College Organization: Tip 12

Small Whiteboard

I recommend hanging a small whiteboard in your room where you can write down notes about your assignments, appointments with your adviser, and other things. I love having it in my room because I can look over to see the important things that I need to do for that week. 

It is a helpful reminder to see everyday what is due or when you are suppose to meet with your adviser. I like to have a visual reminder that I see every time I enter or leave my room. 

I would usually write down what I need to do that weekend for the upcoming week. I write down what day the assignment is due too. You can use different colors to be even more organized, though that is not necessary. 

You don't need a big whiteboard. Something small about 1.5' to 2' will be a good size. Also check prices for them everywhere like Walmart, Target, and Amazon to get the best price. 

I put my whiteboard right by the entry to my doorway, so I always see it and know what needs to be done. 

Then I like to check or cross them out, so then I feel more productive and know what I got done and what I still need to do. 

College Organization: Tip 11

Different Textbook Editions

I'm sure everyone has noticed that there are different editions to textbooks, but have you ever wonder what the big difference is about them besides the older editions are much cheaper. Before you go and buy or rent you textbooks you might want and check to see if the books are available in a lower edition. 

Sorry the pictures are not the best quality. 

Now, Let's look at two textbooks that I have. 

The Real World: An Introductory to Sociology

By: Kerry Ferris and Jill Stein

I have the First and Second editions of the books. The first is on the left and the second is on the right. 

Opening the textbooks and this is what you see. All the same stuff expect for two of the pictures being different in the books on the left pages. 

Now, lets take a look at the table of contents!

The one picture is a little blurry, but you can see the chapters are the same. You will notice that the pages are different because of the introduction in the one textbook. 

Here is a paragraph from the textbooks and again you can see that it is the same stuff. 

College Organization: Tip 10

Google Documents

Google Documents can be such a time saver. Instead of always having to meet up for groups assignments, create a Google Doc. They are documents that can be shared with everyone in the group and that anyone can edit them at anytime without having to email the document back and forth between the group. Again I wish I knew about this during freshman year.

• Multiple people can type into the document at the same time. 
• The Document saves automatically while typing. 
• Can make the document private for only groups members to see and edit.
• Other group members don't have to have Google Drive. 

Here are directions to have to make a document that everyone can edit and how to share it with people:

1. First, go to Google. If you are not logged in then, do so now. Then in the upper right hand corner click on the apps icon. 

2. Next, Click on the Drive App to open it. 

3. Afterwards, your Drive will open and on the far left corner click on 'Create'.

4. Scroll down and click on 'Document' to open a new document. 

5. Then you need to title the Document by clicking on 'Untitled Document' and typing in the name. 

6. Next to share the document for other to edit click 'File' then 'Share'. 

7. Then change who has access by clicking 'Change' and choosing 'Anyone with the link'.

8. Next go down to who has 'Access' and change from 'Can view' to 'Can edit'. 

9. After doing those two steps, it should look like the above and you need to save it. 

After that you send the group members the link and they can begin editing the document.

College Organization: Tip 9

Google Drive

If you haven't heard about Google Drive then I suggest you listen to what I have to say about it and how this might save your grades.

List of what you can create in Drive:

Document

Presentation

Spreadsheet

Drawing

Form

Google Drive is a program where you can download the software for it onto your laptop/computer. This allows you to be able to reach all your files from anywhere from any computer/laptop. Instead of saving that document you need to work on a flash drive or emailing it to yourself, you don't have to do that anymore.

What I really enjoy about it is say that you forgot to save an important presentation that you have to do in class today to your email or on a flash drive. You don't have to worry because you can go through your gmail account and go into Google drive to get it. Or maybe you forgot to print out a research paper, just go to the library and print it out from your drive.

I always worry that I'm going to forgot to email myself something, but now I don't have to worry. I wish I had known about Google Drive when I first started college, so then I could have save myself a lot of stress and worry.

You can either create a document in drive or you can write a document in Word and then save it in the drive. 

There are somethings you need to know when using Google Drive:

• You can't just access your files under 'My Documents' because then it won't save what you worked on with Google Drive.
• You only download Google Drive to your personal computer. You don't have to download it again to another computer like at school. 
• You access the Drive from other computers by logging into your Gmail account. 
• Old Word documents can be placed into the Drive.
• You can make folders in the Drive to stay organized.
• Documents automatically saves as you type.

If you have any questions, just leave a comment below. 

College Organization: Tip 8

Hiding Storage Boxes

I discussed before about selling your textbooks by using Big Words website to find the site that will give you the most for your books. This is tips about packaging your textbooks and the boxes to sell them with.

• I recommend saving boxes or packages from online purchases or big box purchases from stores like a TV, so this will save money from having to buy boxes. 
• If you don't do online shopping, then save the boxes or packages from books you have purchased before. 
• To store the boxes I would break the boxes down until they are flat and then I would place them behind furniture that will hide them, though you can still reach them if you need them. 

Below are a few pictures of how I store my boxes and you wouldn't even know they were there unless I showed you.

College Organization: Tip 7

Buying Textbooks

College is already expensive enough, but then you need to buy textbooks to go along with it. Don't do what I did freshmen year and that is buy new textbooks. There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying used textbooks. I have received some used textbooks that were like brand new.

A really great site to use is Bigwords. This site is great because it allows you to create a book-bag with all the books you will need for that semester and then it compares different sites to show you which website is selling the book the cheapest.

This site is also really great to use when the semester is over and you want to sell your books. It does the same thing by finding the website that will give you the most money for your book. Plus most of the sites will pay for your shipping.

I've recently been using this site and it has been great at finding the sites to get the most money from selling back my textbooks. Keep in mind that you will most likely never get close to what you paid for the book.

Busy Night

This post is not going to be very good because it's really late and I'm tired. Since I have gotten home from work I have been busy working on my prop box, lesson plan, and my service learning stuff. I had to make some changes to my lesson plan on that my mentor suggested. I had to print at the worksheets too. I also was worried because my cohort professor didn't email me back about going to my placement school tomorrow. Which she needs to because after tomorrow I don't have anything left to do for her to observe.

F.Y.I., after tomorrow there will only be two more days that I will be at placement. I can't believe the time went by so fast.

Also tonight I had to finish getting things finished and ready with my prop box. Mostly I had to decorate the box and then I had to change my plan for the art activity. Thanks to my parents who helped me come up with another idea, but I could still use the items I had planned.

For the service learning, I had people from my group texting and emailing me about stuff. Which was really annoying because it took away from time that I needed to do. Whatever. I think everything is good now. We will find out tomorrow.

I will explain more about everything on Friday's post.

College Organization: Tip 6

Ask the Professor Questions

This isn't really an organization tip, but it's something good to do and know. On the first day of class don't be afraid to ask the professor questions:

• Do you need a notebook or a binder? It might be a lot of note taking in the class, so you need a notebook or the teacher might pass out a lot of hand outs instead and a binder is better to use to store them.

                                          

• Do you need to bring the textbook every class? Lugging a heavy textbook around is no fun and it's especially annoying if you don't even use it in class, so then you carried it around for no reason. 

These questions can save you time and energy, so ask your professor and mostly likely other students in the class were wondering the same thing.

College Organization: Tip 5

Binder Covers

Binder Covers! I don't know why, but I never thought about doing binder covers back during my Gen-ed classes. Instead I always just put my syllabus in the front pocket of my binders.

Binder covers are a great way to know which binder goes with which class if all your binders look the same or just a way to help you. The question is how do you make a binder cover? You don't have to. I recommend going over to Teachers Pay Teachers where you can find free binder covers already made and you can write whatever your class is on them.

Here are some free cover options you can use and customize;

        Garden Theme                                Chevron, Polka Dot, More

                          

           Chevron                                                  Owl Theme

These are just a few themes that I found for free. There are still many others you can pick from.

Note: You can find many great free treasures on Teachers Pay Teachers, so don't be afraid to check it out even if you are not a teacher.                                         

College Organization: Tip 4

Preparing for Class

It's very important to be prepared for class. Waking up early in the morning to get ready for class, you can't always remember to grab everything that you need in a short time.

• I pack my bag the night before with the binder/books that I will need and any other materials for class that day.
• Look in your binder to make sure you put your assignment or the paper you worked on is in your binder. 
• Pack a snack or two in your bag or I liked to pack snacks in my car at the beginning of the week and to snack on throughout the week.
• Try and plan your outfit the night before. You don't necessarily have to have it out, but just knowing what you are going to wear will help.
• Have other items you do in the morning out. (I have my flat iron, heat spray, and comb out, so all I have to do is turn it on.)

By doing all those things the night before will allow you to get a little extra sleep in the morning because you have already done them. Also reduces your stress knowing that you have everything due that day in your bag. 

College Organization: Tip 3

Organizing Digital Content

To me it's very important that your digital college work is organized too. You can't just save assignments anywhere because when you look for them later you can never find them or there are not where you thought you saved them.

• In Documents I make a folder labeled whatever the semester is (Spring 2014, Fall 2013). This is where I keep everything I need for college that semester.

• Inside the folder I make more folders. I make one for each class I have and label them (EDCU 101, PHYS 102, MATH 301, etc.). 

• Then sometimes in each folder I have other folders depending on the class. Sometimes I have folders that hold course materials like the schedule or syllabus. 

Not much to it. Pretty simple.

College Organization: Tip 2

To Do List Binder

Like I have said before, Spring semester is shortly approaching and I like to get myself organized before the first day of class, so when that day does come I'm already ahead of the semester.

I know most people have a planner for college, but that just doesn't work for me when it comes to college. I have a To Do binder; which I use to write down when assignments are due, check off the assignments I have done, and keep track of my grades.

• What you will need: 1/2 binder, To Do List, Grade Sheets, and dividers. (Click To Do List and Grade Sheet to print copies of the papers)
• On the cover front sleeve of the binder I have the To Do List. I write down everything that I need to know like upcoming exams, papers, assignments, etc. I write them down in order of when they will be due.

• On the inside right sleeve pocket of the binder is where I keep the grade sheets. I have a grade sheet for each class.

• On the rings of the binder I have my course schedule from each class, which are separated by dividers. I don't label my divider, so that I can use them again. 
• Also I have the schedules in order from Monday to Friday and based on the time of the class.

• Then on the last pocket in the back I keep extra To Do lists for when I run out of space on the other. 

And that's it. I try and write down two weeks ahead of time what will be due. Also sorry the binder is bare. I can upload new pictures when spring semester begins. 

College Organization: Tip 1

Drawer Organizer Schedule/Storage

I like to be organized for anything and everything that I do. It's important to be organized for college, though it's not going to help you pass your classes unless you stay on top of your assignments too.

Spring semester will be starting soon and I like to be organized before it begins.

• I would buy an organization drawer from Walmart/Target or from wherever. I recommend buying one with at-least five drawers, so you have a drawer for each class. 
• Next I like to print out covers for each drawer labeling what class that drawer is for. (I turned the paper to landscape in Word for more coverage and used size 100 font.)
• On each cover I put: what class it was, what day the class was, and what time the class was from. 
• I put the classes in order based on their day and time on the drawers. I slipped the cover on the inside and secured it with a little piece of tape on top. 
• Then inside each drawer I would put whatever I need for that class; binder, folder, notebook, textbook, etc.

 

About Me

Hello......here is a little bit of information about myself.

• Age: 22 years old 
• Birthday: September 17, 1992
• Major: Early Childhood Education
• Job: Daycare Center for 5 years, but then quit at Semester 7
• Education: Local Community College then transferred to a Four Year College

Those are a few basic things. Some other information is:

• Commute to College (about hour-ish drive)
• Not a very confidante person
• Love to read romance/chick lit books
• Like to be organized
• Proud of my Pinterest boards
• I'm shy when I first meet people
• Still live at home with parents
• Have to plan ahead
• Italian and a little Irish 
• Could eat pasta or pizza everyday

Plans for Blog

After my first post I spent quite a bit of time getting to know Blogger and fixing up my blog. I think I have it the way I want it to be set up for now.

Plans:

• I plan to post a blog every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 
• It will not always just be about student teaching itself, but dealing with student teaching will still taking classes at the same time. 
• I already have some blogs ready that I'm going to post about getting ready for college/student teaching.
• I will also try and post a little something about myself. 
• Also I don't really have a schedule on the times that I will post. It most likely  will be random because of my school schedule. 

Alright.. that's everything I have so far. Look for on Friday a blog about myself.