It's coming. You know it. You dread it.

The onslaught of permission slips, school notices, homework assignments and projects, school pictures, team photos, band competitions, PTO meetings, parent/teacher conferences, bake sales, school trips.

	Daniel Marsula, Post-Gazette Click photo for larger image.

The list could go on and on and probably does, only you don't know what you did with the list.

Here's a hint: It's probably in that pile of papers that's about to topple off the top of the microwave.

But it doesn't have to end up on the floor. Take a deep breath and then take some of this expert advice on getting things organized for back to school.

Molly Gold, a professional organizer and owner of Go Mom Inc., recommends planning ahead. To do that you need a planner, which helps eliminate a lot of those "Oh, no, I forgot" moments.

"You need to have a family-oriented planner able to track all of your family members' plans in one place," said Ms. Gold, whose Virginia-based company helps moms get organized.

Whether you choose paper or go with one of the high-tech options depends on what you're comfortable with.

Some folks need to have something they can hold and write in. Others are more inclined to use their computers for scheduling. Still others can't live without their PDAs, and there is a variety of scheduling software that can be used with them.

The software, in addition to having a calendar for scheduling school events, meetings and activities, allows users to receive or send reminder notices to either a computer via e-mail or to a cell phone via text message.

For example, Mediabee Dashboard Planner for Families and Groups has the calendar, to-do lists, etc. (free download available). But you can also share information publicly with others who are on the authorized list.

Write down one scheduled event and it can be posted to everyone's electronic calendar.

There also are Web-based calendars such as Google Calendar, which launched in April.

In addition to helping plan events and sending reminders, the calendar can also send invitations and keep track of RSVPs.

All these calendars also can be printed out and distributed to family members and others.

"Web-based ones are really great for families where both parents work," said Valentina Sgro, author of the book "Organize Your Family's Schedule in No Time."

Ms. Sgro said such calendars allow parents to coordinate child care and chauffeur duty because both can see what is scheduled.

These calendars also allow children, old enough to access a computer, to see what their parents have scheduled as well.

Courtney Hohne, Google spokeswoman, said parents have used the Google calendar to keep track of classroom volunteer activities, family events, etc.

When the family schedule coordinator (that usually means Mom) knows what's ahead, Ms. Gold said, he or she can better coordinate how to get to those events. For example, if you can see ahead of time on a calendar that one child has soccer and another has basketball at the same time, Mom or Dad can make arrangements to get both kids where they have to go.

Organizing experts also suggest a wall calendar so that family members can see at a glance what each person has coming up.

Ramona Creel, owner of Online Organizing, said assigning each family member a color for the calendar also is helpful.

She extends that recommendation to organizing children's school work.

For example, cover the science book in blue, use a blue folder for science papers, for math use red and so on.

"A very visual kid doesn't even have to think about it," Ms. Creel said. "All he has to know is I've got all my blue stuff; I'm ready for my science class."

While you're planning for all those events, activities, meetings, etc., you also must plan for the avalanche of paper announcing them.

Ms. Gold suggests a bin for each family member. At the end of the day, whoever's in charge of planning must sort through each bin, transferring necessary info to the planner -- electronic or paper.

Her company sells the Go Mom School Organizer, which provides a place for each child's paperwork, including projects and homework assignments.

"The goal here is whether or not it's this product, you need to have something for all the paper," she said.

Another thing Ms. Gold recommends for alleviating school-year stress is making a homework station at home.

The station should be stocked with pens, pencils, paper and craft items, like poster board, tape, paint, etc.

Where the station is located depends on the child, she said. Some children may need to be somewhere they can interact more readily with a parent. Others may do better in their rooms with a little music on the radio for background noise.

"The theory that all children will study well together at the dining room table doesn't necessarily apply," Ms. Gold said. "Some might do well together; others might need quiet."

Ms. Sgro said it's important to consider the individual needs of children when it comes to homework and scheduling.

"Some kids do need to go out and run around," she said, "while some kids need to focus right away."

Ms. Gold said back-to-school time is also an opportunity to do some fall cleaning, get rid of clothes and toys, wipe down walls, etc.

Then there's a clean slate for implementing that organizing system.

"I'm a mom first," said Ms. Gold, "I know I'm always happy when something works a little bit better than it did before."

For more organizing tips, information and/or products, visit www.gomominc.com; www.onlineorganizing.com; www.mediabee.com; www.google.com/calendar.