How to Organize School Papers (the easy way)

Back to school!! Most parents are super excited to hear those words! Some are not because they now the mountain of papers their kids will come home with and the mountain of homework. This can even go for homeschool moms, but it can look a lot different. Some homeschool families don’t use a lot of paper because they’re unschooling. But whatever you’re doing for school this year with your kiddos……there’s still a lot of paper

As a mom I want to keep as much art work as I can because it’s just so cute! Especially as they get older and it’s not just scribbles anymore!

Am I right though? It’s cute, but how many of these scribbles can I actually keep? Anyway, I’m really not a bad mom I just want to not be swimming in papers!

So there is a pretty easy solution for you when your kid is in school and you want to keep some of their beautiful artwork. There’s a few options for school memories that you can do. There are memory boxes or time capsules. I’ve found one of the easiest ways to store your kid’s school memories is in a binder.

What to include in the Memory Book

Ok so what you’ll need is a 3 ring binder. I’d get one of the bigger ones, but you can use a smaller one if you’d like. Next you’ll need some page protectors and last, but not least some school keepsakes! I actually created mine using canva which is so easy to use! If you haven’t tried the free version of canva then you are totally missing out! Also, if you’re a homeschool mom…then how have you not heard of this!? Anyway so you’re going to want a cover page that can be put on the front of the binder.

I edited out my kid’s name for privacy, but this is how the front of the memory book looks like. Other important things to include is a photo of your child and spaces to write things like their favorite food, favorite subject, a thing they learned, and what they want to be when they grow up. This has been so fun for me to ask because I get to see into the mind of my kid and see what they want to be. You get to see how it changes as they get older and it will change.

One of the other pages I have included in my kid’s memory book is journal pages. I have two journal pages, one for the first day of school and one for the last day of school. Since my kid is pretty young I wrote down some things I observed from the day and asked if there’s anything I should add. It’s going to be so fun to see what they write later in their lives.

How to Declutter the Papers

But now you’re like wait…I’m still drowning in a mountain of artwork and this binder won’t fit them all! HELP!! No worries! I got you! There are a few papers that you’ll for sure want to save!

First day of School picture or School picture
Class picture (optional if homeschooled)
Writing sample (1 from beginning of year and 1 from end of year)
Art sample (1 from beginning of year and 1 from end of year)
Any Awards they received

Now I don’t always follow my own formula especially if there’s more artwork that I simply love, but you get the idea. You can save everything until the very end and choose your favorites from the whole school year. Be selective and only keep your top favorite items! You can double up papers in one screen protector if you like. Just ask yourself “Will this paper or item still hold meaning to me and my child in 20 years?” If not, then toss it.

Have a blessed day!