Get Organized Without Losing It

by Janet Fox, Mike Gordon (Illustrator), Janet Fox

Tips, techniques, strategies, and examples empower kids to conquer clutter, prioritize tasks, handle homework, prepare for tests, plan projects, stop procrastinating, and start enjoying the benefits of being organized.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Childrens, Self Help, Middle Grade, School

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Author of award-winning fiction and non-fiction for young readers. (NOT Janet Kaye Fox)

Published books:
"Get Organized Without Losing It" (middle grade, Free Spirit Publishing, 2017, new edition)
"Faithful" (young adult, Penguin/Speak, 2010)
"Forgiven" (young adult, Speak, 2011)
"Sirens" - (young adult, Speak 2012)
"The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle" - (middle grade, Viking, 2016)
"Volcano Dreams" - picture book, Web of Life Books, September 2018
"The Artifact Hunters" - middle grade, Viking 2020
"Carry Me Home" - middle grade, Simon & Schuster 2021
"Wintergarden" - picture book, Neal Porter, 2023

Reviews

[The Reading Countess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sound familiar? My middle son is a bright kid whose organization, or lack thereof, is the bane of my existence. And his teachers'. Let's not forget them in this triangle of learning. I picked this quick read up hoping for some tips as well as plan to plant it in his room (if I can find space in there, ahem). Some ideas were picked up by me, but now I'm just hoping for some of the book to rub off on him. The conversational tone and voice of the book make it an easy entry for kids like him. Hopefully, he will pay attention to someone other than his mom.

[☘Tara Sheehan☘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be mandatory reading for parents; in fact I think schools should have to give it out to them at Meet the Teacher Night before school starts to help them get prepared and give their kids a better chance at success.

As a parent I found this book not only easy to read and informative, which you would hope considering the subject matter, but what I truly loved is that it’s the kind of thing my daughter could go over herself as it’s not written just for the parent.

It has a Mary Poppins in the nursery kind of feel to it. Organization and cleaning up your bad habits are made fun so you want to read this.

It’s very short and there are areas I felt needed some more details but at the same time I could see how they are trying to be generalized and not too specific because it’s written for a large audience with a short attention span.

This should help empower your young kid to begin making decisions themselves, provide a sense of accomplishment and learn new ways to handle things that they will take with them as they get older.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many good ideas, it could even get kids excited about getting organised. I had to laugh with some of the examples: Is your backpack a black hole: the curse of the too-heavy back-pack; desk disasters, locker shockers and other major messes; biohazards (something that is very bad for you and the environment, like a year-old tuna sandwich)...

And the great ideas: a list of essential stationery; how to use a student planner; time management and how to use a timetable; a homework check-list; how to deal with distractions; a long-term project planner; memory tips and tricks; and a plan to stay organised day-by-day.

At the end there's an excellent note for parents and teachers about guiding a child through this book and helping them to get organised. Reviewed for www.GoodReadingGuide.com

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well thought out, easy to approach, and fun way for kids to learn to be organized at school. It covers everything from desks, lockers, binders, and even keeping your schedule organized so you have the time to do what you want and still get homework done. The ideas are simple enough for even the youngest kids to learn, plus it has example that can be used when talking about schedules, planners, etc. An excellent resource.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks, NetGalley and Free Spirit Publishing, for allowing a preview of this book. I plan to share it with teachers and students. It provides helpful hints about the organization process for students who are beginning to move out from under their parent's control. I am a fan of the Laugh & Learn series!

[Trace · Rating 3 out of 5]

A super quick, fun read for kids. I had hoped for a bit more detail in some areas (such as how to organize your binder, etc)... but all in all it'll be a great first step to get my son motivated to get himself organized for grade 6 and then middle school! I will simply insert some notes referring him to specific sections in OTHER books such at the SOAR book (highly recommend)...

[Saianshri · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was my first E-book(I hate E-books), and my reading experience was not at all nice, but even this e-book didn't fail to impress me. I wish I had the real book with me 😭. The book is really helpful, and if you really do what is written, the procrastinator in you is gonna vanish.


Loved it. This should be a part of School curriculum.

[Jdonahou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, but it’s not easy getting your child to read it.

There were some good suggestions that we put in effect. However, my child had no interest in getting organized. She was happy messy. I had to MAKE her read the book aloud with me. Not the best, but it worked.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great advice for a student who needs help identifying her weaknesses and solving the problem of disorganization.

[Karen Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful for parents and kids.

[Jesus Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is useful for parents, teachers and students. Simple language, accesible to kids and teenagers about getting organized and improving study habits.

[Lakshmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave good ideas on how to get organized!

[Jedi · Rating 2 out of 5]

US focused, cute illustrations. Was hoping to engage my students from school but don't think it's a winner for us.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

So, I spotted this book and just had to check it out. I know back when I was the age these kids probably were I also had an overload of stuff, at times I couldn't find stuff, or found sandwiches from some time ago. :P

This book is chock-full of tips, hints, lists, questions, checkup lists, well anything really about organising. I love how the writer explains everything in a good way, not too hard to understand, but also not boring. Definitely not boring, the author makes it oh so much fun to organise. It is done with humour, with funny illustrations, with bright colours. It is still serious, as it has some amazing tips and advice.

But it at times also had tips or advice if the problem wasn't that you aren't organised, but rather are stressed/thinking you will fail/etc. I like that this is added. High School is a big thing, a very exciting thing, and it can become too much for some. Suddenly one has important big tests and homework, there are more classes and subjects, you have new teachers, classmates, everything. It can become quite daunting.

There was also a whole thing about planners. Well thankfully we have mountains of fun planners here. Plus unlike what this book makes it seem, you do need one. Especially in the first years the teachers would sometimes ask if everyone has written down the homework and the upcoming tests and projects.

I also like the whole chapter about how to get get ready for school each day.

One thing that I have to add is while the book can be used for everywhere in the world back when I was still in school I wouldn't have had any use for the locker and desk tips. From what I remember our desks in High School (which in the US would be Middle School x High School) didn't have any place under it to store things (we did have that in elementary school). We didn't have lockers (no small ones or big ones). You just carried your stuff with you through the day. Which meant you couldn't just leave a book or books at school. If you had 7 subjects on that day you had to carry all the books, notebooks, projects, binders with you and back home again. And yes, my back is still shuddering at the thought of that. At times I had 10 kilos of books with me (I put my bag on a scale one day). And no, rolling backpacks weren't a thing then (though I don't think they are that now since I never see any students walk/cycle around with those).

But all in all, I really enjoyed this book, the illustrations really added something extra to the book and made it even more fun and engaging to read. I would recommend this book to everyone.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even as an adult, I don't think there is any one perfect way to organization. Something that works for one person may not work for another. We have to find our own system that compliments us. I think it goes the same for kids. I came across this book while at our school book fair a few years back when my son was in elementary school. It is a wonderful tool that may help give kids a heads up on organizing themselves before they reach the older grades. It offers some good suggestions on desk and locker neatness, planning for homework and large projects, note-taking, memory tips and tricks and a whole lot more. I really liked that the author writes in kids speak and has some funny pictures. In the back, it also gives suggestions for parents and teachers.

[Ericka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book on organization for kids. I bought it for my 9 year old son and read it first so I'd be prepared to work with him on it. There wasn't anything really new for me as an adult, but she tackled the topic in a great way, grouping things in such a way that made perfect sense, but that I never would have thought of. The book was also quite humourous so I think he'll get a kick out of it. He has the same sense of humour as me underneath his childs' sense of humour and I laughed several times. She must've been watching my sons through a spyglass. I definitely recommend this for any parent who has children who can use some assistance in this area.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I used it to prepare for a a teen program I conducted on Homework help. Great ideas, a little youngish for true teens. Great for middle school, 'tweens" though. I like it for myself...may buy this. The tips for parents and teachers in the back of the book are helpful as well. I really like the reading suggestion list too.
I want to look up STUDY IS HARD BY WILLIAM ARMSTONG too and ORGANIZING FROM TEH INSIDE OUT BY JULIE MORGENSTEN

[justbeingarlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrowed this for CheekyBabyMunster (Primary 3/ Age 9) hoping that she'll gain a couple of tips and able to practice it during the school hols. I read through the book and it's really a handy reference for the young students to keep it together.

[Sophia Tang · Rating 5 out of 5]

It teaches us to get organized.

[Vic]

STAY ORGANIZED

[Kathy]

Two copies

[Janaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

It helped me get better organized, so it was a good book to read!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again - great strategies for kids.... just what mine need!

[Laura Filtness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book for my middle school kids. It's fun to read a few chapters together during a study skills group. It's hysterical.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book for kids with lots of good tips. I read this with my son, now if he'll just do some of the suggestions...

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to Grant (11 years old) to help him get ready for the school year... Definitely a good read for kids before school starts to set the tone for a year of organization!!

[Ashwin Pandey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's really a good one for kids.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.