Easy organization ideas

My students were always losing their morning work and also losing unfinished work inside their desks. A friend if mine suggested I put a folder on the front of the desk of one of my special needs students. I realized all my students would benefit from this idea. I found file folders that are more like pockets. I let the kids decorate them and then I taped it to the front of each desk. Now their names are visible from the front and they have a place to store morning Noel and unfinished work. You have to watch the kids though. They'll put everything in them including books if you aren't diligent and insistent on what's allowed and not allowed in the pockets.

Getting Ready

I've been really trying to get everything ready to go for the start of our new school year.  I feel like this time of year goes so fast.  I always have a million things I want to do new and I try to get them all sorted in my head before I actually start them in my class. Pinterest has been a blessing and a curse.  There are a ton of great ideas but I've pinned so many of them I'm overwhelmed.  Oh well.  Well, I've also been trying to get organized better than I usually am.  I've seen on Pinterest so many ideas for a teacher's binder.  I decided to make my own binder this year.  I've always kept a folder or something but never with everything I need in one place.  Here are what mine turned out like.  I think they are pretty.  I feel like I may have forgotten something though.

Western Theme

As per a request of a fellow teacher on Teachers Notebook, I created a Western theme for SOAR.  I really like it and actually am thinking I will use it this year instead of the hot air balloons.  After I made it, Baylei (my daughter) said she loved it and that I should use it. So....I am! Click the pictures below if you would like to see it in my Teachers Notebook store. The set includes: 2 SOAR posters, positive behavior reinforcement cards, and nameplates.

FISH Binder

I use a FISH (Find Important Stuff Here) Binder for each of my students.  The binder is divided up into sections using clear plastic sheet protectors.  The first section is for reading and in the sleeve I put their spelling and vocabulary list.  Behind the sleeve I place any extra reading "helpers" that the students may need for that particular story or in general.  The next section is for math.  In the sleeve I place a hundreds chart but the students use this sleeve as a whiteboard for math games.  It serves the purpose really well so they keep their gameboards in the sleeve as well.  Of course I place any math "helpers" in this section like multiplication charts or anything helpful for the unit we are studying.  The third section is for writing.  In the sleeve, the students place the writing rubric.  This section houses all of the writing "helpers" like synonym charts, and juicy color words, etc.  We clean out our binders at the end of a unit or the end of a story.  It just depends on which section we are working from the most.  I also keep in the binders their agenda and their morning work.  These binders go home every night!  The pocket in the front of the binder is for parent communication to and from school.  The pocket at the back of the binder is for work that is not completed yet.  Here is the cover page I made for this year's FISH binder.  Feel free to use it.  Leave me a comment if you like it and printed it.  :)  Thanks! Click on the picture of it to get a PDF.

Teaching Blog Addict: Math Work Stations: Spring 2012

I have always desired to use math stations in my classroom, but I just couldn't figure out the logistics of it all.  I especially couldn't handle the paper chase.  I just  found a great idea from the following fellow blogger: Thank to TBA!!

Teaching Blog Addict: Math Work Stations: Spring 2012: If you are like me, you are always changing how you do things in your classroom.  I have posted previously about how I use work stations in ...