Use a simple binder to stay on track with your kid's school life

From the Community…

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  Posted by Mimi-pz Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:42pm PDT

  Oh I love you! This is just what I need! I have papers all over the place and have for years!!!!

  Thank you for the idea. My current "sticky-post-its' and scraps of paper everywhere system is driving me (and my family) to distraction!!!!! I even have some of those binders around here somewhere!

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  Posted by HotCrossBuns Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:39pm PDT

  Oh Dear Sweet Jesus in Heaven...Why, why why does this thing keep haunting me?

  I have the binder. (have had it since Kid2 started Kindergarten 2 years ago!)

  I have the tabs.

  I have the clear report covers by the dozens.

  But I also have heart palpitations and a gurgly tummy every time I get it all out to put it to some sort of working system.

  And I don't understand it. I am one of those hyper-organized people that needs structure and order to survive. I can't even have a conversation with my husband when there's a mess in the room. He understands me when I say, "I'm sorry, I can't hear you right now, the mess is too loud!"

  So why, why, whyyyyy, can't I get my act together and just do this one simple thing that would make my life so much easier!!??? For now I throw keepsake quality artwork in an under-the-bed storage box and papers that need to go back to school get dealt with the minute they come home. Sounds organized, I know, but really, it's just another way of avoiding the above issue.

  hellllp meeeee!!!!

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  Posted by SharonW Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:01am PDT

  Oh, no need to make it so complicated HotCrossBuns. Simply having one notebook with pockets where you shove all the handouts into is a big improvement over the piles I used to have to rifle thru.

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  Posted by JeenieJen Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:14pm PDT

  I think this is a wonderful idea! I'm in love with binder I guess, because I always want to organize one... just never get to it. This year though I know am going to have to. I got three kids and one messy desk and is only week three of a whole school year. As I was reading this, I was trying to remember what did I do with the blue paper the elementary school sent with all the revised dates, some of them were no school days, and am freaking out all over my desk looking for it! darn it! the sad part is that I have more than one empty binder to spear. It seems like I've been collecting all of my daughter's binders from 1st to 6th grade :)

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  Posted by susan Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:09am PDT

  I live in a small mid-west town of approx. 2000 people. Our school district consists of 2 elementary schools, middle school and high school. Our high school has about 400 students. Our district puts together a calendar every year with all of this info your talking about in it. When we register the kids for school, they are sitting out and you can take as many as you want. I usually get 2, 1 for home and 1 for work. The beginning of the calendar starts with the district handbook. It then goes into each school building with staff, phone and fax numbers. They provide contact names and numbers for the bus barn and even the school board. It then goes into the calendar months. Each day is filled out with whatever is going on in any of the grades, from when picture day is at the elementary school to all the sports activities at the high school. It really is well done. I go through the whole year when I get it and highlight anything that pertains to us. This goes on the fridge at home. As far at the papers, when my boys were in grade school, they're 17 and 24 now, I would go through their backbacks every nite, pull out anything that had to be signed, highlight when it was due back and put it on fridge by the calendar. It seemed to work well for me. Good Luck!

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  Posted by ArmeC Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:20pm PDT

  I organize with a binder, too, and it is so helpful! I'm going to add the pen/pencil organizer to mine just because I don't know how many times I've scrounged around for something to write with!

  I also use sheet protectors to help keep the monthly calendars that we receive from the school handy. No need to spend the time punching holes in it if it's going to be replaced with another calendar in 30 days!

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  Posted by Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:09pm PDT

  Ohhh. The sheet protectors are a great idea. Thanks armecab!

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  Posted by Loner Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:54am PDT

  My children are grown up now. I used binder too when they are still schooling. I still used binder to file every letters, statements and bills for them even now.

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  Posted by jules, ( jellybean) Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:54am PDT

  I like the binder idea. I use one for all the reciepes I find and I use photo pages to put them in. Anyway, I have a cabinet in my dining/kitchen area inside I keep extra notebooks, paper,folders and resource books, dictionary ect.... On top I have a 3 drawer plastic cabinet that holds all the school supplies pens, pencils rulers ect.... On the wall above the cabinet is a large cork board and that holds a large calendar and all the papers I need right away. All the other papers I keep in aaccordian folder. At the end of the school year I clean it all out so it it ready for the following year.

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  Posted by Steffie Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:34am PDT

  I like this idea for organizing - and I'm not even a parent! Maybe it will help me keep my invoices and bank statements organized... *sigh* It's a dream, right? Until I get a filing cabinet!

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