Organization Tips
Posted by Hope Spencer on 13 Jul 2009 | Posted in: Organization and Supplies, The Mailbox Books
Ah, sweet summertime! Now you can finally find a bit of time to relax, spend days with your family, tackle household projects, and pursue favorite hobbies. But I know teachers, and I know that your students are always on your mind. I’m sure you’ll be spending some of your precious summer hours planning and organizing for the coming school year. With this in mind, I’ve taken some time this morning to gather some organizational tips from several of my favorite Mailbox® books, the “500 Classroom Tips” series.
| From the Preschool book: Thematic Storage Boxes
Decorate your room and store your teaching materials at the same time. Here’s how! Decorate boxes to reflect the thematic materials they will hold. For example, for a farm-related unit, cover a box and its lid with colorful paper. Then glue on farm animal die-cut shapes. Or, for a transportation unit, cover a box with yellow paper. Add black paper wheels, painted windows, and magazine cutout passengers. You’ll be able to tell at a glance where your materials for each theme are located. Plus it’s a great way to spark youngsters’ curiosity for upcoming units! |
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From the K-1 book: Topics at Your Fingertips
Have you collected so many resource books over the years that you don’t even know where to begin looking through them? Here’s a tip to help organize that colossal collection. Arrange your books according to topics—reading, math, centers, art, etc. Using a different color of sticker dots for each topic, attach a dot to the spine of each book. (For example, all reading books might have blue dots on them.) To be sure that the dots stay on the books, cover them with transparent tape. Then arrange the books according to topic (color dot) on a bookshelf or in a file. If desired, make a legend showing each color and topic for your reference. Then, when you need ideas for specific topics, you’ll know exactly where to look! |
From the Grades 2-3 book: Favorite Reproducibles
If you’re always scrambling to locate your tried-and-true reproducibles, try organizing them with this great tip. You will need a three-ring binder with dividers. Label one for each month of the school year. Three-hole-punch your favorite reproducibles (student activities, parent letters, party notices) and place them in the binder according to the month in which they will be used. Your reproducibles will be right at your fingertips when you need them.
From the Grades 4-6 book: Database Organizer
“Where did I see that neat activity?” If this sounds familiar, eliminate searching through magazines and books for lost ideas by creating your own computer database. Set up your database using fields titled “Publication,” “Issue/Year,” “Subject,” “Article,” and “Page Number(s).” As you look through a magazine or book, write the information needed on a sticky note attached to its front cover. Later, type the information from the note into the appropriate database fields. Whenever you need an idea on a specific topic, such as ecosystems, go to the Find command in the database and type the name of the topic. The database will list the name of each idea you’ve entered, including the book/magazine featuring it and the page number on which it can be found. How simple, organized, and convenient!
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I was so glad to see these ideas about putting same subject matter together into themes. I’ve been teaching over 23 years and it’s always a lost summer, so I can get ready for the upcoming school year, hopefully, this year with all the organizing I’m doing it will give some “free time” not only in the next summer, but also during the school year!
I have this great book but for the upper grades and I use it’s tips each year and share with my team mates. Thanks for all these tips!!
I organize my school materials into monthly units. Each unit has at least four themes/activities which are placed into large zip loc bags and then a large plastic bin. Additionally, I make copies of The Mailbox unit that supports the theme and place it into the unit along with any books, crafts or activities. Any NEW Mailbox activities can easily be copied and placed into the monthly bin, according to theme. It’s nice to have choices.
Great ideas! I find using cardboard boxes perfect for storing all my materials for each theme. I do group them by month. Inside each box are about four themes, which I keep together in large Ziploc bags. I also like to include any flannel board stories, craft projects, core books and reproducibles that align with that theme. It’s perfect for any new teacher that joins my grade level. I can give them a theme bag and they can pick & choose what they want to include in their lessons.
I can use any organizing ideas I get! I use big 3-ring binders for each unit or month, and put all of my printed ideas, reproducibles, etc. in plastic sleeves and store them in the binders. It took a lot of palstic sheet protectors at first, but it has been worth it. The pages all stay nice and neat and my ideas are easy to find. Now I just need to tpye a Table of contents for each one!:)
When I find reproducibles, worksheets, or handouts I scan them onto a data key. I name the handouts and put them in subject/theme appropriate folders. I put the key into my computer which is connected to a LCD projector. Then Iproject them on my whiteboard, which I use much like a smartboard. This saves paper. If I choose to make copies of the reproducibles, I put the data key into our copier and make copies.
I too am an idea collector and have spent the summer trying to get things together. I will definitely use some of the ideas here, especially copying the table of contents pages of all my Mailbox books. I have my many files spread around my living room so my family appreciates any organization tips as well. It is hard to resist gathering more ideas with so much great stuff on the internet.
I like the electronic device ideas the best. Teaching special ed, I try to put all my repos in elect. format, and then save them by grade level and brief description–example—2nd grade plant life cycle worksheet becomes plant_life_cycle_2. This takes more time initilly, but once they are on the jump drive, they are easily found by a sub or cooperating teacher. This also helps my remember and scan quickly for lessons/iep goal supports.
Thanks for the great ideas.
There are so many good ones.
The lady I taught with would put art craft ideas and any left over supplies in a large ziploc bag. We would alphabetize and store in the bottom file cabinet. IT WORKED OUT GREAT
Thanks for the great ideas! I love the data base. I keep all my themes in binders too and now I have so many I have decided to group the themes I do by month. Therefore I will only have 10 binders Sept.-June and I can choose from a variety of themes each year.
Mary- as for the childrens books, I like to use the magazine holders (cardboard) and label them by month or theme. This way I can find a book fairly quickly and they look much neater on the shelf when you are not using them! I use the label maker to label each magazine holder and pull each holder as I am doing that theme and leave it on the table by my rocking chair.
I am changing both schools and grade levels this school year, so now is the perfect time to try these organizational tips. I have always said that I will do it “next year”. Now, 14 “next years” later, I am finally going to get this done. Thanks for the tips!
As a new teacher, I appreciate all of the organization tips. I have tried really hard to not start collecting a lot of loose papers because I know that they would accumulate way too fast. Instead, I save everything I use in electronic folders on the computer and then burn a CD for each unit that I teach. I use rewritable CD’s so that I can modify, add, and change things as needed. For any loose papers that I have, I store them in 3-ring binders organized by theme.
ITS A PLEASURE HAVING BEEN TIPPED ON MANAGEMENT .
I NORMALLY GET PROBLEMS WITH THAT. I LIKE YOUR TIP.
Thanks so much! I so appreciate the tips on organizing all of the many resources I have collected in only one year!
WOW! Like many others, I really like the data-base organization tip. I, too, go looking for that very thing I know will be great for the next day’s work but who knows where I put it or what I filed it under. This will really help me with all aspects of writing lesson plans and having fun learning activities as close as my computer!
New teacher so all your ideas are great. Love the idea about copy index pages. Have alot of resource books and after reading this I think I will color code them by subject or theme. Thanks!
These are great ideas!!!! I actually used “Favorite Reproducibles” and “Database Organizer” together. I made one 3″ binder for each of our grading periods (we have 6)which I then divided into subjects. For each subject I listed the state objectives that I was required to teach. I folllowed that with a “database” of resources, file foldergames and ideas. Behind each database I placed a copy of my favorite blackline masters. I now have the grading period at my fingertips. It has made life so much easier especially when it is time for team planning and writing lesson plans.
I love the database idea…so many times I have seen something that “I’ll use this later”. Then, when later comes….I can’t remember what or where it was I found the idea. Thanks for the tip.
Thank you for all of the great ideas. I am such a pack rat and I am always looking for ways to be more organized. Nothing ruins a day of instruction faster than not being able to find what you are looking for.
Thanks for all of these terrific ideas. Makes me want to get back into my classroom and start organizing…and reorganizing!
I have two great organization ideas. For those of you that use seasonal “window clings” (the plastic pictures and images you can stick on a window to decorate), neatly store and organize them by sliding them into a plastic, three-hole punched sheet protector, and store them all in order by month in a three-ring binder. They stay flat until you need them again, and you’ll never have to worry about them clumping up on you. Tip: it helps if you slide a sheet of printer paper in first, then slide the clings on top of the paper so they don’t stick to the sheet protector itself.
Also, to store di-cut letters, use one of those 26-sectioned accordion file folders. Designate one section for each letter of the alphabet. When you’re ready to put up a bulletin board or display, you can easily select letters from each section as opposed to wasting time sorting through a whole stack of scrambled up letters to create your display name! It’s also a good way to protect the letters since some of them can be expensive.
Hope you can use these ideas, and happy organizing!
Many, many thanks to the contributors of The Mailbox magazines and books. I just finished my first year as a Headstart teacher and I couldn’t have made it through the year without all your help! We currently use that same labeling system for the toys on our shelves but it’s a great idea for the items in the closet that you have to constantly sift through and hope you find…THANKS again!!!!
Thanks for the idea of making a database! I’ve always torn my magazines out and filed them in to folders that are organized by subject and topic, but a database would be easier to access and locate the info, not to mention it would save space. I think I’ll start trying that.
I was so thrilled to see a suggestion for a huge
collection of materials and to discover I’m not the
only packrat who can’t resist new materials. I love the colored dots idea. I already mark my AR books with a yellow dot…helpful to my kids. I, also, organize with 3 ring binders for each subject. Any new ideas are placed in a separate binder until I can decide where it would fit best. At school, I use one 4 drawer file cabinet for Reading. A folder is used for each story and any materials used for that story. Everything I need is in one place and I don’t have to reinvent the wheel each year.
Organization is always a weak point for me both at school and home. At school, my main area of weakness is all the paper work we get and what to keep, what to toss, and what to save for later.
Thanks for the tips!
I am already struggling with keeping organized, and I have only been teaching a short while. At a garage sale this year, I saw a “FREE” box with a retired preschool teacher’s mess of papers. I’m sure there were lots of wonderful things in that box, but I thought “Oh, please don’t let my life’s work end up a mess in a ‘free’ box.”
Thanks to technological innovations, I store a lot of my themes/ reproducibles on a virtual notebook. I hope that someday soon we will be able to have The Mailbox not only in print, but completely available online so that I can utilize this technology with all your wonderful ideas too!
Organization is so important when we discuss time management. Having moved back into my remodeled classroom this past Jan. I now am faced with reorganizing everything. The sharing of ideas through The Mailbox is getting me motivated to get started on my organization projects!
I’m addicted to collecting ideas. I do like the idea of my own personal database. What has helped my so far is filing my paper and flat materials in hanging files based subject and when I use them in the school year. Donna’s idea of copying the Index pages of all the resources books is great! Love of idea of having it all at your fingertips.
One thing that has really helped me organize my students’ papers is having a crate for each subject. In each crate are numbered hanging files. Each student has their own number, and turns their work into their respective file. This keeps all the papers in number order, shows who did not turn theirs in, and keeps everything neat. No more crazy piles! 6 crates take up more space but I think it has been worth it.
I love the great ideas! One thing I like to do is make a copy of the magazine reproducibles or copy them from the Mailbox Companion, place them in page protectors and put them in three ring binders. I also use tabs to mark out each unit I would use the reproducibles. This way, when I am ready to teach a certain unit, I just turn to the tab and all the reproducibles I want to use are right there!
When you put ideas in a page protector in a binder, do you mean you are tearing the page out of Mailbox magazine? I don’t think I would like to tear the pages out of my magazine but I could make a copy first and then put that in the page protector in a binder just to help keep them together. Love hearing everyone’s ideas.
Thanks for sharing such great ideas! I use plastic filing boxes and folders to keep a few months worth of ideas organized. My new project is to organize the mailbox and teacher’s helper ideas so I don’t have to look through all my past issues for ideas. I think I am going to print the indexes from each mag and keep them in a binder just a thought.
Great ideas, activities, and organizational innovations! Thanks to all.
Love the idea about having reproducibles at your fingertips in a three ring binder. Put instead of three hole punching them place them in a page protector. That way you dont have to worry about ruining the paper and it protects the sheet. You can also photocopy right through the plastic cover.
When I did my student teaching, my cooperating teacher introduced me to The Mailbox Magazine. I felt my confidence soar as a new teacher. I didn’t know there was one magazine with so many wonderful ideas to help me on my teaching journey. That summer I was able to buy a lot of 30 “very old” Mailbox magazines and spent the summer going through them and earmarking like crazy! I made a quick database of the magazines on an Excel spreadsheet and add to it with every new issue I receive. I can sort by topic, subject, season, etc.
I really love reading everyone’s ideas! Thank you for sharing! Like Audrey mentioned, I have taught Kindergarten for years and this year I will teach First Grade (Yeah). I usually keep my papers and project ideas in a file folder, but I ordered binders for this year. I love the idea of putting them into a sheet protector so I don’t have to hole punch the original! I have file folders labeled, like Back to School ideas, Parents forms, teacher resources, classroom management ideas, September, October, etc. Therefore when I come across a great idea, I print it out and place it in that folder. I also have a folder for great websites! I love the idea of color coding too!
Thanks for the suggestions. I am a family childcare provider and I am really struggling with clutter. I am going to try the Thematic Storage Box Suggestion. Myra
I use file folders to keep flat units together, but wait for Michael’s or AC Moore to have sales on photo boxes to keep larger games together; they even have the little label space at the end. A label-maker has also helped a lot.
Something that I have done is, I copied the INDEX page from all the Teacher Resource books & magazines that we have at our site and then put them in a binder. Teacher’s can scan through that first and know which books/magazines will be the most useful.
This is great! I am re-organizing my curriclum this summer. I want to be able to know what I am doing all year so I can ask the parents for help early in the year to gather supplies or cut things out. I like all of the above ideas. I also got some clear plastic boxes from Joann’s that can hold file folders as well as “stuff”. I am planning on making theme boxes with these. I will put reproducables (like pages from Mailbox) plus books and items that I will use with the theme. I am not organized but really need to be. Because of my space limitations I can not use your idea of covering boxes and leaving them in the room. But I now will decorate my see through boxes for easy ID of content. I do enjoy reading what everyone else is doing. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the great ideas. You are right I love my downtime in summer but can’t resist spending time digging for good ideas to use next year. I also use plastic magazine file boxes to keep my childrens books in, labeled by theme. They fit great on a shelf.
Great ideas, as usual! I also suggest that as you teach a unit, you save a copy and throw it in a file folder. When the unit’s over you have a folder with everything you did this year in it. Next year you’ll be able to see at a glance what you chose to do, and what you chose not to do.
I love all the ideas I get from mailbox too. I keep everything in 3 ring binders with page protectors so I don’t have to punch holes in my original copy. I keep my books in a theme box that I keep other personal things I use for that theme. (I teach preschool). I also have one of those file boxes that I have file folders in so I can file ideas I get for when I am not working on something I have somewhere to put the idea and then go back to it when I need to. Now if I could just figure out a system to keep all the ideas from mailbox organized in a fashion I can just look up when I need it!!! I am thinking of making a 3ring binder to do that and then put them under a tab - I do that with articles so maybe it would work for ideas I want to hold on to from mailbox. thanks!!
These are great tips! I’m not in the classroom right now (staying home with my 3 little ones) but I have tons of teacher resource books on shelves inside my closet and outside in our shed- putting colored dots on them would be a great idea to catergorize them. I often pull them out to use with my own children (I taught preschool/kindergarten) but never put them back- they are so disorganized. Thanks for the encouragement
I’m a creative person always struggling to stay organized. I just started teaching first grade last year after years of teaching kindergarten. I’m going to use the binder idea for my reproducibles. Also like the idea of keeping things in 2 places. Last year I started a binder for all the teacher papers get during the year. I have dividers for schedules, staff meeting agendas, field trip info, coming school events, etc. It really helped keep my desk neater.
After 30+ years of teaching, my sister introduced me to The Mailbox when she was volunteering with a Kdg teacher at my children’s school…I am so glad that she did! Even though I am nearing the end of my career I find the ideas in The Mailbox easy to combine wth my “tried & true” ones. I organize my year in a three drawer filing cabinet…one drawer for each term and have just this year started “re-organizing” by topic in binders…I have had to add a binder just for my Mailbox issues.
I love Mailbox magazine, especially now that you have a 2-3 level. I have taught for over 30 years, but find that Mailbox has fresh and new ideas. Thank you!
thanks for the good ideas. I use the 3 ring binder idea already. I’m looking for a good idea to organize my children’s books. I have them in totes right now but find myself sorting to find the book I need. Any suggestions?
I have such a hard time thinking about what I’m going to do each month and I know I can ALWAYS count on Mailbox magazine to bail me out. Each months magazine is filled with idea after idea for my age group its perfect!
I love the dot idea! I do use the 3-ring binders for my reproducible and they are grouped by theme. I also have a math, science, language arts… binders for general reproducibles that do not go with our preschool themes.
I too love the Mailbox magazine. I am going back into the kindergarten world this fall, and I am so excited. The first thing I did was get a subscription to the Mailbox. I took the Aug/Sept. issue apart and put the mailbox companion extras (online)in one notebook. That way I have all the ideas and extra reproducibles in one place.
I also have put all my childrens’ books in plastic washbins and organized them by theme. I labeled the outside of the washbin so that way I can put the books out for the children to read according to the theme of the month.
I loved all the ideas presented. I am a very orgainzed person and so I keep everything in 3 ring binders and in file folders according to month, or books to be used for level reading like Horrible Harry book study, Holes, etc. I find that I can always find what I am looking for if I keep them in two places. I don’t like the student papers to have the 3 ring copy on them it is a pet peeve of mine. I keep all books in their separate tubs and coded for level reading. I try to keep a several copies of the book I am reading to the class handy for those students that need to have something in their hands or need to visually see in order to retain the story. I like to give oral reviews of the book, or a quick draw of what I just read, I also will use parts of the book in jeopardy when we play it. Thank you for all your great ideas.
Those are all great ideas. One thing that I have started this summer is to put my Reading, Math and Writing Workshop pages into binders. I have collected everything from reproducibles to pictures of how to set up my classroom. They are all kept neatly in a binder(one for each subject). Now I know where everything is.
I love to bring a Mailbox ideas book with me to the beach. While I’m soaking in the sun, I flip randomly through a book, taking in new ideas like a sponge. I don’t worry about remembering all of the great ideas I see - I’m just a tourist on such days. I know that the ideas and creative influences of my summer reading will influence me back “in the real world” of the classroom. Then, later the year, I’ll find myself connecting vacation memories with an organizational tool, bulletin board, or activity.
I really like the colored dot idea. Since I teach 6th grade language arts, I’m going to modify it and use the color coding idea for the different topics - poetry, vocabulary, writing, etc. Thanks for the great idea!