6 Tips for Classroom Organization

Hello friends, and happy summer, for those of you on break!  I have been out for about a five weeks now and it's been glorious!  We took a trip to Florida and I've been spending a lot of time catching up with friends.  I'm trying to relax as much as possible this summer, but work will be sprinkled in, of course!  Which leads me to today's blog post:  "6 Tips for Classroom Organization."  We are not allowed into our school during the summer months, but I know many of you are.  I have seen some teachers working in their rooms already this summer!  I'm hoping that today's post will help inspire you with your organization journey!  Enjoy my top tips!

Let's face it: containers are expensive!  However, in my opinion, purchasing high-quality containers that will stand the test of time is a much better investment than purchasing cheap $1 containers that break after one year of use.  I've been there and done that.  Clear containers allow you and your students to see what's inside.  This allows everyone to find what they need quickly!  Personally, my favorite containers are the following:

Sterilite Latch Boxes-I love these for storing curriculum supplies and recess toys.  In terms of curriculum, I sort materials by skill and use the skinny latch boxes for skills I have a small amount of materials for.  For recess toys, I use these to store puzzles, animal figures, markers, Play-Doh tools and more.  They stack so easily and the lids are easy for little hands to take off and put on.  *These boxes come in a variety of sizes and latch colors.

Sterilite 16 qt. Storage Boxes-These are also fantastic (and a much better price-point) for storing curriculum materials.  I store heavier first grade skill content (think addition/subtraction, place value, sight words, etc) because I have many supplemental materials for them!  *The lids on these boxes are white.  Grab my skill tub labels by clicking the cover image below.

Sterilite Flip-Top Clear Boxes-These are great for manipulatives.  I have a whole cabinet full of these and each container holds a different Math manipulative.  The flip top lids are awesome!  The Math manipulative labels are from Cara Carroll.

Iris File Boxes-These large boxes are great for placing hanging file folders housing materials inside of them.  I use mine for holiday/theme materials.  I have one for every month and place games, centers, art projects, etc...that pertain to the month inside.  

Knowing how to organize your classroom materials can be overwhelming!  Store like-items together so you can quickly find what you're searching for.  Keeping materials that focus on a specific skill together will make it simple for you to grab what you need when planning a lesson. Personally, I love having separate tubs for my holiday materials as well, so as a holiday or special day approaches,  I can grab my tub and not forget to use what I have.

Label all the things!  If you're lucky enough to have cabinets in your room, stick labels on the outside of them so you're not opening every single cabinet when searching for something.  Label your bins.  Label your student supplies.  Hello, print-rich classroom!  Use large and clear font so you can see what's in your bins from afar.  There are TONS of great labels in a variety of fonts, colors, and patterns on TPT. 

Let's face it: many teachers are hoarders!  Hahaha!  We just can't pass up a good deal or something spotted on social media.  In the moment, the purchase sounds great, but after it sits in a cabinet for 3 years, we regret ever buying it.  Although it seems wild, purging your classroom every.single.year is well worth it and will make you feel so much better!  Laying out everything you have and looking through it is a great strategy.  I like to ask myself the "Have I used this in the past 2 years?" question.  If the answer is "No," it's not going back into my container/cabinet.  Making room for what you actually use will help you find things quickly and an added bonus is that you'll most likely feel much less stressed!  Clutter and excessive "stuff" can be overwhelming to many people.  

Most schools have a "free table" in their lounge.  Someone may want your purged items.  *If  YOU are the one putting the stuff on the table, you better not take anything!  Garage sales, FB marketplace, and Ebay are great ideas in case you wish to make a few bucks off your items.

Digital vs. paper is definitely a personal choice!  I've used binders, file folders, and bins.  I am a combo of both.  It's great to reference a hard copy of something when I pull a skill or holiday bin.  I am also a digital hoarder, so it's difficult for me to remember what I have!  Regardless of what you choose, having a digital backup is a great idea.  Cloud services and/or external hard drives are fairly inexpensive and so worth it!

Not everyone is uber organized and that is perfectly fine!  However, if you take small steps to work towards improving your organization, you'll notice that it becomes habit.  One small step you can take is to put items back shortly after use...This could be during the day while your students are working, during your plan time, or at the end of each day after students have left.  I keep a bin on my back counter that's labeled "to file" and it houses anything I couldn't put away immediately.  I try to empty it once a week.

I hope you found this post helpful!  Happy Organizing!

xo
Megan

Teacher Emergency Kit

I have always been an organized and prepared person.  I like to have everything ready and in place ahead of time and I *try* to plan for all situations.  The need for preparedness has increased over the years with our traveling both in and out of the country.  When you're out of the country, you can't just run over to Target real quick to get something you need!

One thing that I did my very first year of teaching was create a "Teacher Emergency Kit."  This was a cosmetic bag that I filled with things a teacher might need in terms of personal care items.  Back then (17 years ago), my kit only had a few things in it.  My kit is much more expansive now...Experiences over the years have led me to loading up my kit!  Today's post is about how to fully stock a kit for your classroom so you can be prepared for various situations and needs!  PS: Warning: Stocking your kit will make you the most sought after person in the building...especially once people find out about your stash!

*I'll link my favorites for you!*

Dental supplies: floss, mouthwash, toothbrush, toothpaste

Hair supplies: rubber bands, brush, dry shampoo

Beauty supplies: hand cream, perfume or body splash, Chap-stick, sunscreen (field day, field trips, outdoor recess)

*My favorite hand cream is "Helping Hands" or "Handy Guru Gu," both of which are by Lush.

Hand wipes, extra hand sanitizer, and Lysol spray are never a bad idea!

Feminine products are a must.  Poo-Pouri isn't a bad idea...no one wants to enter the staff restroom after you-know-what!!!!!

A manicure kit is super helpful for when you break a nail.  Tweezers: a must.  Stray eyebrow or a random chin hair, anyone?!

Laundry essentials: static spray, wrinkle spray, Shout Wipes and/or a Tide Pen

More beauty essentials: deodorant (I recommend spray in case a friend needs to borrow it!  A spray also lasts longer and doesn't get gross.), blush, and powder.  These come in handy for conference night or family nights at school.

Sunglasses for outdoor recess!  I also keep sunglasses wipes because mine always get smudged.  A glasses cloth works well, too!

Essential oil rollers: not necessary, but the Peppermint one has saved me tremendously when I've had headaches.  The lavender is calming.

OTC meds:  Tums, allergy pills, Advil, Tylenol, cough drops, band-aids, Neosporin, cough drops, Pepto, you name it, put it in the bag!!! 

Snacks & tea/coffee: Snack bars are great to have on hand if you forget your breakfast or lunch, or are famished after school!  Tea/coffee comes in handy if you need a little pick-me-up throughout the day.  *Keep a mug nearby, too!

A couple last-minute additions to my bag: a lint roller and makeup wipes are always handy.  I like to take my makeup off before going to the gym after school.

There you have it!  What items do you keep in your stash?  I'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments below.

To grab a personalized bag, you can click HERE.  For a less expensive, non-personalized bag, click the Amazon link below.  *affiliate*

I also love these hanging organizers.  Perfect rolled up in your cabinet or drawer OR hanging inside your closet on a hanging bar.  I got mine from Stella and Dot years ago, but I also have a Vera Bradley one that I use when we travel.  *affiliate link*

xo
Mrs. Wheeler

Classroom Setup Box

There's nothing more overwhelming than walking into your classroom that first day after summer break!  Don't get me wrong--I LOVE that feeling, but it also sends my head spinning!  So much to do.  Where to start?  Personally, I like to get the furniture into place first.  Once that job is accomplished, I pull out my "Back to School Bin."  This is a container that I keep out during the summer months.  I leave it in a place where I can access it right away when I step into my classroom that first day in September.  Many times, I take it home with me so I can start prepping/laminating things at my house.  

So, what's in the box, you ask?  Pretty much everything I need to start setting up the classroom.  I'll link all contents that I've blogged about in the past, as well as link any products mentioned. 

• cutouts for the door

• homework club cutouts

• birthday gifts
• straws
• cutouts for straws
• stickers

• contact cards

• helper hands

• classroom supply labels

• name tags for desks

• name tag stickers

• transportation log/transportation tags 

• hard copies of papers/forms I need copied for Open House 

• hard copies of pages I need copied for data binders

• empty new student bags

• classroom banners/decorations
• shoe-tying club materials 

• things to hang on my front whiteboard:
• voice level posters
• early finisher board
• Today We Have board
• birthday board cards
• visual instruction cards
• magnetic border
• specials schedule
• magnetic letters 

What's not in the box is anything curriculum related...I keep those items in my monthly file boxes (shown below).

I begin laying out the items in my box and start setup with them.  It's a tremendous help!

xo

Megan 

Ten Tips for Tearing Down Your Classroom

Hi, friends!

I know lots of you are still working, but I am one of the lucky ones who is FINISHED!  I wrapped up my room last Friday and enjoyed the weekend by resting and visiting with some friends.  I recently had a friend at school ask me to do some organizational posts.  I thought about it and realized that I have always loved organizing and putting things in their place.  Hence, today's post is dedicated to the dreaded classroom cleanup!  Last Friday marked my 15th classroom cleanup.  I am by no means an expert, but I would like to think that I have some good tips to offer you after doing this 15 times!  Here we go with my top 10 tips for classroom cleanup/pack up!

1.  Get the supplies you need ahead of time.  

Just like any other task, prepare yourself ahead of time to make the most of the time you have to pack up your room.  Having the materials you need on hand will help your pack up go much faster.  Below is a list of items that I recommend you have readily available for your packing up adventure.

• Gallon Ziploc bags-for bagging up games/activities
• Clorox Wipes-for wiping things down as you go.  Hello dust bunnies!  Gross!
• Magic Erasers-for removing the stubborn crayon marks on your containers
• Large scrubbing brush (handheld)-for washing bins and containers
• Dish soap-for washing bins and containers
• Small notebook/pen-for making lists
• Canned air-for spraying your keyboards and computers out
• Tote bag or extra box-for transporting items home and/or to Goodwill 
• Wheeled cart-for wheeling the stuff you don't want down to the "Free Table" in the lounge 
• Masking or Duct Tape-for labeling furniture with your name 
• Signs labeled with your last name and room number printed off the computer (example: "Wheeler, Room 8"-for labeling your large furniture items 
• Large, wheeled trash can-for all the TRASH you will have!
• External hard drive or cloud storage 

2.  Go through everything.  

While you are going through your items, keep in mind the following three categories:  keep, donate, trash.  Remember that I said to have a large cart and large trash can in your room prior to starting?  This is where they come into play.  As you are going through things, put things in their correct spots!  Ask yourself, "Do I use this regularly?"  "Have I used this in the last year?"   If you answer "No," then donate it or throw it away.  Everything you keep should have a place and purpose.  If it doesn't, get rid of it!  No shoving or piling.  No "I'll put this stuff away later."  Doing it right away ensures that your room stays tidy.  The last thing you will want to do in August is put away a pile of stuff that you should have put away in the spring!

I filled THREE of these this year.  Oops.

This was my "give away to other teachers" cart...I filled this up twice.

Here's a crate full of things that I gave away to my kids.  

Inside recess games were gone through and organized

3.  Sort through your student library.  

Go through every book in every basket in your student library prior to packing the baskets up.  Make sure all the books are in the correct basket and that they are all in there neatly and going the same direction.  Think about thinning out some baskets that have a lot of titles in them.  Give those books to kids, donate them to Goodwill, or give them to a new teacher.

4.  Create a "Back to School" bin.

This is where you'll put all those pre-prepped labels, copies, cutouts, etc...that I mention in tips #7 and #9.  Keep this BTS bin very handy, so you can grab it quickly in the fall.

5.  Clean as you go.

Yes, the custodians will (hopefully) be cleaning your rooms during the summer.  However, wiping things down as you go will make you feel better.  Use those Clorox wipes to wipe out bins.  Use your Magic Eraser to remove pencil/crayon marks from tubs.  Use your dish soap and scrub brush to scrub out bins that are extremely dirty.

6.  Make lists as you go.  

Keep a notebook and pen handy as you are packing up.  Note the supplies needed for fall (tape, magnets, Velcro, etc...).  When you come in to set your room back up in August, you'll have what you need to start right away.  Assess which containers need labels.  Note that in your notebook.  During the summer, you can get your labels ready.  I love the labels below from The First Grade Parade!  Also note what you want on your bulletin boards.  Did you have boards that you really loved this past year?  Write down/draw a sketch of what it looked like.

7.  Get ahead on your copies if possible.

Some people get completely overwhelmed with this, but I am telling you, if you spend a little time getting some copies made in the spring, you will thank yourself in August!  The copies that I am referring to are those that you know you will need regardless...think behavior calendars, desk name tags, handwriting books, computer login cards, data binder supplies, transportation tags,  reading logs, beginning of the year assessments, Positive Notes Home, etc...You get the idea.

Transportation Tags are ready for August! 

Reading logs are ready to go for August!  

8.  Take pictures! 

Take pictures of bulletin boards that worked well for you during the school year.  Photograph the way you had specific areas organized.  This will help you remember how to set things up again in the fall.

Calendar Board 

Front Board 

My "Whole Group Classroom Rewards" fit nicely on this board! 

Fundations Trick Words Word Wall

9.  Plan and prep your "Meet the Teacher" materials.

This goes along with "getting ahead on your copies."  If possible, copy off those meet the teacher forms, Open House Supply Signs, Transportation Tags, and letters that you distribute during meet the teacher day.  I keep all of mine in a container that is labeled "Back to School--see tip #4!"  This container is the first thing I pull out when setting up my room.

Open House directions pages make putting classroom supplies away a breeze!  

Open House Signs make sorting supplies so simple for families!

10.  Enlist the help of your family/friends!

Here's Mr. Wheeler helping me tear everything down from my front board.  He is 6'7, so he comes in quite handy!  I decided to remove everything because it was over-stimulating for my kids.  I am using my Fundations Phonics alphabet above my word wall now.  I'm also hoping that this front wall will get painted this summer...lots of  chipped paint and hot glue marks.  Whoops. 

My final tip is a self-care one: TREAT YOURSELF!  You've earned a massage, manicure, or whatever else you might enjoy!  Congratulations on making it to summer break!

xo
Megan