Rebecca’s Note: Our wonderful blog advertiser, Heather from Smart Space Organizing, has written a piece to get us parents ready for the summer holidays as our kids finish school. My biggest tip? Empty the book bags and clear out the lunch containers right away. HA. Here are her awesome tips so that we aren’t scrambling in August. Thanks Heather!
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Summer is just around the corner which means it is that time of year again, the end of the school year. Most students will be coming home on the last day of school with backpacks stuffed with papers, books and possibly some “lost” clothing uncovered in the lost and found or school lockers is going to be moved from school into your home.
Whatcha gonna do, Watcha gonna do when the stuff comes home?
Have a plan or strategy.
If you can, accompany your student to the school on clear out day or the last day of school so you can help them empty their desk or locker. For some reason Grade 5s and 7s generally have the most loose paper left in their lockers or desks at the end of the school year.
An easy step by step plan
1. Before anything is brought home, decide with the student as to where the items brought home from school are going to be sorted and stored until next year.
2. Send a strong bag such as a canvas bag to school explicitly for desk or locker clean out items. That makes it a little easier on everyone to have one source.
3. Ask the child if they want help sorting all or some of the items. Some kids will try to sneak in that “lost” jacket or iPod, and then they want help.
4. Dump everything out into one big pile (for each student).
5. Sort, you knew I was going to say sort, didn’t you. Before you start, give everyone a drink and a snack. A little something to make the process a celebratory one not a “Chore”.
6. Sort – Like with like, make it a game – beat the clock, best sort etc.
What to Sort
clothing
school supplies –.
- crayons
- pencil crayons
- ruler(s)
- calculators
- unused paper
- doutangs/folders/binders
- stapler
- glue
- erasers
- math sets
- you get the idea.
school work
awards
crafts
food containers.
Any other category
Toys
electronics
Sports gear
Backpacks
You may need another snack break at this point.
Review items to see if they will be good for the next school year or ready for craft supplies or just plain garbage.
Put supplies that will be returning to school next year where you will find them in August or September so you don’t spend money on things you won’t need.
7. Choose with the student as to what school work and crafts they want to keep. For large projects you may wish to take a photo with the student holding the project.
{Rebecca’s Note – check out Heather’s post on her blog about dating artwork and this post from our friends at Kids in the Capital about a very cool App to save pictures of special art!}
8. Take a photo of the child holding the artwork and store the photo digitally. You can then make a digital scrapbook at the end of the year which can include school field trips, events and ceremonies.
9. Think about the last time you looked at your old school work. That might help you decide what to keep for the long term.
10. Keep a few things that show progress or character of the student.
11. Look at the condition of the backpack or school bag and determine whether it will be good enough for the next school year or maybe a take along bag for summer trips.
Keep the process fun. If it is a sunny day you may want to do this outside. The different steps might be taken over a few days, depending on how much stuff is brought home. Take a before and after picture to see the difference.
Even teenagers and university students might appreciate the company and perhaps the help.
Take this as an opportunity to review the successes of the school year with the student.
Enjoy your summer!
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originally posted on http://www.smartspaceorganizing.ca/blog/
Heather is the owner of Smart Space Organizing, a local Ottawa business dedicated to helping clients get organized in their homes and their lives. You can check out Heather’s tips on her blog, on Facebook page or on Twitter.
