A school diary is more than just a place to record homework - it’s a powerful tool for time management, organisation and student success. Encouraging students to fully utilise their diaries from the start of the year sets the foundation for good habits and ensures they stay on top of their commitments. Here’s how schools can maximise diary usage and engage students, parents/carers and teachers in the process.
1. Teachers Toolkit
The Life 360 Wellbeing Program is packed with valuable resources to support student wellbeing. To help educators maximise its benefits, we’ve developed a Teachers’ Toolkit, designed to reinforce key lessons on wellbeing and time management. Please feel free to distribute this Toolkit amongst your staff and use it in your wellbeing classes.
2. Social Media Empowerment Pack: A Simple Way to Promote Diary Usage
To make it easier for schools to encourage diary usage, we’ve created a Social Media Empowerment Pack - a set of 52 pre-designed posts that can be dragged and dropped onto the school's Facebook page. This pack provides engaging content that reminds students and parents/carers about the importance of using the school diary daily. By consistently reinforcing the message, students are more likely to develop the habit of referring to their diaries for schedules, policies and important updates.
3. Teachers Promoting Usage: The “Getting to Know Your School Diary” Lesson Plan
Teachers play a crucial role in establishing good diary habits early in the year. During Term 1, we recommend delivering a quick 10-minute lesson to help students understand their diary’s full potential.
Introduce the topic of using the school diary, explain how it helps with organisation, time management and understanding school policies, emphasise that the diary is more than a homework log - it contains term dates, policies, school maps and key contacts.
Guide students through the key sections of the diary and prompt them to find key pieces of information in their diary. Example questions include:
What is the name of your school’s Principal?
When does Term 3 start?
What is the school’s policy on mobile phone use?
How can a student get involved in the Student Council?
This interactive approach ensures students become comfortable using their diaries from the start.
4. School-Wide Promotion of Diary Usage
For students to truly integrate diary use into their daily routine, schools need to reinforce its value through multiple communication channels. Here’s a few ideas:
Newsletters & Emails: Send regular reminders about diary usage, study tips and organisational strategies.
Text Messages & Phone Calls: Brief messages to parents/carers about how diaries support student success.
School Website & Parent Portals: Feature diary-related content, FAQs and how-to guides.
Paper Notes & Announcements: Simple reminders for students to bring and use their diaries daily.
By embedding diary usage into daily communication, schools ensure students see their diaries as essential tools for success.
Final Thoughts: Creating Lifelong Organisational Habits
When schools, teachers and parents/carers work together to promote diary usage, students benefit immensely. They develop strong time management skills, personal accountability and an understanding of school policies - all essential for academic and personal success. By leveraging our Social Media Empowerment Pack, running the “Getting to Know Your School Diary” lesson and integrating diary-related messages across communication platforms, schools can make sure every student gets the most out of their diary this year.
Encourage your students to make their diaries their daily companion and they’ll be set for a more organised, stress-free school year!