Back to School Organization
Moms View Message Board: Get Organized: Back to School Organization
I am by nature, not a very organized person, and my children are this way also. We really need some good ideas of some systems to keep all the important school info/forms etc. in a place where we can find them easily. Also I have been keeping their schedules in my head...not the best place as I seem to be running out of space in there as I get older.LOL I would love to hear any and all tips on how to keep everything oranized so the schools aren't calling me on a daily basis saying "Mrs. S. so and so didn't bring _____ today could you drop it off as soon as possible?"
The only thing I can think of is a folder in the back pack for paper that you check every day. Deal with everything as soon as possibile.
Also I send notes to myself on yahoo calendar. I am the worst at dates. But since I started doing that I am 95% better. It emails me the morning of and tells me my schedule. I guess a calendar book would do some thing similiar.
What I really want now is a phone that connects to yahoo calendar so I can type my schedule in the car as it comes in. I don't know if they make anything like that... Updates yahoo calendar automatically via phone.
How I keep the yahoo calendar up to day. Call myself and leave message on answering phone. Input into yahoo calendar later.
I sometimes input stuff into my Outlook Calendar and it has saved my butt! LOL!
We used to lose track of dd15's Girl Scout stuff. We finally got her a folder to keep all that stuff in and it made a HUGE difference!
I have multiple calendars at my house. I have one in the kitchen, one by my computer, and one in my purse. I really do write my work hours on all 3, since I know my schedule for a month at a time. I work hard at keeping them all up-to-date and do a pretty good job of it.
As far as school papers, I like to sign the permission slips the day we get them, so it's out of the way. My kids are pretty much on top of making sure the permission slips and money get back to school on time.
First of all, a big calendar on the wall that has all appointments, school events, birthday parties, etc. written on it. Write down the event THE MINUTE you get the flyer, invitation, etc. An afterschool routine that my kids are responsible for is the next key. Here is theirs:
*Hang up backpack (they each have a hook in the study)
*Put lunchobox on counter
*Give mom all notes and papers (I sit down immediately and sign permission slips, write dates on calendar, etc.)
*Feed pets
*Do homework
The only thing I say to the boys is "check your list" when we get home and they are responsible for everything on it. I will NOT sign papers in the morning--too hectic and crazy. If they didn't get it to me after school the previous day then they go to school without the paper signed, book order filled out, etc. If I don't get their lunchboxes, they make their lunch.
I also have a small plastic file box that is the homework box. It stays in the study and is put on the kitchen table for homework. It contains extra pens and pencils, crayons, markers, glue, scissors, a ruler, blank index cards, flashcards for math, and extra looseleaf paper. Everything they will likely need for homework is in one place and it works great. I check supplies and refill as needed.
Make sure clothes are laid out at bedtime to ease the morning rush.
Finally for all of the calendars, flyers, and papers I have a control journal as explained on Flylady (www.flylady.net). If you do nothing else, this is a lifesaver. I have all of my routines and the kids' listed in here. Then I have a pocket for my stuff that I need to keep up with and each child has a pocket. In their pockets I keep stuff like the class phone list, long-term assignment instructions (like my oldest son's summer reading assignment was kept in a safe place all summer), list of fieldtrip dates, scout rosters, etc. This notebook is kept by the phone and anytime I need to check a school date or find info relating to school or some activity I check my control journal.
Pam - sounds like great advice!
I just wrote about this somewhere else on this board! I have large magnet clips on the fridge, one for my son, one for my daughter and one for myself. I put papers to be signed, soccer schedules, party invitations, etc. there. On Sunday evenings I go through each clip, do my to-do list and update the calendar. After I sign papers I put them in the backpacks. My calendar is a large desk calendar and I hang it on the fridge.
Each of my children have a large plastic storage box under their beds. When they bring home art work and papers they can hang some on the fridge or put them in the box. After they have been on the fridge for awhile they go into the box. At the end of the school year we clean out the box and decide what to throw away and what to keep in their memory boxes. It is easier to throw things away months after they made it and when they see all the things they did. I try to date the items right after they bring them home.
I love the idea of the homework box. I think I will try it! Thanks for the great ideas everyone.
You guys are awesome! I'm so unorganized and I need to be soon! I'm homeschooling this year and working from home (MT) so I need to get my act together.
Thanks for the tips!
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