I’ve been trying so many different ways of organizing all the ideas I run across online. I’ve used Delicious to bookmark pages and add tags, I’ve kept notebooks filled with handwritten lists, and used google reader to tag and star items for later. It’s all about to drive me crazy because none of it works (for me). I’ve even looked at evernote, but it isn’t the answer for me either.
I am so embarrassed when I write a post that includes an activity inspired by someone else’s post… and I can’t remember where I saw it. It’s just polite to give another blogger credit for her ideas.
Sometimes I actually have ideas of my own. :) And I need somewhere to keep them. Somewhere that I have easy access to, and where they are sorted in a manner that makes at least a little bit of sense. I've been scribbling ideas down in a notebook for a long time now. However, math activities are mixed in with art and poems and abc’s, and so on.
So, I decided to make my own organization system. And it’s actually working. Yay! And it’s simple. Really, really simple. I turned to my old friend, Excel and made a spreadsheet of ideas and activities. Click on the image to make it bigger.
I’ve added room for 2 separate tags, a space for notes, and a space for a link if it’s something I’ve come across online. Now, when I sit down to read my blogs I open my spreadsheet up and just copy and paste away.
And when I’m planning a week’s worth of activities and art projects, I can sort the spreadsheet by any of the headings - sensory ideas or counting activities or art – whatever!
Also, I can print it and have it handy in my planning binder. This is the important part for me because I’m usually sitting in my easy chair drinking coffee, far away from the computer when I’m writing out our weekly calendar. I’m a hard-copy kind of girl. :) I think that’s why none of the online programs were working for me. I’ll be able to make notes of ideas that sprout from my own brain right onto my hard copy and add them onto the spreadsheet later. And I’ll probably be printing the spreadsheet on a monthly basis, which will help me go over all the things I’ve wanted to do but haven’t gotten around to yet.
I’ll still use Delicious as a bookmarker for resource sites (not specific activities). And I’ve been taking 5 to 10 minute breaks once a day to go through my Google Reader list. I quickly star everything that looks interesting (and get rid of a lot that doesn’t), then go back later and read my starred items. That’s when I open my spreadsheet and start gathering new ideas.
How do you keep all the terrific online information organized? I’d love to hear in the comments!
Have a beautiful day! :)
