Today’s question comes from Anne…
So my question is how do Parents organize the school/mail paperwork? I will have a 7 year old in 2nd grade, 5 1/2 year old starting kindy and 3 year old starting preschool. My 5 1/2 year old has special needs, so I have a lot of medical paperwork with her at times.
Needless to say I am overwhelmed with the thought of all the papers that come into our house each day. With currently being home, I have managed okay, but with working I don’t think I will be able to get to most of it for several days at a time.
Can your readers help this SAHM soon to be Working Full Time Mom get herself organized?
Kit Michel says
I hate papers, ug! I have 2 special needs kids both 8yr old boys. I have a 3 ring binder w/sheet protectors. I use one per child per year. At the end of the year you can transfer to file cabinet-but I don’t. I write thier names in huge black letters on the rim (labels). I keep everything important so if I have a CSE meeting I grab- n-go. It’s stressful enough let alone finding things last minute. I keep, photo’s of my child, school photo’s. medical info/papers, IEP’s, goals, all comunications from teachers-school-Autistic consultant etc. Print out emails, they become legal documents. I label sections starting from begging to end. We have 2 CSE meetings per year per chil IF things are going ok. If not, more meetings-so I date and file accordingly. I have those colored dividers because when I am nervous I can’t see anything. I also have a notebook in there for notes (doodles to). Both kids have diffrent issues so I customise them for each childs needs. Teacher also do the folder keep home, return to school- very helpful. Write notes to each other. We hang our back packs on the floor, I mean hook. On top of our shoes, yeah sure. Mandatory shoes by door, even have little labels. Hate the “I can;t find my shoes-where did you put them? Really? Second, I am a visual person so I have a big cork board for up coming things, invites, partys, school funtions (fun stuff, magazine pictures of kitchen I wan’t-ha ha ha). Big label and date them in order (best I can anyway). Kids help with this, makes them help me remember stuff lol. I have plastic bags pinned for things we are collecting for school-box tops, soup labels. Next, I have a magazine/file box with each kid, mail, junk(catalogs I will look at later), husband, me etc. I put stuff in them when I can’t deal with it or get to. Then file according. CSE stuff, medical and reports always put in binder ASAP! I do keep a trash can neer the file boxes or recycle can. AS far as Art work the pizza boxes work great, I had the kids decorate theirs, again to help me remember stuff. The end of year I go threw and save, pitch or cry. Also Ikea makes a huge (pretty green) box I store up high for them as well.(one per kid) LOVE IKEA!!! I get very very overwhelmed with papers, hate hate the, I have medical issues and always get stuff too and I do the same for me with a binder. Anyway everyone lives are diffrent and it’s what works best for you and your family, but routine is best esp with kidos. My friend makes a chain with paper like at xmas with how many day left till??? like holiday or b”day, or something to look forward to. Then they have a visual too and helps them cope. As far as anything else in my house-bahhhhhh hahah hahah. Good luck and hope something will work……… (coffee, vodka, shopping, spa?) REALLY??
Lori says
I have a file drawer in our desk, and at the beginning of each year, we make a new folder (this year it will be labeled 3rd Grade). I put important info to keep and reference, as well as some of his school papers (usually one or two a week) in that file. Then at the end of the school year, we all look at it together. It’s fun to look at how far he came during the year! It also gives us a chance to weed some things out, but we keep the things we really want to save in that file. So far, we will have plenty of room for all 13 years, even with my files (bills, band statements, etc) in with his!
For paperwork to return to school and homework, Post-It makes a holder that sticks anywhere (I think it’s the removable 3M adhesive?). He is old enough now, he puts his papers due later into one and papers for me to do in the other. It is on the side of the fridge, and it works for us!
Lori says
Oh! They are called Post-It Pockets. It came with 3 sized. I use the smaller one for coupons for take-out/restaurants. When we can’t decide where to go, I pull out a coupon!
Cindy says
we have a clear pocket organizer thing (got it out of a catalogue,I think it was oriental trading) it hangs on the wall in the kitchen. It has one slot for each of the kids to put homework, papers, ect. then I have a section for each extra cirricular activity (our house is sports, scouts, & 4H) there is one spot for church stuff and then an extra spot., It is clear so I can see if there is anything in it and in a spot where I cannot miss it.
Shannon S says
I am going to use a flat rate box, one for each child for each year. I have to go through and do this from last year yet. Then I will set the boxes up for this year, and as things come home that I want to save I will put them right into their ‘box’. Then seal the box at the end of the year once I have their report cards and other year end things.
Brandi says
I have a 9th grader, 7th grader and a a preschooler. I have always labeled maila folders with each child’s name and the school year. I put them in my file cabinet (in one folder) and they are all together and easy to locate. They are out of the way but I can access them easily. They are all together but separated at the same time. I hope you find what works for you!
Tabitha says
I have a clipboard for each of us (4 kids, 2 adults) on the wall by the kitchen. I’ve been using this system for over a year and it’s worked great.
paige says
Someone told me to get one of those free flat rate shipping boxes from the post office and put all of your child’s papers and artwork in that throughout the year. I just haven’t made it to the post office yet!
Bree says
Not sure if these are what you’re looking for, but you can order than online. The cost is free. https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10001&categoryId=10000036
Tanya says
OH and I highly recommend Cozi family calendar.. It has been a lifesaver for me!!!
Tanya says
artwork: take pics as soon as it comes in, then I hang up for a period of time. the ones I want to keep, I keep in a bin in the top of closet, the not so important ones I purge.
papers: we have a shelf designated as our launch pad.we each have a small basket with our name on it. any papers that need to be signed go in there, I sign them and return them to the basket, the kids are responsible for putting them back in their school bags before bed. we also use the lower shelves for shoes, book bags and purses. It really helps us stay organized in the mornings. no more lost shoes, papers, etc.
Jennifer says
I have 3 kids in school. Last year, I used a 2 in. Binder w/ clear view. I had different colored folders for each child. I also had a few extras for papers. I would put their homework assignments and letters from the teachers in their folders. In the front of the folders I would put their calendars in page protectors. In the front of the binder (outside) I would put a copy of the lunch menu. I also added notebook paper to the binder for homework. I put new artwork on the fridge. Then when they bring something else home, the art from the fridge would go into a box. I hope this helps.
Staceee says
Last year I had 3 children in school…(K); (1); (3), and without some type of organization system, I would of had paperwork everywhere, thankfully, I found something at my local Goodwill that worked wonders. (They are sold at Wal-Mart; Link: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Stackable+Storage+Shelves+plastic&view=detail&id=2FDAF10EA8FC0E687A9A3CC9851BC18FF14CCA0F&first=0&FORM=IDFRIR). Each one of my children had their own dedicated bin that all “Stay-At-Home” paperwork went into. The “Return-To-School” paperwork stayed in the folder, until my husband or I examined the contents (unless it was homework, than it was completed and placed back in the folder). My children picked up real quick which bin belonged to them, and each bin had breathing strips which was great, because when the younger ones came home with the glued school work, it did not glue everything together, it would actually dry. My children actually liked the idea because when they needed to know something about school or wanted to show Dad and Mom, their hard work, they knew where to go to find the items. Former Full-Time Working Mother, now SAHM. :)
Robyn says
I am also a Kindergarten teacher and we buy every child a special folder that comes home every night and is then returned to school each day. Its a heavy duty folder with a clear plastic pocket on the front and I place a monthly calendar on the front letting parents know of all events and when things are due back to school. I also have parents sign the folder daily as this is my way of knowing that they have seen it and are aware of what was sent home. Inside is a pocket for parents (I want all lunchmoney, important notes, etc. placed inside the folder) I also put homework and anything I want returned on the parent side and in the other is papers to keep at home. I explain the folder at meet your teacher day and I also send a letter home for those who cannot attend.
Darlena says
My son is a sophmore in high school and I’ve used a 7 pocket expanda-file since he was in elementary school. I have a slot for each subject. I keep all the papers in there for the semester now. In grade school, I kept them for the grading period. This allowed me to make sure that all the grades were recorded correctly and he had them for reference as he needed. When it was time to purge them for the next grading period or semester, I could select a couple prize papers for his scrapbook, and pitch the rest.
For artwork, I took pictures and purged.
With the school supplies on sale right now, I think the expanda-files are about $3.
Anne says
I am the lady that needs the organization help. My son does a lot of art work. I read one suggestion on another board I am on, to get a box with lid for each child’s name and put in the closet. Put all art throughout the year in the box. Then go through it and decide what to keep and what to pitch at a later date.
I like the hanging thing Jill posted a link to.
Sarah says
My daughter comes home with tons of artwork. What I now do is take a picture of each piece and only save stand out/sentimental pieces. I then put them on the computer or on our digital photo frame so she can enjoy seeing all her work.
Another idea is to get a large binder with plastic sleeves. When each piece comes in, just slip it into one of the sleeves and your son will have a book of all his artwork.
kelly r says
Anne –
I put all my kids artwork/special papers away until the summer. Then, I go through them, trash the ones we don’t want to keep and pile in order the ones left over. I take pictures of them with my camera, upload the images onto Shutterfly (you could use Snapfish, Kodak, etc) and have them made into a book. This way, I have all their artwork in one book for each year. I also include notes from the year – when they were in pre-school, I even copied words to some of the songs they sang!
Hope this helps!
Anne says
My husband scans them. Then we toss the ones we don’t want to keep.
Leslie C. says
Our kids have one homework folder that comes home each night…only homework “to do” is in the folder. At our school, any other paperwork, corrected homework, tests, announcements, newsletters, permission slips, etc. only comes home in the “Friday folder.” This gives us time over the weekend to go through it all…though this might require convincing on the teachers/school part to work for you. They also use a color-coded system school-wide for folders…red for math, green for science, etc…you could at the very least make this system up for your family if nothing else.
Anne says
My son’s teacher last year did it this way. But his kindergarten teacher didn’t. We were getting hit with huge stacks of papers each night. I know it was even more because my son loves to draw.
Tracy says
I only have one child so I guess I have it easiest. My daughter will be in second grade this year and not sure if the teacher will do as the kindergarten and 1st grade teachers did: The teachers provide a folder, one pocket is for homework and any thing that needs to be returned to school and the other pocket is for stuff to stay home.
I go through my daughter’s backpack as soon as we get home and go through everything and check homework. I’d guess that with more than one child this might be a tough task, so I would go with the bin suggestion a few others already mentioned. I’m a big fan of bins/baskets. =)
debbie says
I am not the most organized but here are a few tips: 1) for those papers you want to keep from the early school years of your children. Go to a Pizza place, ask for a large pizza box. This will hold one year of your childrens “special papers”. These can be decorated if you want and are a great things to keep the kiddos busy. 2) Medical records, I have a notebook with a hole punch on the table, as soon as we get in from the doctor or get things in the mail concerning the health of the child, I punch these and file them. In the event you need them in case of an emergency , you have everything in that ONE notebook. 3) 504 and IEP papers the same thing, I have the hole punch and put those papers in the notebook where they belong. This seems to help me. GOOD LUCK!!
carolyn says
This is very basic but cost effective. My daughter’s kindergarten teacher asked everyone to get one 2 pocket folder and each side got labeled “keep at home” and “sign and return”. The teacher puts all the papers in the folder at the end of each day and the folder comes home every night (easier for children/parents to remember to return it) and goes back the next day. Since this is our first in school I am very excited about it. I am a teacher at the high school level and sometimes the most simple is the most effective.
Stephanie says
Last year was the first year we had all 3 kids in school. After the first week we realized it was going to be chaotic unless we did something. I purchased 3 inexpensive corkboards and hung them in the hall way (near where they do their homework). Each kid got their own board and I kept everything on them. It helped a great deal and will continue to use them this school year.
ROBERT M HOOVER says
My daughter is a teacher and I asked her this question. She suggessted having one place that the children hang their backpacks when they come in they go straight to that and hang up their backpacks. Have a large dry erase board where you can keep notes of upcoming events. Have a trash can in this area.
Each night take one backpack at a time, you will have their agendas that must be gone through, signed and returned the next day. Pull out their homework, take this to the area where the children do their homework each day. There will be things that you can throw away thus the trash can. As far as trying to decide what to keep such as that cute picture little susie made you have to learn that you can’t keep everything so you have to decide what to keep and what to throw away. Our suggesstion is to get a box, one that would fit under the bed for each child-put their name on it and date that special picture and put it in the box and store under the bed out of the way. Having one special place where all of this is done will make your life so much easier and avoid that early morning search for susie’s homework. Thanks Good Luck
Jill says
Kristin- I am providing a link to this product. You can hang it on a wall, or the back of a door, or wherever is convenient- each folder is labeled and “at your fingertips”..easy to stick a paper in them as they come is, and then pull the whole file when you have time to deal with it. If your kids are better at it than mine, THEY can even file their work in the right folder!! I know there are different versions of this that exist, as well.. :) http://www.orientaltrading.com/storage-pocket-chart-a2-59_9024.fltr?prodCatId=388884&tabId=3
Kit Michel says
like this!!!!!!
Sincere' says
I have a bin next to the computer with their names on it. They are responsible for putting any papers from their backpacks into the bin with their name on it. It also helps me make sure that it gets back to the correct backpack. Of course the first couple weeks of school is always about retraining and reminding younger kids that their first stop is the bin with their name on it but usually once the habit is started it makes things go pretty easily. I hope this helps.
sacha says
The bins with names are a great idea! I have a 6th grader,3rd graders and 1st grader and I can’t even tell you the amount of things I missed last year because they didn’t give that stuff to me! Thanks for the idea
Katie says
At our house, we have a 13 pocket accordian folder we put everything in. Our oldest daughter (12) has to put her own papers in the folder. Our youngest (9) is on his last year of our oldest helping him with it. We have different categories for each child. The ones that work for us are return to school, events, after school, fundraisers, and class information.
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
That’s a great idea!