Kids bring home a lot of stuff from school. Between artwork, permission slips, and tests, it can feel like your house is drowning in paper. And let’s be honest—you can’t possibly keep it all.
But over time, I realized a method was key to keeping us organized.
Without a routine, everything gets tossed on the counter, stuffed into drawers, or piled atop yesterday’s pile.
A good system ensures that 1. you’re intentional about what to save and 2. the everyday clutter doesn’t drown out the truly meaningful school keepsakes
I picked up a simple wire rack—nothing fancy. But it’s made all the difference. It sits in our mudroom / kitchen area, ready to catch the school-day “dump.”
Here’s how it works:
When the kids arrive home, their job is to empty their bags: Lunch boxes go on the counter and any school forms, work, or art comes in with them.
The kids sort papers in the rack. The top shelf is for artwork, projects, or work I want to look at more closely. The bottom shelf is for permission slips, school communications, and anything that needs immediate attention.
Each evening, I review what’s in the rack and pick out any keepsakes for their MaVie School Memories Books. The rest? Recycling!
Because it’s part of our nightly routine, the clutter never gets out of hand—and I don’t feel like I'm swimming in paper.
Check out our School Memory Books which have a large envelop for each grade to save and cherish the most important memories.
