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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 10:36am | IP Logged
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In trying to get a handle on things as we get started this year before it gets too chaotic, I have been looking at different ideas for the organizing the children's work and papers, notebooks, etc.
Kim had a link on her blog to the Avilian Notebooking Method. This method uses one binder for each child for all of their subjects using dividers or pocket dividers.
Anyone use a method like this? In past years, the kids have had separate notebooks or binders for each subject. Last year, I bought a nice cubby-like bookshelf from Ikea and each child has their own basket. Nevertheless, notebooks were always missing when needed. I am thinking if each child has one binder to keep track of it might work better.
What works for you ladies?
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 12:17pm | IP Logged
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Molly,
I am trying to figure this out myself this. I wonder if we have the same Ikea bookcase? This is the one I have. Last year I gave each child a cubby for their books. When we bought this bookcase they didn't have the baskets that fit the cubbies.
Anyway, we try to use the Avilian Notebook System that you linked to. Unfortunately, we fall into nonschooling ruts very easily around here so they are not always full.
I like Dawns' idea of using totebags for each child, but I am thinking backpacks.
Right now I am still decluttering and painting our learning space....I have to be done by Tuesday!
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 1:29pm | IP Logged
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Yep, same bookshelf. Mine is black. I do love it and the basket idea works pretty well. They tend to get their books back in most of the time. But when they misplace a notebook or binder they will grab another notebook to write in or a sheet of paper and stuff ends up all mixed up!
That's why I was thinking the one binder per kid thing might work. At least if they lost it for a few days, they could work on loose leaf and (if they don't lose that) insert it in the binder when they find it.
Ah, the eternal search for order! 
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Jennifer
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Organizing!? One of my favorite and least favorite things in life. Homeschool organization is one of those things that can take over your life if you let it. I've attempted all different styles of organization, constantly looking for a miracle plan. And I have found that the best style of organization is the one that is enforced. Binders, totes, backpacks, shelves, drawers - they'll all work if mom enforces the process of organization.
So far the best plan for us has been to use a four-drawered, wheeled cart (sold at any discount center in the home organization/tote area). Each child has a drawer for their individual binders, notebooks, workbooks, literature selections, special writing instruments, etc. Of course, it only works if I enforce the use of the drawer. At any given time of day, I can find workbooks, binders, journals on the couch, kitchen table, dining table, futon, desk, bathroom counter, practically anywhere. If the child is playing and obviously not using the school item any longer, I call them over to put it away immediately. Yes, they moan and groan on occasion, but I never give in. And when something is missing and I've seen it laying around somewhere, I do not help them find it. Does that sound mean? Maybe, but it has really helped the older two (almost 10 and 8.5) be responsible and put their things away. Let me clarify - I do not nag or yak yak yak at them about this. I remain cool and calm. Nothing is worse than a calm mother when you can't find what you need to get your work done. And when you can't get your work done now, you can't play later.....BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL DOING YOUR WORK. I love natural consequences.
Jennifer
Camp Homeschool
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Kristie 4
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I think I might try this this year. We have started different notebooks, but they don't get added to or looked at much. I am going to keep separate ones for Art and Nature Journalling (as those are our faithful ones over the years) but put hitory/writing stuff etc. into one. I think this will simplify things, which always makes me more relaxed!
This has been a process the last couple days as I went through old papers and found all these great drawings my kids have done over the years from history- I got the 'These should be organized/scrapbooked/something guilt '... and as much as I love all the beautiful things many families do, it is not us here. Right now I am helping my son make a great cover for his Lord of the Rings study he has discovered, but the history papers will sit in file folders under the bed!
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Kristie in Canada
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MaryMary
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Ooohh, I like the everything-in-one-binder idea. Less chance to lose things. One thing I did last year was to buy each child (even the toddler) a white, plastic dishpan (from the dollar store, no less!) with molded handles. At the begining of the year they each decorated the outside with stickers of their own choosing and I added their names with foam sticky letters, etc. Into this bin they stashed any of their own materials..from workbooks, pads of papers for drawing, and writing/drawing materials that were uniquely their own. I also made up a folder for each child with printouts/ideas for activities or crafts that they could do, as well. Everyday they went to their bin for their materials, and we made sure it was all put back when they were finished. I loved these bins as they became our "portable classrooms" we've taken them with us outside, to Nonna's, and on days when one of the children was sick and I needed to be close to the upstairs bedroom and bathroom (our learning room is on our lower level) I was able to instruct the kids (those who were not (yet  ) sick to just bring up their bins from downstairs and they would work upstairs, where I could still be close by. My children are still little though (7 and under), so if you have older children you may need to look into a bigger bin to fit all their stuff.
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Mary
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Ouiz
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I do the "everything in one binder" thing for my 4 homeschooled kids. On the plus side, it keeps everything well organized and is easy to take with me when I have to show the accountability group our work/progress. The down side is that my kids don't look through their binders on a regular basis (as they possibly might do if they had their own notebooks for different subjects?)
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Ouiz
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Chez Ouiz
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Erin
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My children have a binder for all their 'loose' notebooking pages or anything really, they draw a great picture I pop it in Liturgical notebook pages, narrations printed out all go in.
They also have a spiral notebook with five dividers for their seatwork subjects, dictation, spelling etc At the end of the year I pull the pages out, make up 'title' pages for all their work and combined with all the pages from their notebooks comb bind it all into one book, then my paper monster is one book per child and their maths books. With several children this is easily managed.
As we have only one shelf to keep our lesson books in, each child has a 'plastic magazine holder' for their books. I can pull them out, place it on the table and everything is there.
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ALmom
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I do everything in one binder for each child - divided by subjects with dividers, etc. Now, to be honest, the youngers aren't great about keeping their different subjects seperate, but they do keep it in one place so we can find it.
A few things I have done that make this more efficient in our house:
I have a different color for each child - and it is all 3 ring binders so we can add as much paper as we want.
Also, as soon as I look at work or whatever, I give the option to the child for me to hold it in my Teacher's binder (I have one color for each child that matches the child's color - and I also get colored index cards for any catechesim, vocabulary review cards, etc. that they are making - it is easy to spot which childs is which). I include their original lesson plans (usually the things I have gleaned from), notes about what I need to do or work on with them, goals, attendance records, sample work, etc. Most of the younger children like me to hold their work for them. I also hold onto my own version of the plans that have not been handed over to the child yet.
I only hand over 1 week at a time to the child - and when we complete work and go over it or discuss it, they hand the plan back to me all checked off. This goes on the inside of my binder for them - and becomes my documentation of days completed. (This is required by my church school and attendance is required by the state).
I invest in those little sticky rings so that I can reinforce the holes when needed.
I basically write out the semester plan - each day on 1 page of 3 ring paper. Five days at a time of this plan are tucked into child's binder. I get the ones with the clear colored plastic page on the cover where you can slip a cover on the inside - all plans go here, as well as booklists, etc. 5 days are tucked into the childs outside plastic sheet, and the rest is tucked in the same place in my binder that corresponds to that child.
Older children who are more prolific or have special passions will sometimes keep seperate binders for themselves. For instance, my science fan has a bound sketch book for his science sketches. My oldest dd has a seperate history binder.
If we make something really special, we will put it in a binder all by itself.
I do try to keep all these extras also color coded.
This has worked very well for us.
Janet
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Organizing their stuff
