Hi, parents! Back to school should be an exciting time for you and your kids – not a stressful one. Consider leveraging Microsoft Copilot to organize your schedule, check items off those to-do lists, and start the school year calm, cool, and collected!
Complete your school supplies checklist
With a new school year on the horizon, it’s time to get the supplies list and purchase the “must have’s” and the “nice to have’s.” Share it with Copilot and get back a curated list of where to get everything and where to find the best deals. If you want to further take advantage of Copilot, ask for recommendations on the best products based on durability, price, and other factors.
Sample prompt
I need to buy school supplies for my 6th grader. Tell me the best price/value for each item below if I want to buy everything online:
- Spiral notebooks (3–5, wide-ruled)
- Composition notebooks (2–3)
- Pocket folders (5 different colors)
- Loose-leaf notebook paper (wide-ruled)
- Index cards (lined, 100-pack)
- Pencils (pre-sharpened or mechanical)
- Erasers (block and pencil-top)
- Pens (blue, black, red)
- Highlighters (multi-color pack)
- Colored pencils
- Crayons or markers
- Pencil case or pouch
- Ruler (standard and metric)
- Calculator (basic functions)
- Scissors (kid-safe)
- Glue sticks (pack of 3+)
- Tape (clear, for projects)
- Backpack with multiple compartments
- Lunch box or insulated bag
- Reusable water bottle
- Binder (1–2 inches) and dividers
- USB flash drive or memory stick
- Gym clothes or sneakers (for PE)
- Locker supplies (mirror, shelf, magnets)
Copilot’s response
Meal prep for the week
Shuttling your kids from classes to ballet lessons and soccer practices often leaves little room for thinking about healthy and nutritious meals. Luckily, Copilot can help with this, too: Tell it the kinds of foods your family likes, dietary restrictions, and the amount of time you have to cook, and it can suggest meals you can prep over the weekend or whip up in no time.
Sample prompt
I have 2 hours on Sunday to prep dinners for each workday next week. What recipes do you suggest that include a lean protein and 3 vegetables, can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, and are suitable for people with Celiac disease?
Copilot’s response
Organize a packed schedule
Even the most talented project managers can use some help to bring order to chaos – in particular, when dealing with multiple “resources” (kids!), time constraints (there are only 24 hours in a day), and immovable commitments (3 practices and a game each week). Let Copilot organize all your kids’ activities, extracurriculars, and obligations – and fit yours in, too!
Sample prompt
Make a weekly calendar for the month of September that includes the following activities. Color code by child/parent/miscellaneous:
- School from 9 AM to 3:30 PM for both my son Doug and daughter Denise.
- Doug’s soccer practice every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:30 PM to 6 PM.
- Denise’s piano lessons every Tuesday from 4 PM to 5 PM.
- PTA meetings on the second Thursday of every month from 6:30 PM to 8 PM.
- My husband Ralph’s softball games every Tuesday starting at 6 PM.
- My (Winnie) book club on the 3rd Friday of every month from 6:30 PM to 9 PM.
Copilot’s response
We hope these prompts help you get the new school year started off right!
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