School Prep

As I said in a previous post, I put all of our lesson plans, answer keys and other relevant school things into binders.  I color-coordinated the outside of all my binders with scrapbook paper last year so all I have to do is change everything out.

Each grade's lesson plans come in a large stack which is plastic wrapped.  I take the cover page off of each stack and place it into the front pocket of the binder.   Each grade has it own binder. 

 A few years ago, another Seton mom showed me her dividers that she uses for all her lesson plans.  These dividers are sturdy with a pocket on front and back of each divider. In the front of the pocket I stack all the quarter report forms, and each corresponding test.  After the kids do the tests, I move the quarter report form and the test to the back of the pocket so that the current quarter form is always on top.  

Now since the kids can take most of their tests online at Seton's website, or I can scan the paper copy and upload it, I don't use the quarter report forms except to write down grades for other assignments that I will enter at the website when I have a chance.  That might change next year since we now have the laptop computer and I could enter grades instantly.  I do use some of the paper copies of the tests because sometimes it is easier or quicker for the kids to write their answers on a piece of paper than on the computer.

As for lesson plans:  since I can print all the lesson plans for any given day from the Seton website, I usually go that route.  These paper copies, that they send anyways, serve as a back up in case I don't get the plans printed, or if I need to make notes about something.  Or I use them to cross off what we have completed, since I have to know the week and the day I am on to easily print them from the Seton website.

 

Another thing I am working on is what I call my "Mom Binder."  This is where I keep all of my stuff, whether it be motivational stuff, planning stuff, etc.

I have decided that I want to put all answer keys into this binder this year.  We have been leaving answer keys in the backs of the books they come in.  This presents a lot of problems when I am having a discussion about a lesson with one of the kids, and I would like to have access to the answer key (since I don't know everything! Oh, I know, you are disappointed about that aren't you?!).  It's really difficult to be flipping back and forth, especially when the child needs to have access to the book to help with the answers.  So one thing I will be working on in the coming weeks is taking all the answer keys out of the backs of the workbooks.  It is also much easier to have them separate so that when you, or the kids, are checking answers you don't have to keep flipping back and forth.  So the "Mom Binder" is a good place to have them. 

 I found these tabs today - although not my favorite style - they are what was available without running to 2 or 3 different stores.  The good thing about them is that I can just write on them and the are repositionable.

 

 

 

So there you have it.  I am getting closer to having all of this stuff filed away and we will be ready for school in late August.