Let's Get Organized, Organized...(sung to the tune of Let's Get Physical) My room has become a dumping ground. Changing grade level assignments each year leads me on the path to disorganization. Yes, I chose to loop with my amazing class, but I lost 2 floor-to-ceiling cabinets and several feet in the length of my room. You don't think it sounds like much until you're in there and using it! So, like most, I've taken to look at all those lovely classroom organization pins I have pinned (you know, the ones I had planned to implement, but they remain just on my pinterest boards). Ta da! I am pretty proud that I did a few of them...maybe, not the most productive ones, but baby steps, Melanie, baby steps.
I saw E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E. making "Teacher Toolkits" in the summer so I set out to make my own. I am a pack rat so I need 2. Now that the school year is on, I need about 10. :) Here are my first Pinterest projects.
Next, I pinned and actually made these after seeing them from Charity at The Organized Classroom Blog at the start of the school year for my cubbies. I always labeled with their numbers, but I liked the aesthetic appeal so I made these in DJ ChunkM font with their name and number:
I also pinned and sorted my bulletin board letters this from Marg at MargD Teaching Posters which really helped me see how many of each letter, what patterns or colors, etc. I had.
I also pinned and organized -- but does this really count? Yes, I think so since it was a pinned idea and I actually followed through! Something so basic I never thought of from Jami at Two Things in Common was simply sorting construction paper by color. The best part? My fast finished frequently replenish this so I use slave student labor to help keep the class creativity flowing with momentum. :)
I used these cute money for school notes from Angela at Hello, Cuteness in my P.I.R.A.T.E. notebooks this year and it has helped SO MUCH and kept most kids from bringing in pockets of coins and not knowing why they have to give it to me. *smile*
And hey, I even bought the bag from Thirty-One Gifts (below) and had it monogrammed...but that's about as far as I got....with this pin from A Bowl Full of Lemons.
I attempted these after pinning them from The Frugal Teacher, but they were a nightmare since we have to stack chairs at the end of the day -- E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y.! Great idea if chairs could stay down or could be stacked on the desks, but we can't at my school. Boo!
So for the New Year, this is what I want to do...
- Get my guided reading area organized
- Find 18" x 12" baskets for my class library
- Organize lesson materials, scan more often, and save them to save me TONS of time
- Force myself to enter CSCOPE test answers the same day
- Start MY way of charting the scope and sequence for next year with links to YouTube videos AND which books based on skill, etc.
I am taking baby steps here. I could rattle a list off that's 40 miles long...but I want to be able to accomplish it! How about you? How is the organization in your classroom? Is that one of your teaching resolutions for the new year?
OMG! I love your 31 bag! I put a file folder plastic bin in mine to help me stay organized and it's worked very well. I'm happy to be your second follower :) I look forward to reading more of your posts :)
ReplyDeleteLearning In Wonderland
Isn't it cute? I actually ordered 2 in this print to monogram one for school and one for personal use. The pattern is heavenly! I may have to steal your idea and use the plastic file folder bin. It's ready...just didn't quite make it. Thanks for your kind words! I am trying to transfer my posts from my old blog over but this satellite connection sure makes it hard...you can't just copy and paste the html -- it won't take. *sniff sniff* Thanks for being my 2nd follower - it is an honor. You and your blog actually alerted me last summer to the Skippyjon Jones items at Kohls and I raced out to get them! (My hubs went back and picked up 5 more Skippy dogs for my class to have as reading buddies). He is my all time favorite character!
DeleteI have got to get me one of those 31 totes! I am going to be working with 5th graders once school starts up again and I may be going from class to class. The tote is perfect for carrying everything I'll need.
ReplyDeleteSo glad I found your blog and I am happy to be your newest follower! :)
Bren P.
The Teacher Diaries
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Those are some amazing organizational resolutions. I need to sit down and do the same in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Darling Little Learners