Binder Organization

I bought each of my kiddos a 1/2 inch binder this year.  I had seen some ideas about having a daily notebook to use almost like a "calendar time" in a binder.  So I was going to give that a try this year.......well......it didn't really happen for us.  You know how some things look like great ideas, but then your realize there's only 24 hours in a day! 

So the binder idea morphed a bit.  First it became kind of a daily planner for each of their checklists and a few other whatnots.  But it started to seem like one more bulky item in their stack of books each day.  When it dawned on me.....Get rid of the stack of books!

Actually, I wanted to do this for several weeks before I finally took the plunge.  I was concerned what I would do with all the loose worksheets when they are finished.  Nightmares of drowning in papers.......well.......maybe I should just keep their workbooks intact.  But no, the idea kept pestering me.  I knew there was a better system for us.  My solution....another binder - hahaha! 

OK, so here's how my new system works:

We now pull their worksheets from their workbooks and put them in their daily binders. 

No more stack of books!  Simplicity!  I love it!

 

I found some Post-Its labels that I added to the checklist pages, turning them into subject dividers. 

Each Friday we pull the next week's lessons from their workbooks, 3-hole punch them if needed, and add them behind the divider for that subject.  And we are planned and ready to go come Monday.  Everything is together and stays so nicely organized.  

My solution for all those loose sheets was another 2 inch binder for each of the kids.  As their work gets completed and checked, I add it to this binder.  Then, at the end of the year I will transfer their work into the file bins that I have for each of them (don't ask me why I keep all their work each year - I know I don't have to - I'm just a sap).

I can't express how much we all love this new system.  The kids love that all they have to grab is one thing!  We occasionally like to move to a new location in the house to do work, or one of them wants to work somewhere quiet (heeheehee!).  And all they need to take is one thing!  Or if they come to me for help while I'm snuggling our little one, it's easier to help them without juggling too many things.  And I look forward to how simple it will be to take our work with us when we start getting out more again. 

Yay!!!  For great ideas that turn out even better than expected!