Disclosure: I received a complimentary product from the publisher. Post contains affiliate links; I may earn commission if you make a purchase. Opinions shared are mine.

As we head into the busy back-to-school season, it’s time to start planning for a terrific, successful school year. Both of my kids use a planner to keep track of assignments, upcoming project deadlines, and other important details. I strongly believe in teaching students how to use a planner to organize key information. The first step is finding an academic planner that works for each child.

SIZE

Size matters when it comes to planners! First, you’ll need to know how your child will carry the planner. Will it be tucked in a backpack or fixed on the rings of a binder? How much room should be available for each day? My daughter prefers to keep her planner separate from her notebooks. Wirebound planners can get snagged on the other items in her backpack, so the Teen to Teen Academic Planner works well. It has a hardcover spine similar to traditional books.

PAGES and DATES

Next, consider what your child needs from the date blocks. My kids both prefer planner spaces with lines. I appreciate that this planner has boxes for checkmarks. It’s so satisfying to check those boxes as you accomplish tasks! Some planners have spaces for the weekends, too, which is a nice feature. Does your child need a month-by-month and full-year calendar feature? Those are some questions to ask.

This planner also has an area for listing Gratitude and This Week’s Top Three. Those little positive elements can go a long way in helping kids focus on what’s important.

This year, my daughter asked for a planner that included meaningful quotes. We’ve been binge-watching Criminal Minds; she loves the quotes that are read in the opening and ending scenes of each episode. The Teen to Teen Planner has inspirational, Christian-themed quotes from other teens. That’s a nice twist!

Quality

Since the planner will be used for an entire year, it needs to be sturdy enough to stand up to daily use. Look for one that has pages that won’t bleed colors. I hate seeing ink from the previous page when writing! I appreciate having textured pages as well. This planner will stand up to lots of use.

What do you look for in an academic planner?

Thanks to BH Lifeway for sending me this planner!