Get back to school ready with a system in place for all the incoming paper & items from school. Between homework, artwork, permission slips, and lunch menus- a lot of paper comes home in your child’s backpack. Having a system in place can help you manage communication from school and also begin to create a curated selection of items to commemorate the school year.

Have a System for Incoming School Papers

I recommend a two pocket folder for returning papers/homework back to school and for school to send home schoolwork/important papers. A lot of schools already have this system in place, even indicating a certain color of folder to buy for this.

Now what to do with the folder once it comes home? Give each kid a slot in a stacking paper tray that sits in your “homework area” usually on a kitchen counter. Have your kid put their folder in the stacking tray when they get home from school. I recommend standing by the recycling bin as you review contents of the folder and immediately recycle any standard worksheets or drawings that don’t reflect new milestones or new skills. Address any homework or permission slips that need to be signed and then put all “done” items on a consistent side of the folder.

Any information you receive that doesn’t require being sent back to school (additional worksheets or school lunch menu etc.) can then be stored in the kids paper tray mentioned above. Review paper that is in here weekly so that the tray doesn’t become too full.

Set up a Memory Box for Special Schoolwork/Artwork

The idea of a school memory box is to have a bin for keepsake school papers or artwork catalogued by school year. The idea is to not save everything your child draws or every worksheet that comes home. It is to create a curated selection of items that represent the school year and show a child’s key milestones. I like to use the Iris File Tote Box from Container Store and then use hanging file labeled by each school year.

Ideally keep the memory box close to where the backpack is stored- it will be easier to move papers into the bin from the backpack. If this isn’t a possibility, store those special papers in the paper tray mentioned above until you have a chance to file things into the memory bin.

Set up Temporary Displays for Schoolwork

Maybe your kid catches you putting their scribbles or number worksheets into the recycling bin and it doesn’t go over well. Reality is you can’t keep everything, not everything is worth saving, and there is so much that comes home from school -but trying to be rational with kids usually doesn’t work.

To showcase a few of these items that might otherwise go in the recycling bin, set up a place where these items can temporarily be showcased. The display could be on the fridge, a bulletin board, or cable with clips. Take down & recycle papers after the start of each school week.

Hope these tips help the school year run a little bit easier!