Hi Terri! The jury is still out on this one for me. I've done different things with this, but I'll just share what's worked the best so far for us. I have a file folder for each of the boys. All of their paper stuff goes in the file folder (although the favorites usually have hung on the fridge for awhile before making it in the file folders
). Then, after an amount of time (varies greatly, but I try at least every few months or so
), I have them each grab their file folders, lay out all of their things on the table or the floor, and choose their very favorites to keep. (Waiting awhile after doing the work helps them be more objective - if they did this right after completing each thing, they'd never be able to let go of any of it since the work was too fresh in their minds). I also tell them to pick their best work and try to choose some from each area of school to show a little of what they've done in each area.
Our littler son always wants to keep it all, and he doesn't have as much, so he can keep quite a bit of it, but I do try to help him learn how to go about picking by showing him several things that are very much alike (i.e. all of his handwriting papers he colored), and then have him pick his favorite from those. My oldest son as gotten very good at picking. Then we put all of them that will fit back to back in clear plastic sleeves in a big 3-ring binder - each boy has their own 3-ring binder. We 3 hole punch the ones that won't fit in the sleeves and put those in too. I throw the rest when they are not right there (they know I'm throwing them, but it's easier if they aren't watching me do it since the desire to "save" something always comes over them
). I have taken pictures of their bigger projects that won't fit in the binder, but I don't do a good job of getting them printed and in their binders. However, these things usually end up in their room on their desks or something anyway, and are enjoyed that way. Usually all of this fits in one binder for each year. I'm not sure if this is a good idea long-term or not, but it is what's working well now. I scrapbook as well, but school tends to be separate from my normal scrapbooking (mainly since I can hardly keep up on that as well).
I've also thought about pulling them out at the beginning of each school year, or the end, or whenever, just to celebrate what's been learned and see how far they've come - I haven't gotten this done yet though.
I'd love to hear what other moms that have been homeschooling awhile have done long-term, and what they think is really worth it in the long run. (I'm envisioning myself after my sons are all grown up and moved into their own houses giving them 12 binders from their homeschooling, and having them thank me kindly, and then do what with them? Dare I say possibly throw them when I leave?
Hard to think of, but could be a possibility.) For now, this system makes us all happy though.
In Christ,
Julie
) I'm going to take pics, too, and try making one of those nifty photo books. There was a link to a site to do that that was cheaper than any I've come across.