I just finished packing up the boxes of schoolwork for the last 6 years. (Well, three years were just moving from one shape of box to another.) Why are so many things three-dimensional? His grade 2 year takes an entire box by itself. Why can I throw out a tooth, but not two inches of spelling practice (the same five sheets every month, just different words)? Why do the colourful things fade, run, ooze oil (plasticine), or some combination of the above? Why don't they come with dates? At least the month. Halloween stuff is pretty obvious, but I've got writing samples with no clue whatsoever. Why were there a dozen pencils in his pencil case Why didn't I go through it all in the spring?

Originally posted by CricketBeautiful Why are so many things three-dimensional? His grade 2 year takes an entire box by itself.

Part of the Art curriculum says students must make two and three dimensional works of art, might explain all the three d work.

Originally posted by CricketBeautiful Why don't they come with dates? At least the month. Halloween stuff is pretty obvious, but I've got writing samples with no clue whatsoever.

Hmmmm! Good thought. I, as a teacher, know when the work was completed, but I guess I should be stamping the work for parents. Although I do have to say stamping everything takes time away from working with the children, eg. listening to them read, or one on one work.

Originally posted by CricketBeautiful Why were there a dozen pencils in his pencil case?

I get this every month when I have 20 children clean out their desks. *Is that where all my pencils disappeared too?*

Originally posted by CricketBeautiful Why didn't I go through it all in the spring?

I can not help you here, other than to say I am a procrastinator too.

I hope that now that it is done, you have more space and organization! FWIW, in Grade 1 my daughter learned to write the date in the upper left corner of every piece of paper she wrote on. now, in Grade 2, they're totally ignoring that again and she's gotten out of the habit.

IKWYM, Cricket...my kids' piles are growing larger and larger...it is so hard for me to toss them out! You know, the only thing I usually date for my students if their holiday ornament they make every year...I hadn't thought of dating, either... I think I'm going to force myself to keep 5 items from each year...otherwise I'll be buried soon! My son just brought back a precious book he made about "Boas"...he's soooo proud. That's a keeper!

Originally posted by Springie My son just brought back a precious book he made about "Boas"...he's soooo proud. That's a keeper!

Untill he brings back his next piece. Then he will think that one is his best.

Originally posted by clouddancer

Originally posted by Springie My son just brought back a precious book he made about "Boas"...he's soooo proud. That's a keeper!

Untill he brings back his next piece. Then he will think that one is his best.

ITA! Their stuff just gets better and better!

They had to do 3D art in other grades as well; they were much smaller pieces, or stuff that I could fold well-enough. I've got it! There are enough major holidays that if I only keep stuff about the holidays, I'll have a nice progression. Except their Christmas ornament doesn't show creative writing, and the flight to their penpals in the US (with very cute passport and travel diary), or the awesome sandwich recipe, could have been anytime.