5 Tips for Organizing School Paperwork

Isn’t it amazing the amount of paperwork that your kids bring home? While some schools are doing a good job of sending newsletters and information home electronically, there is still a mountain of papers on the counter after just one or two days of school. Here are some tips to keep on top of it and not let it overwhelm your house.

1. Designate a place to put your school papers. Do you have a desk or place to set up a few files? If not, claim a place in the kitchen, office or laundry room that is the perfect spot for school papers.

2. Create a folder filing system. You’ll need folders for temporary papers, permanent information, and kid’s artwork. In the temporary folders, put the paperwork that you need to hang onto for a few days. This can be field trip forms, notices for school parties, Star of the Week paperwork, birthday party invitations, or weekly homework packets. At the end of the week, empty the folder into the recycle bin. In the permanent folder, include school phone numbers, schedules, contact numbers for afterschool activities, etc. Finally, throw your kids artwork in a folder. At the end of the month, go through it and keep the ones you want. Don’t forget to date them first!

3. Create folders or a holding area for your kids other educational activities like Religious Education Classes, Tutor schedules, Spanish class, piano, etc. We have magazine racks sitting on the counter because they can hold information and any text books the kids need to grab for their weekly class.

4. Box tops. Collecting Box Tops for school? Have an envelope or small box in a kitchen drawer designated to hold the box tops you collect to send in for school fundraising. When it is collection time, divide them up equally between the kids and send them in.

5. Family Schedules at a Glance. Have a designated Family Calendar in the kitchen. It is essential to have a place where everyone in the family can refer to for activities, appointments, and social fun dates. If someone asks your daughter to babysit, she can easily check and see if she is available. If Dad comes home from work and no one is home, he can check the calendar and see that everyone is at soccer practice. There are several Mom or Family Planning Calendar brands on the market, so see which one works best for you, or create your own.

Here’s to feeling organized and in control!

Sue Kirchner is the founder of e-boutique ChocolateCakeClub.com and blog ChocolateCakeMoments.com, both sites designed to inspire and help busy families have more fun, so they can have more ‘Chocolate Cake Moments’ – when they are smiling, relaxed, and enjoying their family time. Sue and her family fun ideas have been featured on ABC Chicago, WGN TV, and NBC Chicago. When she’s not working, she is CFO (Chief Fun Officer) for her family.

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