4 Ways to Save Time and Organize SLP Paperwork

As a school-based SLP, I did A LOT of paperwork and it didn't take long for me to figure out how important organization systems were in my daily way of work. I had a huge caseload of students, but keeping systems for paperwork really saved my sanity. And, let me just tell you, I am not an organized person by nature, so these tips are ones that ANY SLP can use!

EVALUATE

Evaluate what paperwork you will need to complete on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. This can include IEPs, evaluation reports, Medicaid billing, parent communication, etc. Make lists of what is due when so that nothing comes as a surprise. Being prepared for your deadlines makes your life much less stressful.

I'm a procrastinator by nature, so know due dates was super important for me. I would check what needs to be done for the following week every Monday so that I could make myself a plan to accomplish those tasks during my time at school.

PLAN

The first thing you must have in your life is a really great planner. I created my own because nothing else really met my needs for all of the things I needed to keep track of. You can see my planner and preview its contents here.

Write down every due date you know of in your planner. This includes annual review dates for IEPs and any 3-year re-evaluations that will be needed for the school year. (This form is included in my planner!)

I would also add in all of your days off and breaks so that you don't accidentally run out of time to schedule something important.

CREATE

A control center is a good place to keep information that you are going to be referring to often. This could be things like your evaluation logs, teacher schedules, Medicaid billing lists, etc. I used a binder with tabs but you could also use a file box with file folders.

Pro tip: Find materials that make you SMILE! I like to find fun file folders and binders to keep things in because it just makes me happy.

BUILD

Build time into your schedule for paperwork. This is an important part of your job that should not be required to complete on your own time. Put this time in your schedule, use it, and protect it.

And if something isn't working for you, try something new! There are so many different ways to organize your paperwork, so don't be afraid to throw out a system that isn't helping you be more efficient and trade it for something else. I know for me, it took me a few years to find what worked for my brain!