Choosing the right school supplies could prove to be a smarter move than you might expect. That's the advice from experts who say that school supplies can help students stay organized and that staying organized can help kids keep their grades up.

"Organization is a key cornerstone of academic success and while students understand this, it's not always one of their top priorities," said Donna Goldberg, a nationally recognized organizational expert and author of "The Organized Student."

Fortunately, a host of new, innovative products may help make it easier for students to stay organized-and look great doing it. Goldberg offers these tips to help kids get the most from their school supplies:

? Spend Time Now, Save Later-Parents and teens can lay the foundation for a successful and well-organized school year by investing time at the beginning of the year to set up simple systems, like assembling the binder and backpack, that will sustain a student throughout the year.

? Get Students Involved- Most students enjoy selecting new school supplies, so make sure they are a part of the shopping process. Students will be more inclined to use the tools they've picked themselves and that exude their personal style.

? It's In the Details-Proper tools such as color coding and sequencing help reduce anxiety surrounding schoolwork and increase a student's focus on learning, as they enable students to find what they need when they need it. New supplies from Staples, for example, give students a sense of control over everything from their schoolwork to their schedule-all at a price reasonable for mom and dad.

Teens Tell All

A national teen survey conducted by Staples of more than 1,000 students ages 12 to 17 provides a revealing look at what students think about staying organized and looking stylish when it comes to school. While 82 percent of students surveyed say they try to stay organized and on top of their game during the school year, a solid 85 percent admit that their parents and teachers would consider them organized only some of the time or not at all. Despite this, appearance continues to play a large role for today's teens, as 75 percent of students surveyed believe it's important to purchase supplies in the latest colors and styles. In fact, more than one-third of students noted that color and style are their top two priorities when purchasing school supplies.

Hottest Gear for the 2006 Year

The national teen survey also revealed many of the must-have products for this school year. Ranging from innovative locker storage solutions to stylish notebooks and pens, Staples' new product lines focus on organization and feature vibrant, "student-approved" patterns and colors, such as fuchsia, coral and teal. Some of the hottest items for 2006 include:

? Get a Date-Staples brand Academic Year Data Planners coordinate with an academic year schedule and feature custom tabs, bookmarks, phone/address pages and expanded notes sections. These durable polymer planners come in various sizes and formats and in fun, contrasting colors.

? Keep it Neat-Perfect for busy students on the go, the Globe-Weis 7-Pocket Padfolio is a unique organization solution, featuring pockets for storing papers, compact discs and photographs, all encased in a sealable polymer package to keep students organized through the end of the school year.

? Back it Up-The collection of Case It backpacks and bags includes innovative storage compartments for MP3 players and mobile phones, and expandable compartments that can hold items as large as a soccer ball. They are available in a wide range of trendy colors and designs.