Can't believe *I* am talking about organization, lol

I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Week. I totally wrote and All About Me type post on Monday...I typed it up on my spiffy iPad app....it was tricky typing up a post on the app and there was a learning curve. Yeah...um...well...after all that work it wouldn't flippin' post!

my error message!! 

So, I copied the HTML thinking I could post that way...well, I could but none of my pictures would show. I can't believe I paid (and I'm pretty frugal people) for that app. Urgh!

Today is allllll about organization. I'm just going to let you know I'm not very organized personally or professionally. I'm just throwing that out there. There are a few things that work well for me and they're probably things I picked up from coworkers, Pinterest, or fellow bloggers.

I number my students. So helpful for organization. Papers get their name and number for speedy alphabetizing, it helps me mentally account for every kid (hmm, I have 18 kids lined up and I'm supposed to have 19...who is missing. Well, I start with number 1 and I figure out the missing kiddo), mailboxes get numbers, I number popsicle sticks so I can do random grouping/helpers, and I use numbers for centers. 

One of the most important things I've learned and used are storage containers. Find storage options you like. 

(I forgot to take a picture of this so bare with me)

I inherited a homemade set of cubed cubbies. They're 4 cubbies across and 3 going down. Each spot is filled with one of these baskets that I prettied with ribbon. 

I sort each basket by genre or level. Right now the top row of the cubbies mostly have back to school/beginning of 1st type books. Other baskets include Dr. Seuss, Junie B. etc. That a big part of the reason I made my labels--they help show me which books are in which basket at a glance. I even made labels that were numbered so I can tell kiddos that they can only book shop from basket 2 (for example). 

click here

some other storage I use

These 3 drawer organizers have helped me out a lot. 

I'm not 100% sure about those monthly labels. That's why I haven't posted them or modge podged them. There is a drawer for each month with seasonal worksheets, craft samples, small decorations (like window clings), and seasonal centers. Since my discovery of TpT I have so many thematic & seasonal centers but nowhere efficient to sort them. It'll be so nice to just pull out my December centers and not go hunting around for them. Each one of those 3-drawer things was about $11 at Walmart. They make them in different sizes and even colors, too. I'm loving it so far. I didn't make a June or July one--instead I made one for things I need to file away and the other is for things I need to copy. 

For my daily worksheets, read-alouds, and materials I use stackable trays. Some are starting to crack so I'm thinking I'm going to order some more of the plastic containers that I use for book boxes. My teacher's manuals really weigh down the stackable trays and I love my book boxes (colors & durability)

This summer I made over my student mailboxes. I put notes, flyers, newsletters, and homework in them day-to-day. On Friday I put their special Friday Folder and all of their graded papers in their mailbox and they take them home. 

I color code all of my centers. I have cardboard magazine files that are in varied colors. I put a center or instructions for a center in a magazine file. 

I used to use a pocket chart and clothespins to organize the groups. I made some labels this summer that I like a lot more. 

The kids will stay in that color for the whole week (four days of centers and one day of whole group computer lab). They may choose any activity from their color group. They may do it and redo it throughout the week. We model scenarios of what to do if we don't like a center, if we've done them all, if one is too hard/easy, or if you're waiting on a new center. (no, I don't group them by number, that was just my beginning of the year pic) The color word cards and other center cards are included in my label bundle that I showed above. The numbers are from a freebie I posted about weeks ago. I use the numbers for centers & my book boxes. 

link up or check out more tips

Freebie & Giveaway Blog Hop

Hey! I'm hopping in with Teaching Blog Roundup for a giveaway and some freebies!

Right now summer breaks are going to start winding down for many of us and August is creeping closer and closer. So us bloggers at Teaching Blog Roundup decided to help make these dog days of summer a bit more bearable.

HOP ON OVER

The winner from my giveaway will get their choice of BTS items.


My freebie is a Birthday Freebie! I'm kinda stuck on this chevron color scheme I have going. I bought some swirly fun straws at the Dollar Tree

I'm going to attach one of these tags to them and give them to the birthday kiddos! They can also be made into badges or attached to Pixi Stix, pencils, suckers, etc.

click here to get them

They match my book basket & classroom labels:

click here

They match my binder pages (with editable blanks):

click here

AND they match my freebie labels:

click here

Bus Riders freebie

I have about a month until I go back to school. I know many of you are on a similar timeline give or take a week or two. I'm spending the day inside because summer has decided to hit Indiana and I'm throwing myself a Grey's Anatomy mini-marathon via Netflix. Don't be jealous. I'm also spending some time on my slightly neglected Pinterest boards.

While I was pinning I saw some back to school stuff that I really liked. One thing I saw was sign or something about organizer how students get home. I know every school is different and you have different dismissal procedures.

At the beginning of the year I make it through that first day...trials, tribulations, not enough time, too much time, crying, coloring, confusion, repetition...all that jazz. Then, at 3:15 our warning bell rings...we have 5 minutes until actual dismissal. Then, at 3:20 it's time to take the kiddos out. Those being picked up go to a designated spot where they are checked off and accounted for. Those in the after school program go to the gym. Then....the majority of my 6 year olds need to go to the parking lot where the buses await. Luckily, a lot of them have siblings or rode the bus in kindergarten.

There's nothing more worrisome than a 6 year old suddenly getting bus amnesia...and me having forgotten to bring my list because everyone was soooo sure at 9 this morning.

I made this page to attach to a clipboard and bring those first few dismissal days (or to leave with a sub). Just write the bus numbers in the blank box and the student names below.

Back to School Bus Rider Freebie:

click here to get your TpT freebie

Throwback Thursday

Today I'll be linking up with Cara over at The First Grade Parade. She has such a great idea to get the blog ideas flowing. You find an old post (maybe it was real popular, maybe there's a freebie, maybe you were a newbie and not a lot of people saw it, maybe you just plain like it)

Last summer I really picked up blogging steam. For a few weeks in a row (before 5 for Friday took over my blogging Fridays) I'd blog about some of my favorite pins.

click here to link up

Here's my Throwback for Thursday!

**Click link to go to source of pin**
1. Using Unifix cubes to teach coin value
Such a neat visual and kiddos should be able to count by 5s by the time you introduce money.


2. Sight Word Uno
I love all things Uno! This was great. To beat it all, it's FREE!
 
3. Flip Chute!!!
This is so neat you really need to watch the video to understand. Soooo many possibilities.
 

4. Labeling your stuff!
Every year I have my teacher supplies for the kiddos to borrow. They're kept in a special place and I often spend the time to write BC somewhere on the item. We all know that that Sharpie does eventually wipe off though...sigh. So not only does that happen but there will be those times that the kiddos get out their crayon box and you revert to being a 7yr old and in your head you say, "Hey, those are my scissors!" Well, why not use some jazzy duct tape. No disputing that.

(I had pink duct tape on all of my dry erase markers, glue sticks, and scissors---it was bright pink so I knew who exactly had my materials and maybe needed to clean our their desk or get a note sent home about stocking supplies--2013)

5. Teacher Tipster.com---Chart Folders
These are so neat. I really hope you've checked out his videos. He has tons of ideas, especially if you're into musical teaching or attention grabbing strategies. Ever hear, "What do we do when we're done?" Well here's one idea you copy some things for the kiddos to work on...like math facts, handwriting, connect-the-dots, spelling, etch. You slide it into a sheet protector and put it in their binder (I use math binders so it'll be easy for me to integrate) and Poof! instant stuff to do when they're done.

Rotation Organization

I am building stamina with my firsties. I really wish I could say we were consistent and I did it daily...as the name suggests. We are up to 10 minutes in Read to Self and today we try for 9 or 10 in Read to Someone. (I'm pausing them at 10 for a while) I'm excited. They're really getting the procedures down and since we've started actual reading instruction and not just kindergarten review many of them are reading what they can. I will start rotations soon and I found some super cute rotation visuals for the kiddos for grouping. I found pocket chart inserts, clip chart posters, and a few other ideas. Well, these were cute...I even saved some and printed one of them. I practiced the other day with a few rotations to get them into the swing of things. It was difficult since they were back to back. I've since though of a few ideas to make them smoother. One of the ideas I thought of was a timed powerpoint. (This was totally my fave because I didn't have to watch a clock or set a timer) Watch the video below to see how I practiced rotations for our second go around. (I plan to make it pretty and add some cool effects soon...but for now...bare minimum)

Oh, and while I have you...have you used the Storia app?! Amaze. I'll post more about it later.

**I've uploaded the most bare bones template of this to my TpT store for free. Feel free to use it as a starting point. If you decide to do this please leave a comment here or on the YouTube video and a link for me to check it out!**