Back to School Organizing Tip

Organizing Tip! Create a system for school papers and artwork


Back to school time again! For those with children, from pre-school to high-school and beyond, you'll need a system for managing all the papers that come home from school. I'll focus on the pre-school thru middle-school years for this tip, since that's when most of the volume that parents have to manage occurs.

1. Action Paper Drop Spot: First - you'll need to set up a process whereby the kids immediately give you all the ACTION PAPERS from their backpacks (ones that parents need to read or take action on - not their homework or other completed work) . I would suggest children do this as soon as they come home from school. Set up a convenient place with a small bin/tray/basket/folder where they can simply drop these papers. (Should be a central place, such as on a kitchen counter, or in a mudroom.).

2. Completed Paper Drop Spot: Now.... what to do with the plethora of completed school worksheets and artwork? Again, have a drop-spot with some kind of bin. If you have multiple children, consider multiple bins so you don't have to re-sort someday. This drop-spot should be convenient, but not on the counter. Consider bin(s) in a nearby closet, on the stairs (if not in the way), or dedicate a drawer or two in a nearby room to collect these items.



3. Parent Review: On a daily basis, take action on any parent papers found in the Action Paper Drop Spot so nothing gets overlooked or turned back into school late. As for the items in the Completed Paper Drop Spot, you will need to review these at some point to decide what to keep and what to purge. As for the timing of doing this review, you have several options, depending on your personal style in dealing w/ this stuff, and available time during the day, week, month, year.

If you are the "up-front-ruthless-get-rid-of-most-stuff-right-away" type of person, then review daily or weekly and purge to your heart's content!

If you are the "every-so-often" type, then review the bins every week, month, or school marking period, and decide which items are worth keeping.

If you are the "I-don't-have-the-time-and-don't-want-to-deal-with-this-until-the-end-of-the-year" type, then no problem! Just make sure you have large enough bins, and plan on reviewing everything sometime between June and August.

Or... you may be a combo of the above - just do what works for you.

4. School Memorabilia Storage: Lastly, you'll need a permanent place to store all the school paper and artwork 'keepers'. There are many options, such as: an art portfolio for each year, a large expanding office envelope/wallet, Rubbermaid/Sterilite plastic storage containers, or a product called 'Schoolfolio', to name a few. Remember, you can also display art in frames, on bulletin boards, send to relatives as gifts, or use as wrapping paper too!

Linda English - Owner/Professional Organizer


Organizing With EASE, LLC

201-638-9593
http://www.orgwithease.com/
orgwithease@aol.com



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Organizing for School

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Finalize School Shopping:
FOR THE KIDS: Make sure you've got their all school supplies and any new clothing ready!
FOR YOU: Treat yourself to a little something for surviving the summer!
Plan for the Paperwork!
FOR THE KIDS and YOU: Back to School time = Paper time! Create a method for managing all the paperwork the kids bring home to avoid the piles on the counter, and keep your sanity!
FOR YOU: Maybe the piles are already there... if you've been putting off dealing with the piles on the counter and desk, NOW is the time to get to it! (p.s. - if you need help, this is my specialty! Give me a call).
Create a Homework Station
FOR THE KIDS: They'll need good lighting, comfortable seating, and all the necessary supplies handy. For the supplies, a simple shoebox filled with the necessities will do, but even better is this Homework Supply Organizer. Contact me if you'd like to purchase: Price: $20.00

FOR YOU: Create a Mail Station - Use another caddy just like this one to keep all your mail and bill-paying supplies handy.
Plan your lunch menu:
FOR THE KIDS: Create a menu, listing all the kids' favorite lunch options, and each week, sit with them to plan their lunches for the week, whether it be home-made or school-provided.
FOR YOU: Shop in advance for their favorites, and do the meal selection with them religiously! No stress, complaining, or mystery in the morning on what's for lunch!
Plan and Manage the Crazy Family Schedules!:
FOR THE KIDS: Make sure you've got some kind of calendar/planner system to manage the family schedules, and that can be viewed by all. This is critical for keeping all the family rhythm going smoothly. (Another specialty of mine!)
FOR YOU: If you don't yet have a good planner/calendar system, then GO GET ONE! Declutter your mind by putting the details of your family's schedule on a calendar.
Morning Checklist:
FOR THE KIDS: Create a checklist on a dry-erase board listing what each child needs to accomplish, and by when, each school morning. Have them check items off as they do them.
FOR YOU: Check your Calendar/Planner each morning to get a handle on what you plan to accomplish each day for work, family and self.
Evening Checklist:
FOR THE KIDS: Similarly, to make the time after school until bed more manageable, make a checklist outlining all the things they need to do before they go to bed, including: Homework completed, important documents given to mom & dad, clothes picked out, backback ready to go, brush teeth, bath, PJ's, bed. Include fun things like reading a book, family game time, or some TV time, so kids have something to look forward to doing on their list as well!
FOR YOU: Make sure you take some time to relax and unwind. Review your Calendar/Planner from the day, check off what was completed, and plan/review your schedule for the next day.
Create a positive outlook towards school:
THIS APPLIES TO BOTH YOU AND THE KIDS: Kids will be nervous, excited, scared, anxious, etc... so it's up to the parents to calm their fears, and instill a positive attitude towards the new school year. Focus on the friendships they'll acquire, the exciting new things they'll learn, and all the fun activities that will soon begin. They'll need your support, so plan the time to be there for them, really listen, and focus on what they're sharing with you. A little daily one-on-one time goes a long way to a healthy school year and a healthy family!
Linda English - Owner/Professional Organizer
Organizing With EASE, LLC
201-638-9593 | www.orgwithease.com | orgwithease@aol.com