I know many people may dread the back-to-school season, parents, kids and teachers alike, but is it really all that bad? I mean, I get to shop for new clothes and school supplies, enrol my daughter in dance class, rush both kids to their yearly appointments, prepare lesson plans, wake up before the sun rises, take the car in for an oil change, plan out school lunches, rush the kids to daycare, learn the names of over 150 students, establish routines, iron clothes, juggle lengthly to-do lists and do it all while avoiding spontaneous combustion. 

Um...

How many days until Christmas vacation?

Let's face it. Back-to-school can be a difficult transition but getting organized can play a large role in easing the anxieties and ensuring everyone starts the year off on the right foot. This is why I'm turning to Post-it to help the kids and I get back into routine and stay organized throughout the year.

First and foremost on my list of organizational essentials is a family calendar. And yes, this is  in addition to the calendar app on my smart phone. Having a large wall calendar in a central location is much more effective in providing visual reminders for the whole family. We keep ours in the kitchen, as does parenting expert Alyson Schafer. This year, we are using the Post-it Note Weekly Planner to help keep track of everyone's individual schedules in one convenient location. It includes 26 weekly planning pages as well as six packs of full adhesive Post-it Super Sticky notes that fit perfectly into the squares on the calendar. What I love most about this calendar is that I can remove notes for weekly events, such as dance class or swim practice, and re-use them week after week. I attached the wall planner using the four sets of Command picture hanging strips, which are also included and easy to use. Did I mention brilliant?

If room allows, why not add a place to jot down notes right next to the family calendar? A dry-erase surface would be a perfect way to post little notes or leave important messages. With Post-it Dry Erase Surface, you can have an instant whiteboard in a matter of minutes. You can easily cut to fit and customize to suit your needs or get creative by transforming non-traditional areas. My daughter used it for the inside cover of her school binder, making it even more functional. Check out Alyson Schafer's tips to help kids maximize creativity and productivity.

Still in denial that summer is nearing an end? So am I. But, with the Post-it Miami Collection, I can still revel in the vibrant colours of the summer and bring a taste of the south to my office. These are not just your ordinary Post-it Notes. These are Super Sticky Notes that were designed with revolutionary adhesive technology that lets you stick them pretty much anywhere and reposition them without marking paper or other surfaces. Use these to keep track of chores, jot down ideas or take messages. My new favourite is the Post-it Super Sticky Full Adhesive Notes since they stay put and come in fashionable colours such as their exotic Bora Bora collection. And because they are recyclable, they are a great alternative to using a full sheet of binder paper when a 3" x 3" note will suffice. 

Another back-to-school must-have to help keep both students and teachers organized is a set of Post-it Flags, available in a myriad of designs. These are great for bookmarking pages in textbooks, tagging the current day in the school agenda, or highlighting where a signature is required using their "sign here" printed tags. I keep these in my desk drawer next to my new Post-it Full Adhesive Roll, available in a sleek design. With this, I can easily dispense a label at whatever length I need it.

For more ideas on how to get organized, visit the Inspiration That Sticks blog. Post-it products are available at most major retailers, including Staples where teachers can save even more on Staples Teacher Appreciation Days!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

If there is one thing that I have learned over the last few years, it is the importance of creating a classroom environment in which my students feel comfortable taking risks. Could the fear of making mistakes impede a child's learning potential? I believe so. Looking back on my childhood, I remember how embarrassed I would feel if I shared an incorrect answer in front of the whole class, making me wish I had never raised my hand. But then, if given the opportunity to correct my work, it would open the way for me to learn from mistakes. One of the ways educators today are providing such opportunities for students to share solutions to problems and build on ideas is through collaboration, an important 21st Century learning competency. And now, they can rely on an instant, flexible whiteboard solution to create new places to collaborate in the classroom in a way that is interactive and engaging. Introducing the Post-It Dry Erase Surface.

It comes as no surprise that collaboration delivers results. When children work together in pairs or groups and have shared responsibility, they develop an interdependency that opens new learning opportunities. A Dry Erase Surface is an excellent tool that invites students to share ideas without the fear of imperfection, especially knowing that they can easily erase their work. What I love most about the Post-It Dry Erase Surface is that you can quickly and easily cover large surfaces to maximize productivity or cut it down to smaller sizes and adhere to individual student desktops as highlighted in the video above. It can also be used to re-surface whiteboards.

For review, I was sent a 4 ft x 3 ft Post-It Dry Erase Surface sample that I shared with the kindergarten teachers at my school. They used it on a large table and created an inviting space for their little ones to share their drawings. I was tempted to join in myself! There is something about holding a marker in your hand and drawing on the smooth dry-erase surface that I find entices children. I also believe that, where little hands are concerned, drawing and writing skills can be better developed when you need not worry about applying pressure, as with a pencil. A Dry-Erase Surface is a great way to encourage writing and visual expression.

This back-to-school season, Alyson Schafer, a well-known Canadian parenting and education expert, along with Post-It has compiled tips for educators and parents on how to help kids maximize productivity and creativity. Many of them seem to touch upon additional 21st Century learning skills such as communication, real-world problem solving and self-regulation.