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 Organizing school projects - Advice sought (currently 1,137 views) |
| Admin |
| Posted on: January 13th, 2006, 7:02pm |
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We are starting to get overwhelmed by the number of learning projects we have going on. It seems like each one of them requires so much work for me to gather together the pieces we need that it takes more time to set up than we spend working on it. For example, if we're going to do our 3-d drawing book, I need to find paper, pencils, eraser, 3-hole punch & notebook for storing drawings, the drawing book we work from, etc. For history I need to gather the usborne history book, our Story of the World book & activity book, paper & pencils, extra books that we have from the library & home on the topic, etc.
I'm trying to get organized, and I read a couple of books recently on "how to organize your life". So... I'm trying to get a handle on each activity we do, and try to gather up the things we need for each activity (whether it's me paying bills or Eric doing history or Ruby making Valentine's day cards) into its own specific storage container.
Has anyone tried this way of getting a handle on school stuff? I haven't bought anything yet, but I was thinking maybe I could find a drawer type system where we could put each subject's stuff in one labeled drawer, then pull out the drawer and carry it to the table when we want to work on it, then carry it back when we're done. It seems like it MIGHT work, but I hate to buy "gear" and then not use it.
I am feeling so surrounded by educational clutter! Any comments, warnings, or suggestions gratefully accepted!!! |
Elizabeth
Mom to Eric (8 ) and Ruby (4.5) |
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| tkmk |
| Posted on: January 13th, 2006, 7:19pm |
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| I've felt the same way! This past month I've reorganized our materials according to subject. We bought fabric bins with a window to label the contents (from Lowes). I'm still working on it and sometimes I just have to walk away from it. I did find a scrapbooking organizing system at the Container Store in Denver. It has 6 drawers that are sealed/snap shut. They are made for 12 X 12 paper so they are the perfect size for storing a bunch of stuff in especially ongoing projects. I found the same organizer at Costco this week for half the price. Good luck! |
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Reply: 1 - 5 |
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| Admin |
| Posted on: January 14th, 2006, 6:30pm |
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Posts: 1,794
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| Thanks, Tanya, I'll check out Lowe's. I also found some good organizing drawers at http://www.lillianvernon.com. |
Elizabeth
Mom to Eric (8 ) and Ruby (4.5) |
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Reply: 2 - 5 |
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| Crystal_Miller |
| Posted on: January 15th, 2006, 7:27pm |
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Hiya Elizabeth. I have one of those crazy organized houses....I know, amazing for an unschooler....haha. But anyhow, here are some of things we use.
For Crafts: Sorscha has a cabinet where everything is labeled in clear shoeboxs with lids. It is very easy for her to go and pick stuff out. (The labels say, playdoe, clay, puffie crafts, premade craft kits, holiday theme kits, paintbrushes, beads, etc.)
For her History books: She likes them on her bookshelf in chronilogical order. In between each time sector there are large white cardboard tags. These reach out far beyond the books. They say: (EX: Revolutionary War, Vikings, etc.) Her reference books she likes out in the kitchen on the buffet (which is now her 6 foot work area).
Even her laundry is organized in bins. (I know, sounds weird, but I do all the laundry and right away hang up all hang up clothes on hangers but leave them in the laundry room. I fold all others and place on a crate in the laundry room) Sorscha is not made to put anything away, but as she runs out of clothes, towels, etc. she will go in and grab what she wants.
+++This is when I thought of you and your email. This (on-top of the crate system) is not working because the piles get too high and fall over. I was looking in Target and have found a great (white-box) system where I can put her panties in one, towels in another, and so on. It will look nice, make the piles more effecient, and keep any battles from happening. That is a big one in our house....NO BATTLES OVER STUPID STUFF. There is no reason. So, here is the link. Maybe you could use this type of thing for boxes with each topic. (EX: you could label a cubby History and have a box in it with all the history supplies). I might also suggest that each box could contain its own box of crayons, scissors, tape etc. That way you would never need to search for anything).
http://www.target.com/gp/searc.....p;url=index%3Dtarget
Ahhh, and I almost forgot. When we did formal school, I had those tubberware file boxes with the handles on top. They were labeled (History, science, etc.) and we could just grab and go.
For Sorscha though, I found that when it was in the box it created this kind of, "oh no, here comes the box, now I'm stuck" thing and she would never pull the box out herself. Kind of like when we had a school room....it was the "oh no, we are crossing the threshhold". Even though this was my girlies response, your kids might love the "titled box with handle idea". I think younger kids like it because it's Their Box.
Anyhow, good luck. Hope one of these can help with your kidlets and organizing.
Crystal and Sorscha ( |
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Reply: 3 - 5 |
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| josacli |
| Posted on: January 20th, 2006, 10:56am |
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I've got a dedicated bookshelf for homeschooling. I've eliminated books that the kids have outgrown. I can not stand clutter. I think the actual bookshelf cost me $25 at walmart. The notebooks etc are next to the books they go with. I have a special folder of worksheets for each subject in a binder all clearly labled (the DH sometimes assists in homeschooling and I have to keep it simple) I keep a pencil box with pencils, glue etc in it for her school stuff. Then, we have a "pantry" type shelving system in our laundry room that holds bins with each craft set up in it. Playdoh with all the cutters and various tools in one box, finger paint in another, paints and the pads to pain on in another, coloring books with crayons in another and so on and so forth. My DD likes to scrapbook with me as well and I bought a backpack and folders that her scrapbooking stuff goes in. I spend Sunday night organizing lessons for the week... loosely so. I try to plan ahead for what I need and then place any library books in order on the shelves. I make a quick list of what we will be doing and double check that all supplies are accounted for. I then try to look ahead for the next week and make up a shopping list for any needed supplies. When they are bought they immediately get put with the lesson they belong with. Like I said above, I hate clutter, and if it isn't a painting etc I'm saving I trash it. This includes worksheets the kids have completed. If I'm saving art work, it goes with the scrapbook stuff or on the fridge until it goes in the scrapbook stuff. I have an expandable file that keeps things organized by date so it can be added to the book in order.
Hope this helps. It might take a while to get organized but do a little at a time. I started by getting rid of everything the kids don't use anymore (three piles, keep, trash, donate) then I organized the keep pile. Each kid has their shelves and they can reach the craft supplies in the laundry room and know where they belong so they can put them back when they are done.
Hope this helps - Good luck,
Jo-Anne |
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| Admin |
| Posted on: January 23rd, 2006, 5:37am |
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Posts: 1,794
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| Thank you all for your advice. I'm the type that wants to be organized, but I want it RIGHT NOW, rather than having to work at it little by little. I can see that something has to change -- probably me!! Well, I've ordered a few bins for organizing school material, but the bookshelves... well, either I need fewer books or more shelves. I'll have to figure that one out. I can't even think about organizing the craft stuff, yet. Whew, this is all so overwhelming. But thanks again to all of you for the suggestions. |
Elizabeth
Mom to Eric (8 ) and Ruby (4.5) |
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