Daily file

I am notoriously unorganized. It's not that I don't have the tools or the knowledge, it's that I lack the motivation to be consistent with a plan.

Last year I made one of those supply chest things that are all over Pinterest. Well, I didnt really make it because i didn't paint it, label the drawers, or pretty it up at all. I just stocked it with paper clips, pencils, and the sort. In honesty it didn't make a difference because I could have just as easily kept paper clips in my desk drawer. It actually might be a bigger problem because now I have two places to stash boxes of pens.

The year before I got a stack of six drawers to keep manipulatives in, one for each chapter. Not only are they overstuffed, but by the fourth chapter this year I didn't even bother to sort through. I really should spend time deciding what's worth keeping, rather than just adding to the stash.

This year I made that planner that I'm so excited about. I'm hoping it will eliminate all the papers I've had on my desk for the past few years - the daily list of who didn't do homework, the scraps of papers with lesson ideas, the lists of things for upcoming committee meetings. I've used similar binders in the past but my interest always waned eventually and I would stop filing papers or not have a photocopy available. And forget the scheduled meetings that I missed because there was no reminder after that September email listing them for the remainder of the year. Yes, I recorded them in my calendar, but ask me where that can debar was come June. This year is all going into one book. One thing with everything.

But there's still the issue of papers. Lots of papers. And since I like to read useless stuff, I tend to print stuff and put it into my "read later" pile but never get to it. I'm so thankful to the special education teachers who give me a reminder the day before a CSE or BIP form is due. (I know some teachers like three weeks lead time for a CSE form. I like one day, so I just do it with information close to the meeting date. Give me three weeks and my mind will create a grandiose plan to gather things that I forget about and then I risk losing the form altogether!)

Enter the Daily File. I just read this idea here: http://organizedteaching.com/the_organized_teacher/daily_file.html
It's not new information, I've seen similar ideas in the areas of home life and business files (like for MLM things). But I'm thinking the file, in conjunction with the planner book, might be a life changing solution.

1. Monthly folders. Put anything I know I will need for the month in the folder, and then look at that folder at the end of the month. Either do it then, move it to the day, or get rid of it. I'm thinking that would be perfect for my birthday charts. I used to have this cute little bulletin board with a birthday wall, I wrote each kid's birthday on a little star in Spanish and hung them up for all to see. Kids loved it, but my own life took over (meaning, I had my daughter) and papers started to get lost and I got overwhelmed. If I make the stars now (I put them on PowerPoint eight to a page) and file them before school starts, they will be ready to go each month. I could also make one list with all the meeting dates and just move it from month to month (in addition to the calendar).
2. Daily folders. Label them 1-31, just use the ones needed each month and the rest sit empty. When a CSE or BIP form is due, put it In the file for the day before. When I see an article I want to read put it in the next empty folder. Dedicate five minutes a day to the folders, if the article is still in there it goes in the garbage. Also good for finding a place to keep upcoming tests, projects, things that need to be laminated or photocopied.

Best part of this system - it's FREE! Use the folders from my yearly supply (I get 100 each summer but can request more as needed). Use some washi tape I already have to color code months and days (or just the months ones), or even easier use different color markers to label months and days. Use a box from photocopy paper (if I don't already have a similar-size box sitting useless in my classroom, which is entirely possible). Done.