Organization - 2013 Here I Come!

 

 

So today I am linking up with Hope at 2nd Grade Shenanigans to talk about - organization!  I am not the most organized person.  I like to think that parts of my life are organized, but if you ask my husband I am sure he would have a different opinion.  With four children I have to have something organized - don't I?  I haven't lost any of them!

A few positives:



• At school I spent the better part of my Thanksgiving break sorting through my August, September, October and November boxes.  I keep everything in these boxes, except for my theme books which have an entire shelf all their own.  Inside each box I have my theme binder with all the masters and units and manila envelopes with each project inside.  These are great when I am prepping because I can keep all the copies and various pieces inside.  I usually put the specifics - how many of each, etc.  on the outside.  Makes it pretty easy for my parent volunteers. 

• I have settled with a binder for my reading groups.  I have a section for each group with a binder pocket and have a template for my small group lessons.  This has helped me to stay on top of who I have seen and who needs to be seen.  I also cleared out a file drawer in my desk, which is right behind my reading table, where I keep each groups books and small group materials right at hand.  I have seen lots of ideas to use a cart to organize the "typical" reading group materials and I am planning on doing that too. 

A few resolutions:

• When I moved to my new school two years ago everything got stuffed into any available space.  In addition, I changed grade levels from 9 years of Kinder to a 1st/2nd combination.  So the amount of "stuff"  I collected grew and grew and grew!  As the year progresses I hope to continue purging and organizing my boxes and purging my unused or dated materials.

• While my theme books are organized my month. . . Well, they look unsightly!  They are on a long open shelf under one of my white boards.  They contribute a ton of visual clutter because of the open shelving.  So I hope to make these, from Simply Keirste, to create a cleaner look.  They will cover it up but still have it be easily accessible.

• And then there is my classroom library!  This had been on my to-do list for way too many years.  2013 is the year!

Happy Organization to you and yours!

Blessings,

Mrs. M.