lets share storage tips

A pretty decorative tin can with a lid.
The sugar canister from a pretty set of containers.
You can get these at a thrift shop for a few cents. If they don't have any this week, next week they might.

Paint the wooden sticks with a bright pretty color of enamal paint. Get the paint in a spray can. Put a ziplock bag over your hand that is holding the stick. Clean up is a breeze.

 

I completely agree with the bins for everyday of the week...and every subject.... to keep myself organized for next year I have a binder with sheet protectors on my desk and I always make 2 extra copies of everything and put the extras in there in the order that I hand them out.... this way when next year comes I have an idea of the order I did things in and all curriculum related things are together in labeled binders.... I make 2 or 3 extras of everything so that I can give an extra to another teacher if need be without giving away my last copy.... It has worked out very well for me...

Organization on the computer -- I type up my planbook.... I have a School folder on my desktop and within that I have a folder for every curriculum unit or grade level that I teach (New York; Notes Home; Calendars; Homework; Planbook; Simple Machines, etc)... it makes it so much easier to find and edit files later.... then I burn everything to a CD at the end of a school year so that I have it all and don't eat up so much memory (especially on my school computer where we only have certain amount of space)...

 

I've used colors, shapes, and letters to label puzzle pieces. I put them into ziplock bags and then put them into a bucket so I don't waste any of my cabinet space with puzzle boxes.

I used plastic coffee cans to store my community pencils and crayons found leftover on the ground. I also put markers in those containers

 

an idea for the cup that holds the knives or sticks- put sticky-backed Velcro on the bottom and the opposite patch on your desk or podium.....it won't fall easily and you can take it if you need to. If you are worried about getting dusty (my janitor would LOVE you-I can be messy use a little baggie to toss over the top. I love Velcro and magnetic tape. I use them a lot!

for those who don't like the texture- how about just printing the names onto tagboard and laminating them. Before you cut them apart, take a permanent marker and mark one end blue and the other red.....that way you can flip over the ones already called.

How about overhead projector storage. I have seen the little thing that you can buy, but am looking for other ideas.

 

For my overhead projector, I have a canvas magnetic pocket for my Vis-a-Vis markers that sticks to the side of my projector. I also have a binder with dividers that contain all my transparencies. If you have helpers, you could have them clean and store them at the end of each day or week.

 

We adopted a new math kit this year, and our old kit had a bunch of plastic number tiles in it, I found them in a bin toward the end of the year and had a student go through and pull out one number for each member of our class. I may use those next year instead of unifix cubes with their numbers written on, since the numbers are already on and they will take up less room in a cup/tin.

 

Great ideas for organization! My problem with organization concerns posters! Not just posters, but also large bulletin board cut-outs too. Any suggestions for that? (I used to hang my posters in a closet which worked pretty well, but this year we moved into a new building with no hanging space. I purchased those cardboard poster sized storage boxes, but there's no space for them to sit up in my new closet either! What's a girl to do?)

 

I love my large poster box, but they do get heavy and the handle part at the top tends to break off if they are moved a lot. I have no room in my one and only closet for it now, so I stuck it behind a file cabinet and I can slide it out easily. I also purchased large clear vinyl bags with handles. They are about 3 ft by 4 ft. I file by subject area - one each for math posters, social studies, LA. I like them because I can tell what is in them from the outside. I stuck them right next to the poster box (yes, I have zillions of posters and large cut-outs).

The overhead projector tote thingies are on sale for around $4.50 at www.reallygoodstuff.com . Look in the outlet section.

I print out my weekly spelling words and vocab words each week.
They are displayed in pocket charts on the wall. At the end of the week, I rubber band them, put the week number on the back, and file them in an expandable file. The original lists go in a folder.

When I used paper on my BBs, I used to put up several colors at once and then just remove the top layer when I wanted a change. I didn't like all the holes in them, though, and switched to stretchy fabric.

I have the white drawer cabinets with drawers for:
magnetic words, pencils, pens, glue sticks, fancy writing paper, scissors, fractions manipulatives, geometry manipulatives, geometry supplies, chess and checkers pieces, counters. A cute wooden drawer cabinet is near my desk with: number cubes, push-pins, game pieces from old games (like Monopoly, Sorry), paper clips, etc. I have 5 smaller drawer things in the closet with various craft supplies, glues, hanger stuff, bandaids, brads, wire, etc.

I use huge paper clips (butterfly type) on the side of a shelving unit in my closet. Then, I loop handles of canvas bags, or any kind of bags, over the top of the clips so they hang off the sides of my shelving unit.

 

I love reading all of these good ideas...

Here are a few of mine
* for each month (2-3 months) I have a color coded binder with all papers. Ex. orange for Oct/Nov with all of my Columbus Day, Fire Safety, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc papers in. I do the same for Aug/Sept, Dec (its own binder!) Jan/Feb, March, April, May

* I have plastic drawers (from Walmart) that fit on my back counter with days of the week so I can place papers in them. Plus there is an extra drawer which I labeled "Next week" so as papers get copied I can put them into the drawers.

* borders are stored in the long/thin boxes

* I have plastic drawers with "extra papers" in them so when students get done they can just get a paper from the drawer if it is a choice for the day

* popsicle sticks for pulling names randomly and another set for lunch/count attendance

If I think of any more organizational things I will post again...I actually like organizing my stuff and using my labelmaker...haha

 

I use Medium size pizza boxes to store the students portfolios. I can fit over 20 in a plastic shelf I have. The shelf is a Yukka or something like that(cheap less than $15 at Walmart.)


I also number my students, their cubbies, their folders, and their books. I write their numbers on the outside of their textbooks. That way all #7 books belong to the same child. It makes keeping up with readers easier.

I also use the country time lemonade containers (round, plastic, and lids screw on) for game pieces.

I also use the magazine holders to place my teacher resource books. I put all reading books together, all theme books together, etc.

 

To organize my posters, I bought a bunch of those xl and xxl ziplock bags and divided my posters by subject. You could also go further and divide the items by lesson.

I am thinking about making a chart stand out of pvc pipe, and then I am going to hang those bags from the pipe (the bags already have holes punched in them, but I am going to reinforce them with duct tape)

 

I put the kids' name and number on a popcicle stick (tongue depressor actually) and I have them in a pocket chart by the door. As the children enter in the morning, they take their stick and put it in a cup. I use the sticks to call on kids. I can just look at the pocket chart to see who is absent.

I have plastic baskets that the workbooks are in. Each table has a table manager who is charge of getting the workbooks. I keep them in a cubbie with the table number on it.

How do you manage your books? Currently I have plastic tubs and the books are in them according to size and whether they are hard bound our paperback. I would like to level my library this summer but I don't know how I should store them.

 

The small Play Doh containers from the party favor size containers make great storage for counters or Bingo chips at each child's desk.

 

I saw a teacher one time use an empty paint can and those little paint stirrers for each kid. She wrote their names on them, and then let the kids decorate the other side. Do they have the same texture as popsicle sticks?

 

In my computer gradebook, I can arrange the students in any order I choose. So even if a move in would be alphabetically # 4, I can move him to #23 for gradebook, attendance, etc.

 

Poster Storage

I store my posters in long cardboard tubes. Then, I just label the outside tube, so I know what's in it. I got this idea from a fellow teacher at my school.

 

A couple ideas:

Instead of popsicle sticks, use index cards (you could use different colors for different classes if needed - pink for first period, blue for second - if you switch classes during the day). At the beginning of the school year, take a picture of each kid. Print them, put one on each index card, and write the kid's name on it. Laminate and store in one of those little magnetic pen holders you can put in your locker so it sticks to the whiteboard. It would also help out subs.

Artist portfolios (like http://www.dickblick.com/zz150/54/) are great for posters. Storing the portfolio could be tricky, though.

 

A veteran teacher once let me go through her posters and take what I wanted. She took a desk and turned it upside down so the legs were sticking up. She took two pieces of particle board about 2 foot by 3 foot or the size of a large poster and placed them inbetween the legs of the desk. Inbetween the two boards, she placed her posters. The particle board protected the posters so that they didin't get bent up and she had the desk shoved between a counter and a wall--wasted space.

I keep a hanging folder box in the front of the room. I write the dates of the current week on a folder. I place any extra papers from that week into the folder. (I purposly make extras for those that forget or lose their papers). When a child comes up and asks for another paper, I have them right there. After a couple weeks I transfer the papers back into their original notebooks.

I have a hanging file for each child. When I've graded papers, I just place them in their files. Every Wednesday, I send home a Wednesday envelope. Parents get the papers and anything from the office on that day, they sign and return the envelope the next day.

 

For those of you asking how to manage books.....

Check out this awesome webpage from a teacher who has a wonderful classroom library. She teaches 3rd and I teach first but I was still able to get some tips........


http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/Frames-Library Oraganized.htm

You can even print out her labels......very neat!

 

I haven't figured out the benefit of numbering kids

 

Numbering children allows for parent volunteers to correct papers without knowing who's child got a better score. (and for when kids correct each others too)
Also, I use numbers on my discipline/classmanagement system so that an 'outsider' won't know who is on yellow or red or green. That's between me and the child.

 

LOVE that website! Thanks for sharing I teach 5th and have gotten some ideas from her as well.

 

last year i had so many students coming and going that i couldn't possibly number them as in 1, 2, 3, etc.
So i came up with a double digit system because the odds of having 10 kids with any letter as a last name were slim.
1-last name with an A
2- last names with b
3 - c
and so on....so my numbers began at 10 and i could slide new kids in as i needed. I also made it a point to train only one class helper per class period to put the papers in order for me.

 

Some websites... I probably got them from all of you:
http://www.jmeacham.com/organizing.htm
http://webtech.cherokee.k12.ga.us/liberty-es/collinstrott/Teacher Pages/getting_organized.htm
http://www.mspowell.com/ click on organization

 

I teach first grade and my students catch on to the numbers really quick. They are very good at remembering to number their papers. At the beginning of the year, I say, "Remember to write your name and number on your paper." Eventually, it becomes automatic and I don't have to say it anymore. As the others mentioned, the numbers are useful for things that are used again each year. I use them to label cubbies, folders, textbooks, behavior cards, etc. Also, my students are numbered in alphabetical order (by last name), but it is easier for them to "get in number order" than "alphabetical order".

 

Any good ideas for storing sets of guided reading books? Right now, mine are just on a book shelf, with dividers in between each level. I did have some in small tub/crates, but then I had some larger sized books that wouldn't fit in those containers. Just wondering if most people have theirs on a shelf or in containers.

 

I bought bins at Dollar Tree, one for each group. I keep each groups books in the bins. When I move them up levels I just move the books. I just like each group having it's own place.

 

Just took someone's idea about the photo storage boxes for bulletin board letters and I love it! It already feels so much better - thanks for the tip!

 

After the fire chief complained about too much paper - we painted our bulletin boards - the background that it -
Easy to change and goes with everything.

 

I use ziploc freezer bags for everything... Just took down a bulletin board that I'll re-use in September - put the letters, clipart and a sample of student work in the bag and put the title on the bag in Sharpie... works like a charm for next year

 

What kind of paint did you use and how long would it last with stapling and such. I love that idea. I hate putting up paper.

 

What about each student having their own pocket divider to store unfinished work? We actually have three colors per student. One is unfinished work. One is language arts type papers for the indepdent work center. The third is any fun puzzle or educational pages for those who finish fast. We tell them which color to go get. No messy papers stacking in our trays, etc.

 

I'm glad you brought that up...I'd almost forgotten. One of my friends has a W.I.P. Folder (Work in Progress Folder), and anything that is not yet completed goes into the folder. This includes morning work packets, writing assignments....whatever. Then the kids have that first on their list of "Things to do when I'm finished"...it keeps desks from becoming as much of a black hole where papers cannot be found. I've also used a two pocket folder for a center folder. It held all of their center work and at the end of the week I collected them so I could grade certain centers and check off others.

 

We just used regular latex wall paint. Works great. If you paint the trim = forget the border if you want.

 

I used the cheap craft paint from Michaels. Spent less than $2 and love it.

 

I came across this website and they had some adorable storage stuff - thought I'd pass it on.

Check this out for only $13.95
http://www.ltdcommodities.com/home/catalog/cat_item_pg.asp?G=443&P=2&Rec=14&N=37+6&Nao=84&R=6638

And this one is only $39.95
http://www.ltdcommodities.com/home/catalog/cat_item_pg.asp?G=456&P=39&Rec=20&N=37+87&Nao=0&R=4944

 

Wow that three tier one for $13.95 is a great price!!

 

This one is pretty cool too! For only $14.95 - you could use it as cubbies if you didn't have any.

http://www.ltdcommodities.com/home/catalog/cat_item_pg.asp?G=485&P=334&Rec=14&N=37+461&Nao=28&R=2391