The last bell of the school year – is there a sweeter sound
for any child? Thoughts of staying up late, swimming, adventures with friends,
ice cream cones and cleaning out the school backpack beckon. Well, maybe
cleaning out the backpack is not high on the list of fun things to do during
the summer. But it is important and done with the right attitude it can be fun
for both you and you child.
The first step is
to pick a time that both you and your child can focus on the task of going
through his backpack and schoolwork. I recommend setting aside 30 to 60 minutes
within a week of school ending. Your child may need a day or two to relax after school ends,
but if you wait too long the task will become more burdensome than necessary.
The second step is to grab your child’s
backpack, anything else he brought home from school, and any other school
papers that he has in the house. Also gather the recycling bin, a trashcan, and
something to store your child’s archived schoolwork in.- more on that later. The
easy part is done.
The hard part is turning off the critical parent voice. As soon as your child detects a hint of
criticism or negativity, he will become disinterested. Remember that this is a collaborative
process. How would you want to be spoken to if you were your child? Strive to be genuinely positive and
supportive.
The third step is
to sort the papers with your child. The easiest way to sort them is by subject.
Take papers out of folders and
binders. Tear papers out of spiral
notebooks. Once all the papers are
sorted you are ready for the fourth step,
which is to review each subject.
At the end of the review process you will have a stack of
papers that you want to keep and a much bigger stack of paper to recycle.
Ideally, you want to keep the work that showcases your child’s creativity and
talent. In twenty years a multiple-choice test or a worksheet -regardless of
the stellar grade- may not seem special, but an essay might offer an enjoyable
glimpse into your child’s thinking. Ask your child to pick out the work he is
most proud of, and ask him what about each piece of work makes him proud. Then
listen. If your child has a hard time picking out something, then you can pick
out something. Explain to your child why you like it. My secret tool to get a reticent child to talk is the
request “Tell me about this.” These
conversations are valuable in helping you better understand your child.
The fifth step is
to store the items that you have chosen for keeping. I love 13-pocket accordion
files for this purpose. There is a pocket for each grade and the tabs make it
easy to label. Because the accordion file is expandable it can hold a fair
amount – but not too much. Keep in mind that you will be saving paper every
year your child is in school. A
few select items will be much more meaningful than an overwhelming collection
of hundreds of pages. Slipping a school picture into the pocket along with his
papers adds a special touch. Your child may want to decorate the outside of the
file to personalize it.
Older children may want to keep their notes from their
classes. It is worth exploring why
your child wants to keep his notes by asking how the notes will be helpful in
the future. Sometimes students check previous work to remind themselves of
concepts that they are reviewing. Sometimes just having the notes brings a
sense of comfort. Archive notes by subject by either putting them in a binder
with subject dividers. Label the binder spine with the year. Make a deal with your child that notes
that aren’t referenced in a year can be recycled.
The last step is
to recycle the paper that you are not keeping. Throw away any worn-out school
supplies and put away the backpack and any usable school supplies for next
year. Thank your child for
spending his time on this productive activity. Kudos to you too. You have
modeled some important organizing skills for your child and taught him how to
bring closure to the school year – or any project. I think that calls for a
celebration. Ice cream, anyone?
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