Diggin' into Next Year: Classroom Organization

Well, our school year ends on Wednesday, and as we all reflect on this school year, we get ready to ramp up and revise for next year.  Well, really, I've been thinking about this since March when I went on maternity leave!  So to help everyone in bloggy world, I'm participating in a Linky party all summer long to reflect on different parts of the school day!

...organize different items!  Now, my role has changed a bit in the last few years, but I'm going to share some organizing things I did when I was teaching and then what I plan to do now that I have an office rather than a classroom.  

A couple of years ago, I realized that my math supplies needed a MAJOR overhaul!  We were changing math programs, so I was able to keep my old supplies, but I had received a lot of new manipulatives and materials to use with our new series.  So what did I do?  I took EVERYTHING out of my cabinets and began organizing by topic. It did not make any sense for me to have globes next to my place value mats.  I know this sounds pretty obvious, but I had just started putting things in my cabinets when I started teaching because I didn't have much.  After five years, I had really ramped up how much I had (as well as accumulating some supplies from a teacher who retired).  It was time for some organizing.  I took a day, went into school in workout clothes, turned up the tunes, grabbed a large Dr. Pepper on the way in, and got to work.  

    *Freak out mode started here...when I realized just how much stuff I had and it was all over my room!

 **But I didn't give up.  I was surprised at how many bins I already had after cleaning everything out.  Although I really wanted to buy matchy matchy bins, I figured it was probably a waste of money.  But, oh my, it was SO much easier to find everything and to remember what I actually had for each topic.  It was all in one place, and if other people needed things, I felt MUCH better about opening my doors and being able to find it right away.

So now that I've been in my admin. position for a couple of years, I feel like I actually know what I need to access on a daily basis and how things should be organized for efficiency purposes.  So, I'm starting with my files this summer!  When I first started I would realize the need for a new file folder, make it, and shove it in front of the rest of my files.  This summer, things will go from manilla to color coded, and from scrambled to alphabetized!  I. can't. wait.  This will make things so much easier, and will also help when I need to add files because I'll know where to put it.  

** This is going to be an empty space, because my office needs a total makeover this summer!  I'm not committing to anything staying the same other than the furniture. :)

*Here's a picture of all of the blogs participating in the Diggin' Into Next Year Linky!  Head over to join in on the fun and see how everyone else is organizing, or reorganizing, next year!

Organizing for Math Workshop and App Happy Linky

Math Workshop Organizing

Late last Spring, my principal had loaned me a couple of books to read about Math Workshop.  I was really excited to begin implementing a workshop-style approach to math, especially since our new curriculum wasn't very good was AWFUL!!  This would give me an opportunity to reach all of my students in authentic and meaningful ways in math.  Upon reading these two books, I realized that the first step was getting things organized so that I would know what resources I had for each concept, and have a place where my students would be able to get their materials.  

            

I love Debbie Diller, so I started reading the Math Work Stations first, and then I headed into the Guided Math book.  They were both helpful, and although they present it a bit differently, it gave me an idea for how I could make it work for my students in the best way possible.

I wouldn't say my classroom is every extremely neat and organized, but I knew where things were, the students could access things easily, and it appeared clean on the outside...until you opened a cabinet.  :) Okay, so maybe I thought I knew where things were.  I spent a day just cleaning out my math materials.  Although I came across  other things that needed some work, the books tell you to just focus on math, and get it done!  So I started by pulling EVERYTHING out that was math related.  I pulled my math picture books, manipulatives, tubs, etc.  Oh, and don't spend money buying new tubs, you'll be amazed how many you have already that aren't really being utilized effectively.  

The mess on the floor, table, cabinets before I started sorting. 

Wow!  My tall cabinet before I pulled everything out, and then after.  Notice the loose legos, indoor recess games just thrown in, scrap paper is everywhere, and it's a wreck.  When you see all the empty storage space, your mind will start to go crazy with ideas and excitement! :)

My next step was to sort by content, not by chapter or lesson, or personal supplies vs. school curriculum supplies.  I started with categories for geometry, fractions, place value, geometry, measurement, etc. and then found some subgroups of smaller concepts, or things I can use for multiple concepts.  I made sure to label these well.  I also created a bin for my picture books related to math, so that I could pull those into work stations and make it an option if they finish their task early.  

Then, I used the bins I already had, labeled them, and neatly put them away in my cabinets.  Can I tell you, it was like that feeling when all of the laundry is done!  A jump around, do a little dance, a silent squeal, and an "Oh my!  Look at how organized I am type of deal!"  Now, I know many of you have color coordinated bins, etc. but for me this was a step in the right direction, and I just really didn't want to spend money on something I already had.  Maybe some cute labels with coordinating paper would do the trick for me.  

 I wish I had a before picture of this...you would have said, "Oh my word!"

But now, it's all organized where everything has a place, and I can easily see what I have.  

As many of you know, I have changed roles, so I won't actually get to implement Math Workshop, but I couldn't help but share the initial steps in getting ready for them.   After putting some music on, getting a large Dr. Pepper, and closing my door, I really had fun doing this.  I hope you all can find some time for an "Oh my!" moment after it's all done!

Now onto App Happy with Hope King at 2nd Grade Shenanigans!  

So I have a couple of Apps that make me happy!  

The first one, seems obvious, but it's an App with the Common Core Standards listed.  The app is called: Common Core Standards.  Creative, huh?  I usually print these off, and put them in my teacher binder, but if I forget to bring it home or to a team meeting, I know I'll always have it on my phone.  It's so easy to use...and it's free!

 The second app is probably my most recent favorite, but it's called Apps Gone Free.  Each day, this posts apps that the publishers have made free for the day.  Sometimes there won't be any apps that you want, and other days you'll think you hit the jackpot.  Most apps that are listed are usually $0.99, but sometimes there will be one that was originally $4.99.  I have downloaded some great educational apps from here, and some other fun games for myself!  Happy Free Shopping!

Link up with Hope and her App Happy Linky Party to join in on the fun!

One resolution this year...Organization!

In order to be organized, I needed to get some things in line to start the organization, so I headed into school on one of my days off.  I hate going in over break, but I always feel so much better when I do!

Over the last five years, I've accumulated lots and lots and lots of files.  When I started as a first year teacher, I was just excited to put something into a file, label it, and put it in my desk.  However, over time, I realized there was no method to my madness and I couldn't find anything I was looking for.  Therefore, the files were worthless!  Here were my steps in organizing the madness:

1.  I started by taking all of the files out of my two drawers and organized them into like groups.  For instance, I had created a file for each reading strategy so I put all of those into a Reading pile.

2. As I did this, I tossed a lot of things that I haven't used in the last couple of years.  This was so liberating!!  There were a few things like the Olympics that I knew I would want to go back to at some point.  Although most of my files are digital, there are just some things that you need to keep on paper.   I probably narrowed down to less than half of what I had originally.

3. Once they were organized into like piles, I then color coded them so that each pile was one color.  Math was red, social studies was green, writing was blue, etc.   There were some files that I repurposed since the colors were intermixed to begin with, so I just flipped the folder the other way and relabeled it.  (Hint: Don't write on them with Sharpie in case you need to flip them over later, the Sharpie ink will not have bled through)

4. After they were all organized, I added a couple of blank files of each color to the back of each group so that if I need another file later, it is convenient, easy, and fast to create.

After: Pure bliss!

Before: Ahh!  The madness!