Getting into the Fall and back to school mindset, I had a little trick to share with all the moms who want to be more organized, but don’t have the time or desire to spend hours scrapbooking each school year.
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| Griffin’s 5th grade book. On the cover is the class art collage and a pic on the way to school with his cello & pal. |
When your kids are in preschool and kinder they are constantly bringing home another masterpiece that you want to treasure. Those years need a box of some kind to contain all the precious things. However, as your kids get up in school grades the papers that come home are more copious and frankly less precious. I mean who cares about saving math tests and the like? What I do keep is the special essays, reports and art that has some time put into it. I also save special awards, notes from teachers, and mementos of places visited during the year that meant something to the child. A field trip to a mission and the accompanying post cards, are one example.
To keep up on this and not create a pile of junk to go through at the end of the term, I started culling them in a spot right off as September starts. A few years ago, my eldest needed some report folders with pages already in and a clear cover. These were handy to keep on hand and for $4 or so, I bought a few extras. With 24 pages, there is usually more than enough sleeves for all the special papers and things. If there is extra at the end I add them to the back and tie or clip the whole thing together.
I like that it has a clear front you can decorate with that year’s photos.
Here’s a few snaps of Grif’s from last year which I just finished a week or so ago. Okay I was late doing this, but it did get done. . .
I like to keep little notes and things they have made during the year too. They won’t always care about how to make a balancing bunny!
Love the art !
Grades and select valentines?
Some fun things they made.
Activities they participated in.
Some things were pried out of the gallows of the backpack along with granola bars as you can see.
You get the gist.
If there is enough room I add some summer vacation items. This was Griffin’s note to himself during our trip last year to the Grand Tetons. He likes to make lists, which I steal and save, they are so cute.
Anyhow, if you get one of these folders or something similar, you can begin to collect the worthy items in the sleeves. At the end of the year, I usually go through the room and backpacks and get a few that I didn’t snag before or that we put on his bulletin board. When I think I have most everything, and the (lovely 😉 school photos, I close up the year and slide it all in place with a few notations and dates. Not a piece of art, but it’s memory of the year and all that child has done, which is good to have and to be honest better than I had done in previous years!
As you can see from above I am no Martha. However, I feel happy that they at least will have a book of each school year.
Do you have system for school papers and keepsakes? Love to hear what the rest of you moms do !
Happy September!
Kim
