Even my kids agree that we were a little disorganized last year. My only excuse is that it was our first year and we tweaked the system quite a bit, which made organization difficult. This year, we've a much clearer plan of what we are trying to accomplish and better lesson plans. I would now like to tackle the output hurdle. I know we want to do some kind of portfolio for history/ literature, but for the book learning type classes that are more structured, I'm at a loss. For example, I don't want individual math lessons spread all over the work area along with other loose papers. My idea was a notebook, but the girls don't like that idea. They are older, so they don't want anything too much like ps or like little kids. Any suggestions?

My daughter puts her finished work in a file folder ( the ones that go in a file cabinet) on my desk. I grade it, she corrects any work if needed and then we put it away in her file in the file cabinet. a lot of other stuff stays in her zippered binder, and she has a spiral notebook for Bible verses/copywork. DS has the same system but I put his papers in the files. He is too young to do it.

I throw all the daily lessons away as soon as they're graded and corrected.

This would is a good idea, unless you need to keep a sample of the work. You will need to keep this in a portfolio, deeps on your state requirements.

I would either put the work in a file folder or make the kids keep them neat and orderly in a notebook. They will need to know how to do this, if they go on to college. I think it is important to teach a child to keep their work orderly in a notebook. Just my .

This is my goal.

Angie, sounds like we're in the same boat! We are going into the second year here as well. I'd have to say that we use the spiral notebooks for math. But only for math. This is the easiest way to keep everything together.

The only problem I could see with throwing the lessons away is with older kids in higher level math (algebra and up). They may need the worked problems to study for a test. But that wouldn't be necessary for the younger ones.

With notebooking in almost every other subject, my dc haven't complained too much of using spirals for math. I think it is actually easier for them to just grab that & their textbook & do their work.

That's my problem. I am trying to teach the kids orderliness but momma needs to be an example.

I am determined to be more organized and better prepared this year.

We had a rough time and my daughter wrote me a note telling me we were missing too much work. Not that she particularly wanted to do the work but thought I might need to know this.

Out of the mouth of babes ... ... ..?

I bought those portable file folder boxes with handles. We use the boxes as personal file boxes with hanging folders for each subject. The dc and I each have a box. It is easy to look things up if we need to refer back, and it makes it easy to cull out when necessary. For example, if we are studying a topic for a period of time, we put a file folder with the topic's label behind the appropriate subject. Upon completion of the topic study, we can move the folder to the big filing cabinet or keep it in the personal boxes, depending on whether dc will want to access the file later. It makes it easier than putting everything right into the big file cabinet because it provides us quicker and faster access until we are completely finished with something. Dc often like to make books, etc. of what has been learned. This system makes it easy to hold work until it is ready to be put into a final presentation format. For us, this method is more compact, portable and user-friendly than other methods.

Thanks for all your suggestions. Sometimes it just takes an outside look to help you see what's in front of you.

I have a question about this.

For those who have their children evaluated, do you have to keep every paper that they do? or do you keep like a paper a week, or what?

This is one of the main reasons why I don't do evaluations because I just can't stand all the papers everywhere.

We used spiral notebooks too. They didn't tear out any pages, just worked through the notebook until it was full and started a new one. We do it for spelling too.

Chocolate,
We only have to keep a sample of their work. Usually all the tests and a few lessons that show improvement. I keep all the work and then use the best examples of improvement at the end of the year. Then I'm going to try to make myself throw the rest away. I am a packrat But I'm working on it. I have 6 more bags going to the thrift store today I've been taking the clutter out of my house a little each week. It feels great

Our math, Abeka, is pulled out of the book for my sone He doesn't like to work in the workbook. Then we 3 hole punch it and put it in a notebook. My daughter, likes to keep it in her workbook, so we do. I save a couple of pages from beginning, middle and end, to show progress. I try to be more and more organized every year. This is our 6th year. Whew! Can't believe that one!

This year we will use spirals for math, spelling, grammar, copy work and Home-Ec/Wood Working/Shop and journals for nature and writing. Big Binders for History and Science we are going to use file folder lapbooks and place them in a clear sleeve protectors. Each will have an index, reference pages, reading book log from year to date. Divisions for Units or Time periods, and biographies, inventions,maps etc,etc. Still planning their requirements and check lists for each book .

I will have them design their binders cover using their own sketches/paintings and use Donna's labels for the sides.(These have the slip covers on them)

They each have their own 2-drawer file cabinets to keep their notebooks and files for paper research in. And a bin to keep their school supplies we use in class. We had a problem of them not having supplies available for class work so we doubled up and now they have their own personal supply kept in their room for their creative moments.

I even have supply box for each of the grandchildren when they come, they want to play school too.

Simplifying my life is my goal and more independent work for my older two dc

I like spiral books, but my son is left handed and hates to write in them. He likes to take one page out of a workbook, notebook, or whatever and put it on a clipboard. One sheet at a time, can't have two. Afterwards he is suppose to put them in his 3 ring binder. I have to get onto him about that almost every day.

We are doing something similar, if and when I can get the boys to write that much. Otherwise, a lot of fill in the blank from their literature readings, adding to a 3-ring binder (whether they use the 3-ring, or I just pull from it each day for them). Then I will transfer it to a clear protector (love those!) to their portfolio as we go along. ~Strict state requirements.

But, last year, I used an expandable folder with the 5 sections, for each child. This worked well to put their 'work to keep' organized.

(This is our second year too.)

we switched to a 3 ring binder a couple of months ago and it is really nice. I printed out Donna's divider pages for lang. arts, science, history and art put them in page protector's so that I can just add the pages as we go. We use a workbook for math and phonics so I keep them in the book. Although I need to take out a few for our portfolios, I do that at the end of the year.

With the page protector's in there it looks so fresh and neat and is very pleasing to the eye.