My mom used to say "A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place" ~ but let's be real: I double dog dare you to open one of my "junk drawers!" Even though I am not the most organized person, I really can't stand clutter. In fact, I can't get anything done when I don't have a clean workspace. (Maybe that's why I don't make dinner as often as I should!)
So, when we learned that 4 out of 5 days with UCPS would be remote learning, I took it as an opportunity to clean out our playroom, buy some extra storage bins and try to make our "classroom" spaces easier to work in. I reached out to some professional organizers and got some tips for you:
Kathryn Snearly is a former school teacher who's transitioned to home organizing on a budget. She runs the YouTube Channel, Do It on a Dime and a blog with the same name. She's also mom to two school-aged boys and understands that prepping a workspace for our kids can get expensive if you don't know what to look for! Her biggest tip was to head to dollar stores and target and look through the dollar-bins. She even created this adorable video showing the transformation of her own kids' workspace! You can some amazing tips on her Facebook and Instagram pages.
In talking with Lianne Hofer she suggests you start simply and add as the year progresses. If you can, keep things as organized as possible by color and/or topic and when something is done, file it in a binder or curriculum basket by date. This makes it easier to find what you may need later. It also gives you the chronological order of when assignments are done. We are teaching our kids how to stay on topic and organize themselves as well as staying organized ourselves! here are 7 tips she compiled that might be helpful as you start this journey:
- Use bins to store books. Have categories like
- easy readers
- chapter books
- coloring books
- Use empty toilet paper tubes (like we all don’t have a few extras of these!) and line them up in a show box to hold pencils, colored pencils, markers, pens, etc. BONUS: kids can decorate and glue the tubes into the shoebox
- Keep items together that would be used for crafting; A 3 drawer shelf from Sterilite works great for smaller items used for crafting or science experiments or paper or stickers
- Different color notebooks and folders for each class/topic studied and use different colors for different students!
- Whiteboard or chalk board to stay on task
- 3 ring binders with dividers I like the pockets best
- One section for parents to hold docs for submitting the pocket can hold docs until entered
- One section for each child and sub divide for each subject or topic.
- Plan to add additional years if continuing homeschooling.
- Laminate for additional dividers. Kids can draw/glue pictures or use pretty paper for personalized dividers
- Envelopes can work as well place each assignment behind the last for keeping order.
- BASKETS are LIFE: Use these to contain the curriculum books and notebooks. Less school looking/ more contained.
- Book shelves are great and get unruly quickly. The baskets keep papers and books together and it’s kinder to the eye to look at.
Lianne offers more great ideas on her Instagram and Facebook Pages AND is available for a free 30 minute consultation!
Whatever your style, know that organizing for the year will save your headaches - so buckle up and get ready for the wild ride and know that, if nothing else, you'll be organized!
