Why You Should Use Digital Files Instead of Paper

Organization

Mar 4

An organized classroom doesn’t have to be a dream.

Yes, organization comes more naturally to some teachers. Just like classroom management or highly interactive lessons come more naturally to some teachers.

If organization isn’t your superpower - yet - that just means you need to get intentional about what’s in your classroom. And where it is in your classroom.

An organized classroom starts with a purge. I take you through the whats, whys, and hows of a classroom purge in this blog post.

Don’t skip this step!

After you’ve purged your classroom of all the supplies, resources, and “stuff” you don’t need, take a moment to celebrate.

You deserve it.

But… you’re not done. Simply purging all that is unwanted or unneeded doesn’t leave you with an organized classroom.

So what’s next?

It’s time to create digital files.

Your classroom purge likely still left you with a lot of paper that needs to be organized. Before you start creating paper files, I challenge you to turn as much of that paper as possible into digital files.

I know. Your binders and file folders and stacks of paper have become part of you. But just like your favorite pair of sweats from high school - the ones with the hole in the knee that really don’t fit anymore - it’s time for an upgrade.

It’s time to go digital. Let me tell you why…

Disadvantages Of Using Paper Files

1. Paper Files Continue To Multiply

The longer you are a teacher, the more files and binders you’ll accumulate. You’ll constantly need to reorganize or come up with more and more inventive storage solutions.

2. Storing Paper Files Gets Expensive

Consider the amount of money you’ve spent on binders, labels, tabs, dividers, folders, and more. And the more paper resources you accumulate, the more money you’ll need to spend to organize and store them.

3. Paper Files Stay In One Place

Unless you haul them home and back to school every day (and who wants to do that?) paper files stay in one place. And counting on your end-of-the-day-tired brain to remember exactly which resources you need to take home for lesson planning or grading is a risky strategy.

Benefits Of Using Digital Files

1. Digital Files Take Up Less Space

Digital files require no extra space. No shelves, no filing cabinets, no boxes stored on top of closets and cupboards.

2. Digital Files Are Easier To Organize

Moving files around inside your computer is a LOT easier than rearranging shelves of binders or heavy boxes filled with paper.

3. Digital Files Are Essentially Free To Use

There are no binders, folders, or cabinets to buy to store your digital files. Plus you’ll never run over your monthly paper allowance when using digital files.

4. You can take your digital files anywhere

Anyone who has been caught trying to plan a lesson at home when they left the resource they need in the classroom can appreciate this benefit. Once you have the file on your computer, you can project it, share it with students, or print it out to make copies as needed.

Digital files offer so many benefits to you as you strive to become even more organized and efficient. In addition to saving space and time, they are also invaluable when it comes to unexpected absences. Digital files allow you to access emergency sub plans and get them in the right hands quickly.

Once you’ve created digital files, organize them into folders on your computer. Schedule an appointment with yourself once a month or once a quarter to go through your digital files and make sure they’re organized in a way that allows you to access them quickly.

An organized classroom is a type of self-care for teachers. No, not in the same way a pedicure or a massage is self-care. But, an organized classroom provides long-lasting benefits to your health and well-being as a teacher. I am here to support you in your efforts to be more organized.

Learn more about my self-paced, online course, Organized Just So here.

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