I can't believe it's already Spring. While Fall seemed to drag, it's weird to think that we are already in 2017. Honestly, it feels like 2010 was just yesterday!

Along with every new year comes new goals and changes. I find myself facing challenges that I've turned away from for so many years, and am now now better prepared to tackle them. This Let's Go feeling hit me in the middle of Winter Break, and I found myself reading textbooks for Spring's classes ahead of time. I prepared a new organization system and redid my binder, and put together an Assignment List. I feel friggin' ready.

Even so, the first day of Spring 2017 had me in my school counselor's office. I expressed my concern with two classes that are part of my degree that may have me missing work. We discussed other options, such as registering to other schools while also attending Chaffey, where they may be better equipped to accommodate the schedule of a full time working student. I sent emails to other schools and received some replies, and will be working this strategy into my academic planning.


My first class, Observation & Assessment for Child Development, had me at a satellite campus to Chaffey in Fontana. I hadn't visited this satellite campus before, but was glad to see that it included services such as a library and counseling. The professor of this class was very lively and organized, which I appreciated. I mentally took note of some of the other older students in the class, but didn't think much of it at that time.

Thursday had me in Family, Community, & Child, another Child Development with my favorite professor, where again I noticed more non-traditional (older) students! They each had amazing stories to share as we talked and introduced ourselves. I wrote to my professor after that I was glad to see that I wasn't the only non-traditional student in attendance! I was able to bond with some of these students, and hope for a wonderful semester with them!

On Saturday I woke up early to attend Intermediate Algebra. If you've read this blog before I changed my schedule on the right hand side, you know that I attempted this class in Fall 2016. It didn't work out. The professor's teaching style and my learning style didn't mesh, and I decided to try again this semester. The professor this time around seems to be more my style, of which I am grateful.

I have quite a few assignments already done, and already have plenty planned out!

The first week was uneventful (especially in comparison to Fall 2016's first week!) but already the homework was rolling in. I had set up my Assignment List so that I wouldn't forget anything, and already it is coming in handy!

I can go on any college themed blog, it seems, and find a post on how to pick and utilize a planner. Each post will recommend types of planners, color schemes, how to write in one, and how to make it your best friend. I think it's great that people do stay organized, and have a tool at the ready to keep them that way if that's their thing.

But planners are not for me.

I did look into a few of these posts and even tried out some of the strategies on the free planner that the college hands out every Fall, but after two weeks, it fell by the wayside because it was just another thing that said everything my syllabi said, and it added more weight to the stuff I had to carry. I found it cumbersome and annoying, and in the end ditched it to refer to Excel spreadsheets I had set up to track everything.

This didn't last long.

To be honest, unless you are used to using a planner and absolutely cannot navigate life without one, there are other ways to stay on top of things, and most won't add extra bulk to your tote or bag. Here are some of my favorites:

Use a spreadsheet.
When I get all my syllabi, I create a spreadsheet that tracks all my assignments, readings, and due dates. It is easy to edit, and cells are easy to move around in case a professor changes things up on you. You can save it to Dropbox so you can access it anywhere you want. I prefer a utilitarian look to mine, but you can make yours as pretty as you want.

This is generally how my list looks. I will edit it and print out new copies when due dates change. I mark assignments off as done and even highlight rows to bring special attention to things or mark them as done.

If you'd like a ready made template, I've created one that you can download here.


Create a timeline.
I like the Project Timeline template in Excel - which comes for free with your software - to create a visual timeline that helps me mentally keep track of things. A calendar is great, but the timeline with all my assignments visible, and with dates, really helps me visualize when I need to do things. Again, it's easy to edit and you can save it to Dropbox.

You can edit the dates, and add beginning and ends to individual projects. This helps you break down tasks into smaller tasks. The scrollbar helps you see ahead.

Use an App.
Everyone has a tablet or smart phone these days, so why not use it? Having a separate planner when you have a super computer in your pocket seems redundant. There are plenty of Apps out there - that you can also access from your computer - that will help you stay organized. Here's a few you may have heard of, but each one will help keep you organized:

• My Study Life: This is an app that helps you track assignments and exams. It's pretty straight forward, and even allows you to put in your class schedule and any holidays or breaks that may effect your term. You can break the school year into quarters and semesters, and you can download the app to your phone and access your account from your computer. What's great is that it will remind you when things are due.
  

  My Study Life has a calendar feature and organizes by class.

• MyHomework: Similar to My Study Life, you can access it from your phone and your computer. It has the features of My Study Life, but what's great about this app is that you can search for your school and teachers and sync up with them through the app! I particularly love the Homework scheduling app which helps you prioritize your tasks and label them according to if they are simple reports or more complex projects.
  

  You can use MyHomework to keep track of assignments and sync up with teachers who use it!

• Evernote: This is a go-to app for many people, and one of the best known out there. There are a lot of features on Evernote, including recording voices, keeping things in notebooks, organizing handwritten notes, and scheduling. You can use it on any device, including your computer. It is really an "everything included" service that you should look into.
• iStudiez: Sorry all you PC and Android folk, this one is only for Apple and Mac. I have a Mac, but no iPhone, so this won't be the app for me. This college specific app manages your school schedule and tasks, and is a handy little app to keep track of your college life.
• Planner Pro: Available on iOS and Android, this is the planner that keeps track of it all, not just your school life. This is great if you simultaneously want to keep track of all aspects of your life, including work, all in one place without adding extra bulk to your bag. While great on your phone, those with tablets will enjoy using this easy to use app as well.
• Mind Mapper Apps: A mind map is like a flow chart, with ideas springing from other ideas. These are usually used to help you think up and organize ideas, but mind maps can be used to break big tasks into smaller tasks, and break those smaller tasks into even smaller tasks. You can start with creating your first note, "Spring 2017", and from it, create notes for each of your classes. Then from each class note, create assignment notes from your syllabi, and add even smaller notes for additional tasks you anticipate. You can include due dates and other notes with each class as well. I recommend this for the creative folk who don't think from A to B.

  Mindomo is great because you can access it through the web or through an app. Keep track of ideas and info in one place!

While any of these options are great, I stick to my assignment tracker for an easy solution. Anything more elaborate, and I may forget to check it! What's important is to find the solution that works for you: take into consideration your habits, how you think, and how "forgettable" certain steps or methods of organization can be to you.

What planning method works best for you and why?

Spring Semester is finally here! With it comes New Year's resolutions, new semester goals, and new school supplies! You're ready to face the rest of the school year with a new sense of purpose!