12.28.2012

Getting Organized {my tips and resolutions!}

Moving to a new school AND grade level in the same year
has kept me very busy.
However, I'm doing whatever I can this year to hopefully
be more prepared and super organized for next year.

Here are a few tips I have for ya...



*Monthly Binders-I love using binders to store my monthly 
thematic/holiday resources.
I don't know why, but I just love tucking them into a binder
instead of a huge file folder.
Probably because its way easier to quickly look through and find
what I need!
I separate each unit/holiday with a divider and then store
any examples of crafts I've made in clear, plastic page protectors.
Don't keep making an example of your crafty projects each year!
And they look super cute in your classroom, too!
{Click here if you are interested in my binder labels}





* Ziplocs for Storing Centers- Storing and organizing center activities
can be overwhelming. Especially if you have literacy AND math
centers like I do. That's a lot of activities.
But I've found a system that works for me. I wish I had pictures
to show you but luckily its not complicated to explain.
I just use a gallon-size ziploc to store each center activity and
label the outside with the name of the activity.


I like it better than a file folder because I can clearly see the activity
while I'm searching through them. I keep everything in the ziploc
that goes with that activity,
including any printables that were left over...don't' want to waste paper!
I lay the bags on their side to fit them in my file cabinet and I have
a drawer for literacy and one for math.
You can fit A LOT of these in a drawer and it keeps them
neat and organized in the order I've used them.
{so they'll be all ready to go next year!}


*Centers IN USE!- I do NOT leave my centers inside the ziploc
baggies when I have them out for the students to use. We all know
they would definitely not last long!
I've invested a little $$$ here and there in these plastic containers...


I found these originally at Target, but they were a bit pricey. Over $5 a piece or more.
{I think I saw they raised the price even more than that!}
Then I saw the same thing at Dollar General for only $3.99 each. I've
slowly bought a few at a time to have enough for both my math and literacy centers.
They are very durable!
The last time I bought some was a month or two ago, so they probably still carry them!

 ............................................................................................................................................
Ok, so here are my resolutions to becoming more organized:
*Organize my classroom library- It needs some major help.
I moved from a school that used Scholastic Reading Counts so that
is how I was marking and organizing my books.
The school I'm at now uses AR and I definitely didn't have time this summer
to switch all my books over, so now they are just organized into either
fiction or nonfiction.
Boring, I know.

*Go through my old files-When I packed up my classroom this summer, 
all my files went into boxes.
Some I unpacked, because I knew I would still use in first grade,
but I have 3 or 4 boxes of files just sitting in my garage that I haven't
needed. A lot of it just needs to be recycled. Wish me luck!



Go link up with Hope and share your organizational resolutions!!!





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10 comments :

  1. I need to get some of those bins! Your binder labels look so nice! I heart binders organization! :) I love your idea of using a clear ziplock bag instead of file folders. I organized my library a few years ago. I'm so glad I did but it was quite the time suck! Good luck. :) Thanks for the organizational ideas!
    Sarah
    Sarah's First Grade Snippets

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I know, that is what is keeping me from starting to organize my library is how much time it will take! :(

      Delete
  2. I LOVE your binder system! It may be the answer to my "file pile" that I posted about in the linky party. I added them to my wish list on TpT! Do you store EVERYTHING in them?

    Amanda
    mrsrichardsonfirstgrade.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!!! No, I don't store everything in my binders...so I do still have file folders...although part of me wishes everything was in binders! I only put seasonal/holiday stuff in the binders. Just that stuff alone seems to fill up the 2 in. binders pretty quickly!

      Delete
  3. Wonderful suggestions! And I love your binder covers- they're so cute!!!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. You seem to have such a great system! I love your monthly binders! :)

    -Courtney
    http://2ndgradesnapshots.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
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