5 Tips for Success This School Year

Back-to-School is always one of our favorite times of the year at ThePolkaDotPosie. We've built quite a collection of fun FREE Printables to help you count down and get organized for the year ahead. But as we were taking stock of these printables the last few weeks we realized:

This year is going to look a LOT different. 

Whether you and/or your kids are going back to the classroom, starting full-time remote/virtual learning, homeschooling or participating in a hybrid plan, this school year is going to be full of changes. For many of us that will mean new schedules, new routines and lots of new information to keep track of. With that in mind, we've put together some helpful Tips for Success (and some updated FREE school printables to go along with them).

TIP #1: GET YOURSELF A PLANNER

You knew that was going to be first on the list, right? Planners are what we do best, but we also know that planners are life savers when things get crazy and chaotic. So if there is ever a year that you NEED a planner...this is it.

Choosing a planner this year will really depend on how you are teaching or learning. If you want something that you can use for all areas of your life, our 2020-2021 Planner (in Seasonal or Signature design) is a great option and could meet all of your needs.

But if you are teaching or homeschooling this year, you are going to want a little something more specific. Our Teacher and Homeschool planners come with everything you need with 2-page monthlies, weekly lesson plages, daily and weekly dockets, attendance logs, reading logs, and so much more. 

And don't forget your students! Our Undated Student Planner has everything from monthly, weekly and daily calendars, to assignment lists, schedules, reading logs, ToDo lists and project planners. 

Need something a little more simple for younger kids? Check out our My First Planner!

TIP #2: HAVE A FAMILY BINDER OR BULLETIN BOARD

If your household has multiple schedules and multiple learning plans this year, we highly recommend setting up a family binder or bulletin board. This binder or space should be somewhere that is easily accessible for all members of your family (we really like the kitchen). It can include any/all of the following:

Important School Information & Paperwork

In addition to all the handouts you get from school, our updated School Printables will help you keep track of school info, logins and passwords for the various websites you and your children will need to access and a weekly checklist that can be printed out for kids to keep track of their subjects, homework, chores, etc. We left it blank so you can fill it in for your needs. 

Shared Calendars

The purpose of a calendar in your Family Binder is to help sync everyones schedules. While some people prefer monthly views, we REALLY love our Detailed Weekly Calendars during the school year. They have plenty of space for daytime reminders, schedules & appointments, dinner planning, evening events and a daily ToDo checklist. This calendar would work great in a binder, but we prefer to print and laminate ours so that it can go on our refrigerator or family bulletin board. Use wet/dry erase markers and reuse each week. 

Home Management Pages

Your Family Binder doesn't just have to be used for school and schedules. You can also use it to keep track of annual appointments, vehicle maintenace logs, cleaning schedules, emergency contact info, detailed lists and more! You can find millions of awesome free printables online for this section, but be sure to also check out our FREE Home Management Set. 

TIP #3: TAKE NOTES and/or KEEP A JOURNAL

Calling all notebook hoarders! This tip is for you. Break out one of the many unused notebooks you have in your house right now and put it at your work station, on your nightstand or slip it in your tote. Technology is great, but as a writing teacher, I am always encouraging my students to put pen to paper. This is the PERFECT year to begin journaling if it isn't already one of your habits. You can find a variety of different journal prompts online, but sometimes the best journaling is simply a recap of your day. What did you do? Where were the struggles? What were the highlights? How did you feel?

Traditional journaling not your thing? You can also use your notebook for lists, jotting down notes and ideas, doodling, handlettering and more! The goal is simply to write/doodle in it every day (or as many days a week as you can remember).

TIP #4: CELEBRATE THE FIRST DAY

Even though this school year will be unlike any other, it's so important to keep some of the school traditions you cherish, whether that is a special routine the night before the first day, or holding your First Day of School signs for a picture in the morning. Set the tone for the year with positivity and excitement :)

TIP #5: DON'T FORGET TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE

I don't know about all of you, but as a parent and a teacher, these last few weeks especially have felt like an emotional rollercoaster. And we've really never gotten off the ride since mid-March when the world shut down. Self-care is going to be so important for all of us this school year and we've put together a list of 50 different self-care ideas and inspiration. The pritntable list also comes with a blank calendar if you want to schedule your self-care ahead of time :) 

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Here is a great big SHOUT OUT to all of you parents, teachers and administrators for working so hard this summer. We see the hours of work you are putting in now and we know the hours of work you have ahead of you. Whatever the school year brings for all of us, let's go through it with plenty of grace and understanding. Let's support each other, no matter how we choose to educate our kids or do our jobs. 

We are in this TOGETHER.

And ThePolkaDotPosie is here to help in any way we can. With printables :) 

FREE Printable Last Day of School Signs

The end of this school year is like no other, but we want to make sure that we keep our most important traditions, like holding our Last Day of School signs.

This year, we challenge all of you to get creative with your Last Day of School pictures. Learning from home isn't what we expected and I know many of us are mourning the loss of those "last day of school" experiences, but there is still so much to celebrate. Make your pictures memorable by coming up with your own theme day, posing on your porch in your quarantine attire (i.e. pajamas and a gaming headset? Ha!), throw on your new face mask and hold a roll of toilet paper (that will be a story for the history books), or graduates, slip on your cap and gown for this year's photo.

We would LOVE to see your pictures so please feel free to use our hashtag #ThePolkaDotPosieLastDayofSchool

While We are Home: Schedules & Resources

I know many of us are feeling very anxious today with so much uncertainty and change, but here at ThePolkaDotPosie, we are determined to help all of our friends and customers in any way we can over the coming weeks.

We noticed over the last few days that our Summer Schedule Printable (with screen time menu) has spiked and a few customers have actually reached out to ask if we could adapt that schedule for parents who are now going to spend at least the next few weeks at home with their kids. We thought this was an EXCELLENT idea. We struggled with a new name for the schedule, since we don't want to draw any more attention to those scary words like "Pandemic" or "Covid-19" so we are simply naming this schedule "While we are home..."

Some parents really liked the weekly activity themes, and some asked for a blank version, so we created two versions of this printable with both guided themes or blank days of the week that you can make more homeschool-specific. You can download these FREE printables {HERE}.

And for those looking for a full Homeschool Planner to help with any big transitions you might be facing, please visit our Printable Shop. We will be offering discounts on these planners for the foreseeable future and even if you don't have a colored printer, these can easily be printed in black/white to save some ink.

Another printable we have trending this week is our 31 Day Declutter Challenge. 

With newly open schedules and the need to stay home over the coming weeks, it is the perfect time to tackle some of those home projects and chores you have been putting off. Our printable doesn't have to be used as a challenge (unless that helps motivate you). You can also simply use it as a list of different areas of your home to tackle each day without getting overwhelmed.

And speaking of being overwhelmed...

In the midst of all this craziness, please don't forget to take care of YOURSELF. While you are busy download, make sure you also grab a copy of our free Self-Care List & Calendar.

With social distancing enforced, not all of these activities will work, but we find that most of the important ones can be done from home (like calling a friend, journaling, taking a bath, cooking a good meal, listening to music, etc.) While you are busy taking care of everyone else, be sure to also take plenty of time to care for yourself :) 

And finally, our newest printable to help you out is our Daily Reflection Journal. 

This daily page will help you document your days at home with space to journal everything from gratitude and thoughts for the day, to a list of books you read, shows/movies/programs you watched and other things you did that brought you joy (like doing puzzles, having video chats with friends, baking, finishing projects around the house, playing outside, sending cards to loved ones, etc.) You can keep all of these pages in a binder or planner, or you can have the pages bound when life gets back to normal. We hope this printable helps you document this momentous time in history.

We know we can't change the world with printables, but that is what we do best and we are here to help in any way we can to make life a little easier, a little more organized and a little more fun over the coming weeks. Please feel free to reach out if you need ANYTHING from us. Until then, stay safe and healthy, friends!

Free St. Patrick's Day Printables!

Hello, March! It is so nice to see the word SPRING on the calendar and I only hope Mother Nature gets the message SOON :)

While we wait for the sunshine, it's time to start planning for St. Patrick's Day! Does the Leprechaun visit your home or classroom? Do you have a Pinterest board full of fun St. Patrick's day crafts and activities? Do you plan a special meal every year (my hubby can't live without his corned beef and cabbage)? Our newest one-page holiday planner will help you organize all of that and more!

You can download this fun printable in all three planner sizes {HERE}.

Decorating for St. Patrick's Day always seems a bit rushed with Easter right behind, so if you aren't looking to spend a lot of money on decor, but still want something to hang in your home, checkout our free printable shamrock bunting!!

This banner is SUPER easy to print and assemble. Just download this bunting page {HERE} and you will see that there are two bunting pieces per 8.5 x 11" sheet. 

* Print as many as you need for the length banner you desire. 

* Cut out your bunting pieces with scissors or a paper cutter.

* Punch holes in the corners of each bunting piece.

* String all pieces together with twine or ribbon.

And that's it!!! Cute, inexpensive decor you can make at home.

And while you are busy printing, check out these fun St. Patrick's Day lunch box notes and download them {HERE}!

We hope you enjoy these freebies and be sure to visit us again later this month when we share our Easter planner page and goodies! 

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A FRIENDLY REMINDER

Please feel free to share the link to our shop blog with all of our St. Patrick's Day goodies, but PLEASE do not link to the downloads directly. These printables are free to download for personal use, but they MAY NOT BE EDITED, SOLD OR PRINTED FOR RESALE in any way. If you have questions about these printables and how they may be used, please contact us in our shop. If you like the beautiful cliparts used in many of these printables, they can be purchased from one of our favorite Etsy shops, © Erin Bradley Designs | erinbradleydesigns.etsy.com

FREE Valentine's Day Printables

I know it feels like we just took down the Christmas tree (and for some of us, they may have only been yesterday), but it's time to look ahead to the next fun holiday on the list...Valentine's Day!

The stores are already filling up with cards, candy and other goodies so if you want to start getting organized now, be sure to download our one-page Valentine Planner!

This fun page has everything you need to plan the basics, like cards to send (or pass out in school), decor, things you want to make, gifts you need to buy, etc. We also have plenty of space for writing your Valentine's Day plans & menu! This page will come in all three of our planner sizes, and you can download each of them {HERE}.

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Last year, while scrolling through Facebook, I saw an awesome Valentine's Day tradition that I wanted to start with my kids. The idea is simple...you write little love notes on paper hearts and stick them to your kids' doors on the days or weeks leading up to Valentine's Day! While it is perfectly easy to cut your own hearts out of construction paper, we wanted to make the project a little more fun (and easy)!

Our printable set comes with a cute sign to hang on the door so that your kiddos know to expect new hearts every day! We also included a space where you can sign who the notes are from. That way, everyone in the family can join in on the fun!

The set also comes with 5 sheets of pre-filled hearts, and a sheet of blank hearts so you can write your own personal notes. You can download everything {HERE} All you need is a printer and a pair of scissors and you are ready to go! 

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Once you start to fill out your Valentine Planner, you will almost immediately remember one of the most time consuming tasks of Valentine's Day

CLASSROOM CARDS

With all the extra time some of us have to spare in the house this week, why not try printing your own? Our bubble Valentine Cards have been a huge hit the last two years, and you can check them out and download your FREE set {HERE}. 

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And finally, one of our ALL TIME favorite Valentine's Printables...

Even my 5th grader still loves getting notes in her lunch box, and these little Valentine Lunch Box notes are the perfect little "I love you" to send with them each day.

And while you are at it, you can download ALL of our Lunch Box notes {HERE} and prepare for the holidays to come :) 

We hope you all have a magical Valentine's Day!!

Getting Organized & Motivated for the New Year Ahead!

I don't know how we can only be DAYS away from 2020, but here we are with a new year and a new decade on the horizon! As sad as I am to see Christmas go, I always love the motivation and inspiration I feel as a new year approaches. New goals to set, new projects to plan and new resolutions just waiting to be made.

For the last 6 years, we have shared our Goals & Resolutions printable and it has become one of our most popular freebies, so of course we had to keep the tradition going for 2020.

What makes this Goals & Resolutions worksheet special (at least to me) is having the space to focus on individual areas of my life. While many of these goals & resolutions will be on repeat (I'm looking at you "health" section), others will be tweaked each year, especially if I was able to achieve what I set out to do.

The other section of the worksheet that I LOVE is coming up with my Word of the Year. I have had several "words" over the years, and many haven't always panned out (like the year of "Nope" where I resolved to say NO to overcommitment. LOL LOL LOL).

But last year, my word was "Focus" and while I didn't master this in 2019, I made a very conscious effort to be more focused in everything I did, especially on things that were truly important. 

I may be setting myself up for another failure here, but this year's word is SO important to me and my health. My Word for 2020 is "Calm."

This Fall, I shared on social media that I was struggling with a constant feeling of nervousness, even when I didn't have anything specific to be nervous about. So many friends and family reached out on that post letting me know that they too have had this feeling. Some have found anxiety medication to be helpful, while others have found their calm by practicing mindfulness, journaling, meditating, doing Yoga, saying No to overcommitment (ahem) and a variety of other therapies. I've tried many of these suggestions over the last two months and while it has been difficult to find "Calm" in the busiest two months of the year, I have found a few things to be tremendously helpful:

1. The Headpspace App for mindful meditation

2. Working out/exercising with friends

3. Inspirational Self-help books and workbooks (currently on my nightstand: Get Your Life Together(ish), The Book that Takes Its Time and Maybe You Should Talk to Someone)

I realize this post just got a bit personal, but hey...we're all friends here, right? I also feel like this personal journey I am on has inspired a lot of the printables I have been creating this year so it only seemed fitting to share this bit about myself in case many of you are in the same boat with me :) 

And before I move on to some of those favorite printables of 2019, I would also like to share this fun 2019 Year in Review Page that you can use to reflect a bit before planning our 2020. You can download this new printable {HERE}

One of my favorite printables of 2019 was our 30 Day De-Clutter challenge. This printable is certainly nothing original, as you can find hundreds of different de-culttering printables online, but I wanted a calendar with tasks that need to be repeated regularly or even seasonally. That way, you can use this one specific calendar any time you are in need of a deep clean. Start on the first of the month, or simply use this calendar as a checklist as needed. You can download this printable {HERE}. Want to join our De-Clutter challenge for January? Make sure you follow along on our Facebook Group Page! 

Another favorite 2019 printable was our Self-Care Calendar with a printable list of ideas and suggestions. This printable will certainly come in handy for my year of "Calm" but it's also a great reminder to make time for yourself each day, even if it is only for a few minutes. You can download this printable set {HERE}.

And finally, my FAVORITE new printable of 2019 was our Habit Tracker. I was faithfully using this in the months of August, September and even the start of October, and then when I noticed more blank days than colored, I knew it was time to wait until I could recommit. We will also be starting this Habit Tracker Challenge in January so download your copy {HERE} and join us on Facebook January 1st!

One item on my 2020 Habit tracker will be to use my planner more faithfully. I know it must come as a huge shock that someone who MAKES planners for a living doesn't always consistently use them, but those who "can't do, teach" as they say. HA! However, I do notice that when I use my planner faithfully and for more than just jotting down appointments, I am more calm, focused and productive. 

But planning takes time and unless you MAKE the time to plan, it isn't going to happen. 

So make the time, my friends. Turn your planner into something more than just a calendar. Jot down goals, ideas, inspirational quotes, use stickers if it makes you happy, doodle in the margins, write down what you are grateful for, track your moods, journal a memory or reflect on a really great day. The goal is simply to use a planner that works for YOU and your life. We may not have everything you need, but if building the perfect planner is a 2020 goal for you, be sure to stop by our shop and use code NEWYEAR2020 for 20% your printable purchase now through January 1st.

Thanks for stopping by today and reading along! Wishing you all a happy, healthy and productive new year!!

Thanksgiving Printable Goodies!

With Turkey Day just a few weeks away, it's time to start planning and prepping! We've got a bunch of great Thanksgiving Freebies to share with you today.

First up, we have our popular Thanksgiving planner pages to help you organize your menu, plan a shopping list, tackle cleaning and kitchen prep, journal your thanksgiving memories AND a coloring sheet for kids (or adults).

Thanksgiving Menu

Thanksgiving Schedule

Housework Checklist

Thanksgiving Blessings Journal Page

Turkey Coloring Page

Thanksgiving Printables in Half Sheet {Size Small}

After we shared our super cute Thanksgiving Lunch Box Notes last year, a few friends told us that they actually used them for their Thanksgiving kids table! What a GREAT idea!

Download these Thanksgiving Lunch Notes {HERE}

Next up, we have a new "I am Thankful for You" sheet of 2" printables that you can use as treat bag tags, cupcake toppers, or plant sticks! All you need is some heavy card stock and a 2" paper punch!

Download these Thanksgiving Tags/Toppers {HERE}

While you are busy decorating, be sure to download this Thanksgiving printable word art!! It is sized 8x10 so you can print and frame it for your home or give it as a hostess or teacher gift!

Download this Thanksgiving word art {HERE}

And finally, if you have been keeping up with our One-Page Holiday Planners all here, here is our Thanksgiving version!

This page is really perfect for people who don't need to do a lot of detailed planning on paper, but still want to write out the menu and jot down your shopping list, to do list and cooking times. This is also perfect for your fridge if you don't want to keep it in a planner.

Download your One-Page Thanksgiving Planner {HERE}

We hope all of our great printable freebies will make your Thanksgiving holiday a little more organized and a lot more fun :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our wonderful friends and customers! We are so thankful for all of you!

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A FRIENDLY REMINDER

Please feel free to share the link to our shop blog with all of our Thanksgiving goodies, but PLEASE do not link to the downloads directly. These printables are free to download and use for personal use, but they MAY NOT BE EDITED, SOLD OR PRINTED FOR RESALE in any way. If you have questions about these printables and how they may be used, please contact us in our shop. If you like the beautiful cliparts used in many of these printables, they can be purchased from one of our favorite Etsy shops, © Erin Bradley Designs | erinbradleydesigns.etsy.com