school forms, doctors' notes and the like. Keeping these docs by the door (along with your keys) will help you remember to take them before you head out the door.

Since snack time can get hectic, give each kid their own reusable storage bag to keep the bickering to a minimum. Designate different colored bags for each child so there's no confusion. These are less expensive than other reusable bags and have stand-up versions so little ones are less likely to spill their snacks.

Accidents happen, and sometimes at the most inopportune times. Be ready to handle one quickly by preparing a first-aid kit in advance. Fill it with things like alcohol wipes, band-aids and antibiotic ointment, so you can always stay on schedule. Bonus points if you get cool patterns and kid-sized band-aids.

For reminders you just can't forget, write them on a sticky notes and place them where they're most helpful. Keep a list of college application to-dos on a Post-It stuck to your teenager's laptop or place a sticky note on the door to remember sneakers for the class field trip.

If your kid's bedroom is short on space, decorating it with smart pieces like a storage ottoman is a good idea. It's the perfect spot to keep books and art supplies under-wraps.

You know the saying: "Out of sight, out of mind." To avoid this, keep books on full display in your child's bedroom. Opt for acrylic bookshelves to minimize visual clutter in the space.

There are endless notes that have to be written throughout the school year, from early dismissal notifications to change of transportation notes. Make writing them a little quicker with this personalized notepad.

These personalized envelopes make it easy for teachers to see at a glance what a child is handing to them during a no-doubt busy morning.

Papers that require a parental once-over — permission slips that need a signature, sign-up sheets for volunteer slots — should have their own designated place, so they don't get tangled up with your kids' assignments. Get them in the habit of putting your correspondence in its own letter tray.

Between the bus ride, the long days at school, and extracurricular activities, it's easy for things to get misplaced. Skip the label maker and go with one of these more durable bands, which can be reused.

Sometimes the phone calendars just don't do it for some of us. Having a written, physical planner to keep track of all your obligations — from work, school, to sports — is key to staying on-time and organized throughout the busy school year.

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Breezing through the drop-off line is easy when kids can grab tissues or (let's face it) on-the-go breakfast from a stash in the car. It beats trying to hand them something from your purse while you're driving.

Whether your kid enjoys basketball or baseball, it pays to keep their equipment in order. A simple storage rack for the garage or a bin for your trunk makes it easy to grab what they need in a pinch.

Don't encourage your teen to waste time scrambling to get ready in the morning. Keep their morning essentials, like hair products, in a bathroom caddy to make things easy to find in a pinch.

Little ones who aren't used to taking a backpack around might find it difficult at first to remember which is theirs and they may even loose it from time to time. This tag makes locating it a breeze.