LHFHG: how to organize student work

[witheagerhands]

We took a loooooooong break and are basically just getting started with LHFHG with my 6yo son. I am realizing that I have nothing to keep his work in! How did I miss that?!?! (oh, maybe it was something about having a baby?) I have these little drawers from Wally-World that are sort of like workboxes, with his different lessons in them, but I'm wondering how to keep up with the papers, drawings, crafts, etc that he does? These flimsy drawers don't really hold much, and he sees his sisters with their 3-ring binders.
What do you do?

[raindrops]

Well, we have a binder with seperate folders for science, math, phonics, bible, art... if he draws something super cute or writes one of his Burgess book assignments nicely, I just tape it up on the wall. Most of the crafts are edible or can fit in the folder, can't they? I can't think of one that we have just lyin' around. The projects aren't a problem... but the stack of books... I wish I had a bookshelf! We are adding on a playroom/ homeschool room right now that will have lots of shelves and closet space so that should help. (I actually have bookshelves, but have to keep the HOD books locked in my bedroom because a certain 2 year old gets them. Not good! Hope she outgrows the book destruction phase soon).

[my3sons]

We put what we can in clear sleeves in a large 3-ring binder. I do choose a sampling of the best to keep and throw the rest, especially for things like handwriting papers, fine motor skills papers, etc. We take pictures of the activities and things that don't fit in a binder, and put them on our digital photoframe for all to enjoy. I also like to share the pics in the HOD Weekly Check-In. One other thing we do is hang things on the fridge in a big magnetic clip to show Dad when he gets home. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[jer2911mom]

We kept a binder with tabs for anything that would fit in it and then kept a plastic tub for artwork. I xeroxed anything that involved food so we had a picture of it but weren't keeping food stored anywhere. We also took pictures of the girls doing some of the activities and stored those with the binder in picture sleeves. I'll probably empty out the tub at some point, but I'm keeping it for now. At the end of each year we invite the grandparents over to see what we've done for the year and display the girls' work. The artwork is always a big hit.

HTH,
Kathy

[abrightmom]

Good ideas ladies! I love the idea of snapping photos and inserting them into sleeves in the binder (or making a collage of them to print out for the binder). I also think I'll give the kids a bin for 3D projects and save them throughout the year, choosing a few special ones to keep long term and pitching the rest (photos will be taken for emotional children or parents though ). Kathy's presentation to the grandparents is a wonderful idea and a GREAT way to recap the year together as a family. I'm chewing on that one.

[mrsrandolph]

I use a big 3 ring binder for each child with dividers labeling each subject. At the end of each month, I file all work in there. I use one binder per child per year. Of course, they have their history and science notebooks as well.

[witheagerhands]

Thank you everyone! You've given me some great ideas!

[Bramble]

I used a binder with the plastic sleeves pages. I forget what they are called!!

[Lisa71887]

I plan on doing the yearly binder/clear sleeve thing too. I also plan on getting a 4 drawer filing cabinet (lockable to avoid little hands getting in it!) and assign a drawer to each child. I'll hang a folder for each grade in each drawer. We chose the portfolio option as the form of assessment to the state every year so once I get my portfolio back from being reviewed I'll be filing them in the cabinet until each child's schooling is complete, just in case. They then can decide what to do with it all (though I'm sure I'll be sneaking a few treasured pieces out for myself LOL).