The summer is coming to a close and it’s time to prepare for the upcoming school year and its workload.

-Prepare and organize all your materials needed for the first day. Don’t wait and rush for the day before to figure out what is needed for the first day back. Keep your books or review material that is due on the first day of class together, so you know where these are and so you can find what you’re looking for right away.

-All or most students had assignments to complete over the summer. So, most of you will have to take a quiz or test on the first or second day of class. Review all your summer assignments, whether that means going over the notes you took from a reading for HOA, or going on Sparknotes to review the characters and storyline for The Hunger Games. Take the time to refresh your mind of the material, as it will be covered the first few weeks of school. Knowing the material inside and out will help you achieve a higher score for discussions, and exams.

-Purchase books beforehand. Even though it is still summer, it is best to purchase books that you will need to read or possibly annotate during the school year. There is always the possibility for not being able to find books if you look for it, the day before you are supposed to use it in class. Purchasing books online in a bundle at websites like Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com, which frequently give discounts and cheaper rates, are recommended for school books.

-Clear out your desk of unneeded material. If you have a study desk, or study room, use it to your advantage and remove material from previous years that will not come in handy for the school year. By keeping organized, you will be able to keep track of all assignments, and keep a cool slate for work.