| It is important to keep an organized home school, | | | | that my child will draw or paint masterpieces but I |
| but many have difficulty doing it, so I hope to | | | | can't possibly keep them all, so I take photos and |
| shed some light with some suggestions. As | | | | place in a scrapbook for them. They are happy |
| homeschoolers we tend to generate a large | | | | with the scrapbook and I am happy because of |
| amount of paperwork so a system to keep it | | | | less clutter. |
| organized is essential. | | | | - Purging occurs on a weekly basis. We remove |
| The first thing I do is develop a filing system. You | | | | tests and quizzes or writing samples from their |
| can go as elaborate as going with colored folders | | | | file system and place in their portfolios. This gives |
| or as simple as manila file folders. Quite honestly if | | | | the child a sense of accomplishment both |
| they are in a file cabinet no one will see them and | | | | academically and in organization skills. This is a |
| you just want to be able to label them | | | | system that will teach them to stay organized in |
| appropriately so easy to find and file. | | | | their adult lives. Keeping important papers in a file |
| - Break things down into categories. Depending on | | | | system which are easily accessible will make their |
| the subjects you are teaching at the time will | | | | lives much easier. |
| determine the amount of folders needed for each | | | | - Clear boxes and drawers are perfect additions |
| child. | | | | to an organized home school. If you can't see it, |
| - Portfolios are a great way to keep things | | | | you don't know you have it. We keep art supplies |
| organized per child. Some states require a yearly | | | | in plastic containers and mark them appropriately. |
| portfolio with examples of everything your child | | | | We have clear containers for crayons, markers, |
| has studied and learned throughout the year. | | | | pens/pencils. We go through them every couple |
| Keeping that organized by subject and perhaps | | | | of weeks and replace as needed. |
| color coded will make it easy. For instance, I have | | | | - Shelving systems are essential to an organized |
| a portfolio for each child that is an actual 3-ring | | | | home school. We keep all our books and supplies |
| binder. This binder contains page dividers for each | | | | on shelves and are all labeled. We like using color |
| subject. I then include page protectors and have | | | | coded stickers for different books and the |
| examples of work accomplished along with tests | | | | children are aware of the system and where the |
| if given any. I also have a transcript that I have | | | | item goes when they are finished with it. We use |
| made for each child that shows the classes taken | | | | open baskets and crates to hold and house |
| each year and the grade assigned. This is very | | | | binders and portfolios for easy access. Each child |
| important for my high school aged children, since | | | | has a plastic drawer where they will keep the |
| it is needed to determine if each class or credit | | | | books they are using that particular year. Every |
| that is required was accounted for. | | | | drawer is labeled and each child knows which |
| - Simple systems work best. There are many | | | | belongs to whom and can place items in them |
| beautiful looking filing systems on the market, but | | | | accordingly. |
| if they are complicated you will more than likely | | | | I hope that I have enlightened you a bit on |
| not keep up with them. One of the easiest | | | | maintaining an organized home school |
| systems that works for our family is the typical | | | | environment. Teaching your children organizational |
| crate with hanging folders. Each child has a crate | | | | skills early will make your home school and their |
| with folders designated for each class. They are | | | | lives more organized and less stressful. |
| required to keep their folders neat and tidy and | | | | Remember to make learning fun. |
| purging weekly is very important. There are times | | | | |