School has been in session for most children for close to a month now. Are you overwhelmed with all the papers coming home?
There are the notices of events going on, the permission slips, homework, worksheets, and of course all the art work the younger children do. With so many papers coming in so fast it is easy to put them in a pile to go through later. But will you and/or your child go through them before the homework is due or the permission slip is too late?
If you didn’t set up a system to handle all these papers before school started then now is the time to do it! Below are some tips on a system I set up when my children where in school. Since everyone is different there is not one perfect system. You have to find what works best for you and your children. Sometimes it’s a matter of trial and error. I’ve also listed some websites below for you to check out their tips. The sooner you find one that works the smoother the school year will go for the whole family.
- Notices, permission slips, etc.: A different color pocket folder for each child works best. Each day when your child brings home the papers be sure to mark the date on your calendar before you file the paper into the folder. You could also use a 3 ring binder with pocket folders in it.
- Current homework: Each child should have their own notebook or folders they keep in their backpack. Usually the teachers will recommend what they want for their class. Check it daily. Your child will need to clean out this folder periodically or else the current homework could end up lost in the old homework.
- Old homework: This is were it’s harder to decide what to keep and what to get rid of. Depending on the grade level there can be a lot of papers that your child never needs to look at again. If there is a chance they will need it to study for a test help them set up a folder for each subject. Most of the time in the younger grades you can get rid of the the practice papers. At the end of the school year very little if any needs to be kept.
- Art work/stories: Many of these will be keepers, at least for a short time. You can hang up the art work, give it to the grandparents, or store it. Plastic boxes that go under the bed work great for these since many pieces of art work are larger than the standard piece of paper. You can also put those short stories they write in this box.
If you haven’t decluttered last years papers now is a good time to do it. This article will show you how.
https://cutclutterwithscissors.com/decluttering-childrens-school-papers/
Don’t forget to check out some of the links below for more ideas on how to organize children’s school papers.
Website links for controlling school papers.
http://www.onlineorganizing.com/NewslettersArticle.asp?newsletter=go&article=284
http://www.creativehomemaking.com/organizing/kids-artwork.shtml
http://www.familyhistorykids.com/organize_and_preserve_childrens_art_and_school_work.htm
http://www.marilynbohn.com/articles/back-to-school-and-the-agony-of-paperwork.html
Janice
I will be giving suggestions on what you can do each week. Be sure to get your children involved so they can have fun with this holiday. I welcome any suggestions, ideas, or questions you have to offer. It’s not only fun to know how other people prepare for Halloween, it’s also helpful. We learn from each other’s experiences. Please share your contributions in the comment section. Thanks. …