Comments on: Organizing School Papers and Kid’s Artwork

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:19:51 +0000

Oh and like a commenter above (also named Sarah, small world), I take photos of all my kids’ artwork, including Magnadoodle images that would otherwise be lost for good. We homeschool, so ideally, each child’s art for the year will all be on a CD with other photos from the year (homeschool co-op parties, science fair projects, field trips, etc.). It serves a double purpose: mementos for the kids for when they get older, plus a record of what we accomplished, if we ever got “audited” by the state.

I once read that it’s best to take a photo of the child HOLDING the artwork, rather than *just* the artwork. That way you remember WHICH kid drew it :-) and it puts into perspective how old/big they were when they drew it.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:16:11 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing the link to the Etsy seller who makes artwork into pendants! That is such a fabulous gift idea! I bookmarked it for birthday & holiday gifts for relatives.

I love Etsy. I love giving business to WAHMs, and I love handmade crafts!

By: ConsultantCalamities

ConsultantCalamities — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:18:14 +0000

Oh, this is QUITE the project…!! I just did it for my son for the year now that he’s out of school. WHEW, that took some doing!

all year long, I toss some things that are quite repetitive, and hang on to some things that are “cute”. I put them in an accordion type file thingie…(along with other memorabilia, etc to keep, I’m a scrapbooker!) :-)

then at the end of the year, I go through the pile 2 more times over the course of a few days. my son also helps with this a little. I put things to keep in a large manila envelope, in a smallish box. Then a few really special things go in his scrapbook.

I think I’ll be able to get K-8 into the box, but I’ll probably have to get another one for high school! :-) but I’m ok with that. 2 organized, labeled boxes, plus a few pages in a school scrapbook is good for me. He has the option of keeping it in the box or tossing it, but at least he’ll have some of his “best” samples of work in the scrapbook!

By: MJ Doyle

MJ Doyle — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:41:59 +0000

I’ve been using the bin in the closet trick now for years. The kids choose what they want to keep in their “special bin” and when it’s full, it’s time to go through it again. Well, the kids don’t want to have to go through their bin, so they pick and choose very carefully. If they decide to put something in the recycling that I’d like to keep, or if the artwork was made specifically for me or my husband, I put it in my own bin in my closet. It’s a great system!

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:47:04 +0000

Thanks so much for mentioning my blog on your post!
I have just spent the last 15 minutes or so looking at your resources. I love the necklace idea! Wonderful!!!
I also started watching some of the videos on Monkeysee.com and had to make myself stop as I have too much to do and realize I will be on there awhile. But I will go back and look soon!
Thanks so much

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:15:19 +0000

I did! I kept things that had a hand print or photo, the rest I took pictures of it all in a “mess” and tossed. I did this once mid way through the year and again at the end.

By: Lori Gray

Lori Gray — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:51:46 +0000

HAven’t gone there yet….but it’s on the infamous list!

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:45:09 +0000

I made a photo book of my daughter’s art- I also store my most favorite pieces in a brown accordian style folder.
http://theworkingmomblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/getting-organized.html

By: DeniseC

DeniseC — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:02:35 +0000

Our school has Art to Remember or your local store or your self make magnets or notebooks with the child’s artwork on it . Even a christmas ornaments.
My one daughter took her beach piece and we made a keychain holder and a journal book which is the Visitor’s Log.
You can even make tote bags and aprons by putting it onto computer and printing onto print paper.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:27:58 +0000

Sarah, I never thought of doing CD’s. They would take up next to no space at all. Very clever!