Showing posts with label organization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label organization. Show all posts
10 Things to Do BEFORE You Set Up Your Classroom
Hey, there, friends! It's Laura from Peace, Love, and First Grade!
If it's summer vacation for you, enjoy!
If not, live each day to the fullest and smile because it happened!
I'm here today to talk about getting your classroom ready for a makeover.
Now, this is NOT my classroom reveal.
That will come as I have time to get in my room.
I'm excited to share that with you on my blog later this month!
Today is all about getting ready to set up your room!
Let me preface this by saying,
I'm not trying to pressure anyone into decoration madness,
I'm not trying to pressure anyone into decoration madness,
but I do believe a happy classroom is one that functions efficiently,
and is well organized and attractive.
and is well organized and attractive.
This summer I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.
Marie is a proponent of getting your house in order and keeping it in order.
She suggests keeping only the items in your home that bring you joy and letting go of the rest.
I think we can apply the same principle to the classroom.
Keep what sparks joy in you and let go of the rest.
ARE YOU READY TO SEE MY MESS?
Here you go!
Want more?
The good news is...it doesn't look that this anymore!
So, are you ready to get your classroom in order?
Great! But remember-this is not a one day job.
I like to think of it as ten days.
Already started school?
Take one task a week for the first ten weeks.
Day 1) Clean out your children's literature.
Keep only the books that bring you and your kiddos joy!
Keep only the books that bring you and your kiddos joy!
I know.
I LOVE children's books, too, but let's face it.
I LOVE children's books, too, but let's face it.
It's okay to let go of a book.
DON'T THROW IT OUT.
Pass it on to someone who will find joy in it.
You'll be amazed at how much room this gives you AND you'll know what you have when you need something.
Day 2) Clean out your Math manipulatives!
You don't need 6 bins of pattern blocks or 48 Judy clocks.
Keep what you need and pass the rest on to someone else.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Day 3) Clean out your art supplies.
If you haven't used those foam Easter bunnies in the last 3 years, get rid of them.
If you haven't used those foam Easter bunnies in the last 3 years, get rid of them.
Pass on the joy to someone else! No hoarding!
Day 4) Clean out your office supplies.
Look at each one.
If no joy comes from having them and they serve no purpose,
pass them on to someone else or donate them.
It's a good feeling!
Look at each one.
If no joy comes from having them and they serve no purpose,
pass them on to someone else or donate them.
It's a good feeling!
Day 5) Clean out board games, puzzles, and other activities.
If you don't use them, someone else can.
If Czechoslovakia is still on your globe...you get it.
Share your treasures.
If you don't use them, someone else can.
If Czechoslovakia is still on your globe...you get it.
Share your treasures.
Day 6) Do I dare say it...Clean out your paper.
Oh, it's tough! I know it is. I've done it. But the feeling is just so great!
If you haven't used it or it turns your fingers purple...you don't need it.
Recycle that paper!
Oh, it's tough! I know it is. I've done it. But the feeling is just so great!
If you haven't used it or it turns your fingers purple...you don't need it.
Recycle that paper!
Day 7) Decide how you will store supplies.
Once you decide what manipulatives and supplies you are going to keep, choose how you are going to store them.
Then label your supplies.
Labeling makes supplies easier to find for students and other adults who may visit.
Once you decide what manipulatives and supplies you are going to keep, choose how you are going to store them.
Then label your supplies.
Labeling makes supplies easier to find for students and other adults who may visit.
NOW-
The next two may not be popular, but I'm going with them.
Day 8) Get rid of your filing cabinet OR scale down to a smaller one.
The more room you have for stuff, the more stuff you'll acquire.
If there's no where to put the stuff, you won't be as likely to hold onto it.
Day 9) Get rid of your teacher desk OR scale down to a smaller one.
You can do it! I did and I had a lot of stuff in mine, too.
I never sat there (not even after school), and it took up a great deal of space.
Now, that space is used by my first graders, and I don't miss my desk one bit!
I use an over-the-door shoe organizer for my office supplies.
Space saver!
Space saver!
Day 10) Plan your classroom design.
Once the clutter is removed and you are ready to set up your room,
go online and play around with a classroom set-up tool.
You can design your whole room as many times as you like.
You'll need your room measurements for this.
Once the clutter is removed and you are ready to set up your room,
go online and play around with a classroom set-up tool.
You can design your whole room as many times as you like.
You'll need your room measurements for this.
Here are a few good ones:
This is the one I use.
Now you are ready to think decor!
Let me tell you, if I can do it, you can do it?
Did you see my mess above?
It doesn't look like that anymore.
This week, I can get in my building to work and I plan to make the most of it.
Pics to come on my blog!
Happy Tuesday!!
Don't forget! We're blogging every day this month at Primary Chalkboard!
Now you are ready to think decor!
Let me tell you, if I can do it, you can do it?
Did you see my mess above?
It doesn't look like that anymore.
This week, I can get in my building to work and I plan to make the most of it.
Pics to come on my blog!
Happy Tuesday!!
Don't forget! We're blogging every day this month at Primary Chalkboard!
Helping Students Keep Their Desks and Materials Organized
Hi everyone! Just popping by with a quick tip for Back to School. I just finished my fourth week with my 2nd grade students, and we are chugging along. Funny how I always forget how much work it is to start over every year, and teach 24 new students all of my expectations!
One of the things I really stress in my classroom is organization and responsibility. Students know when I ask them to come down to the carpet, that I will only tell them ONE time what it is they need to bring with them. If they don't hear me, or don't pay attention (which is more often the case), they know they need to ask a friend or use their observation skills to figure it out on their own.
My students are called down to our whole group area using a 50 second Mario Bros. song that I downloaded from Rick Morris' behavior management website (see link at end of post). If they are not down to the rug 1) sitting on their backside 2) criss-cross applesauce 3) eyes, ears, and mouth ready to learn, and 4) with all of the materials I asked for, they will turn their behavior card. In my opinion, 50 second is more than enough time to get everything they need, and walk down to the rug….that is…IF, they are organized!
Showing students exactly HOW to stay organized has been super helpful in reducing the number of students who arrive late to lessons, or who just can't find that paper you gave them yesterday.
So, in the beginning of the year we do a few big, guided, "clean up" sessions of our desks and materials, each week. The first time I asked students to "clean and organize" their desks, many of them looked just like they did before we started cleaning. Ugh!
Obviously, some of my little darlings simply did not know what "organized" meant, or looked like. So, I started taking pictures of exemplary models using my phone. I walk around while students organize 3 areas:
After I take the pics, I show them to my students under my docucam. HUGE difference! Students work really hard at keeping themselves organized because they want to be the example I show to the class (and I let them pick a small treat before we go home).
RESULT: Pencil boxes look tidy. Class folders contain all their papers (and said papers are neatly placed inside). Desks are orderly.
Looking for more information on Classroom Management?
Read more about Rick Morris and musical transitions HERE.
Check out My Classroom Management board on Pinterest HERE.
Thanks for stopping by,
Nicole
Mrs. Rios Teaches
No, BTS is hard work….HAARRRRD WORK!
One of the things I really stress in my classroom is organization and responsibility. Students know when I ask them to come down to the carpet, that I will only tell them ONE time what it is they need to bring with them. If they don't hear me, or don't pay attention (which is more often the case), they know they need to ask a friend or use their observation skills to figure it out on their own.
My students are called down to our whole group area using a 50 second Mario Bros. song that I downloaded from Rick Morris' behavior management website (see link at end of post). If they are not down to the rug 1) sitting on their backside 2) criss-cross applesauce 3) eyes, ears, and mouth ready to learn, and 4) with all of the materials I asked for, they will turn their behavior card. In my opinion, 50 second is more than enough time to get everything they need, and walk down to the rug….that is…IF, they are organized!
Showing students exactly HOW to stay organized has been super helpful in reducing the number of students who arrive late to lessons, or who just can't find that paper you gave them yesterday.
So, in the beginning of the year we do a few big, guided, "clean up" sessions of our desks and materials, each week. The first time I asked students to "clean and organize" their desks, many of them looked just like they did before we started cleaning. Ugh!
Obviously, some of my little darlings simply did not know what "organized" meant, or looked like. So, I started taking pictures of exemplary models using my phone. I walk around while students organize 3 areas:
1) their pencil boxes,
2) their classroom folder
and 3) the inside of their desks.
After I take the pics, I show them to my students under my docucam. HUGE difference! Students work really hard at keeping themselves organized because they want to be the example I show to the class (and I let them pick a small treat before we go home).
RESULT: Pencil boxes look tidy. Class folders contain all their papers (and said papers are neatly placed inside). Desks are orderly.
Looking for more information on Classroom Management?
Read more about Rick Morris and musical transitions HERE.
Check out My Classroom Management board on Pinterest HERE.
Thanks for stopping by,
Nicole
Mrs. Rios Teaches
Pencil Management System
Howdy folks! It's ME! Mr. Greg from Smedley's Smorgasboard of Kindergarten! People, I am so excited to be blogging on The Primary Chalkboard! Seriously, I'm not worthy!
Today I'm sharing how I manage pencils in my kindergarten classroom. It's a system that means I don't have to sharpen pencils during the week. It saves me time (and saves me hand cramps!) and allows my kindergarteners to be responsible for their pencils and helps them solve problems!
Today I'm sharing how I manage pencils in my kindergarten classroom. It's a system that means I don't have to sharpen pencils during the week. It saves me time (and saves me hand cramps!) and allows my kindergarteners to be responsible for their pencils and helps them solve problems!
Head over to my blog to see how we wrangle the pencils! And share your pencil tips!
Fun Ideas from PC
Oh, boy! So, today has been one of those crazy, busy days! First, I taught… I'm guessing you knew that, but at the same time a lot of my buddies are getting lots of snow days, so I figured I'd share. Then, I had a meeting after school, Bible study, and a trip to Target. You know you have loaded up on randomness when the cashier says, "You must be a school teacher!" Yep! Friends, I got poster board, bubble wrap, lots of Valentine goodies, cards, and then of course a few random snacks and make up. That brings me to here - babbling and really needing to get started on my blog post?
So, what am I blogging about? Well, some of my PC friends and I were just part of an awesome hop. Since PC wasn't in it, I thought, "Hey! I should shout out the girls!" So, here is the DL on each of their posts. You won't find freebies, but you will definitely find some incredible tips and tricks. Honestly, these girls rocked it so well, you won't even care that there aren't freebies.
Since I'm visual, I am going to load you up with pictures. All you have to do is click on pictures that peek your curiosity and it will take you right to that blog. Hope you guys enjoy!
Faith :)
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