Organizing Papers

I am with you on which system? No help there. I go back and forth.

For the artwork, I think the easy answer is to keep 5 things from each year. Keep them in a large folder or laminate and keep in a pocket of a binder.

For the rest, take photos of the ones that she doesn’t want to part with but don’t make the cut, and then you still have a record. You could just print them out in a photo scrapbook. You can get free 4×6 ones (20 pages) regularly at Walgreens. You could easily tuck this into a pocket of a notebook or a filebox. Or you could just print out 8 x11 sheets with maybe 6 photos per page? I say take photos of the other artwork. This is what I do and it works. I have 6, so no way I can keep it all!

I really want that binding machine now!

I use a file crate, folders divided by weeks. I don’t have a lot of worksheets, but it’s really nice for math and Latin, plus any little extras I want to file. This year I’m trying to add seasonal reminders & poetry to the files so I don’t forget. After the papers are complete I just toss them back in that week’s folder. At least I know where they are. The best thing about the file crate is it keeps me on track and accountable.

At the end of the year I will (might, hope to) go through and put the best into a portfolio. I can get that spiral bound at Staples for ~$4 and have a nice record for each kid. Or else I’ll just box them up and be glad they weren’t all over the house. (I’m not required to keep records in my state.)

@morgrace… I decided to use the filebox system since it will force me to streamline!!!  I will probably use this system for the elementary years, then switch to some sort of notebook for the later years since the children will be writing more.  This is of course projectory…. who knows what we will be doing by then!!  (But I found some really cute file boxes at Target that coordinate with my newly repainted/refloored schoolroom/den!!  Yay!  I like pretty!)

Ok, Now I have to look up all of the goodies!  you guys are my downfall!  UGH… Tehe he…

 So, here is what I do now.   I have a feeling it may change after I look at this wonderful organizing website after I am done here.  Maybe I should wait till tomorrow when I have all day. LOL….

   Ok, I use a file cabinet with what was suppose to be 52 file folders… I am doing alot by semester though so I don’t have to try and cram so much in the fileing cabinet. This did start out as a crate system but I bought a wooden file cabenet that held larger 11×15 size papers.  (you know for those things that are really to long).

   Then in those hanging file folders I put 4 different colored file folders (non-hanging).  1 green for DS 10, 1 Blue for DS 8, and 1 red for DD 6, Then I put one in for myself usually black or teal. 🙂  (Whatever was left over in the box that wasn’t the kids colors.)  I put the set of colored ones in the hanging files and that represents 1 week-17. I focus on a 17 week file folder system to load. I may not use all the 17 weeks for all the work but this way I can feel like I accomplished it all by 17 weeks even if some subjects only took 13. I then labeled the weeks (week 1, week2, week3, ect…

  Each child has his color for the week and has to finish that folder before moving onto the next weeks work. If the week is over and we didn’t have time to get it all done I just move it to the next folder. Sometimes I put it in ahead of the other assignments. Ex– If we are on math and we didn’t finish up lesson 13a I put it in front of 14a. At the end of the week if my son has extra time then he can finish it. If time doesn’t permit I just move the last one to the next folder. I don’t bother with them all because they eventually work themselves out.  🙂

   Then when they are done with their homework they put their name on and put it in my check box.  I then check them and put them in their 3 ring binders. I have them labeled  by their names and the subjects. I put two or three together. Ex — History, Geography and maps, Science and Art and Nature study. English, Spelling, Grammar,and writing. They have dividers to seperate the subjects in the 3 ring binder.

  I bought the binders with the clear plastic on the outside so I could type up the subjects and slide them in the side and the kids made a picture of the subjects on the front to slide in. This way they know their own binders. This way papers don’t get lost and if a child says I am on Lesson 15a and I see 13a in his binder then I can just show him. (this has happened)… “Where is your paper then??”  Leaving it in their hands to be responsible for putting it in the bin and not my responsibility. 🙂   

  I was planning on binding them by the year so the kids could see what we have done but We haven’t filled the binders so I haven’t done it yet. maybe I will just do it now that I have to see this new binder idea mentioned here.

   I was planning on getting one and I have check the binders out. Now I will have to do some more research and purchase one. This way I can free up my new school year with nothing in the 3 ringer.  🙂

  Oh I almost forgot, I bought a 3 ring punch also. This way I can use typing paper and the 3 ring punch to put it in the binder. I also went on Old fashioned education. com to get the weekly assignment sheets. It is done on a weekly basis. So I put the sheet in my personal colored file folder. I know what I had planned for that week. I also keep my personal papers for things I need to do. ECT.. and progress type sheets. I was keeping a grocery list and menu but I put that in a calendar form and put it on my fridge.  I found this to be the simplest. I tried alot of things but so far this seems to work.   I hope this helped someone..

       I plan on looking up that website now so toodles!