With temperatures rising across the country, I’m thinkin’ it’s time for something cool. And since I’m unable to send you an ice-cold lemonade, how about a cool book from The Mailbox—for free! 🙂
To be entered in this refreshing giveaway, please share a favorite classroom storage tip. Your tip may be something you practice during the school year to make the most of your classroom space. Or it might be a tip for summer storage.
I’m eager to hear from you! Be sure to post your comments on this blog no later than midnight, Monday, June 25, EDT.
Sending cool breezes your way!
Diane
Congratulations to Peggy! She’s the winner of our giveaway!
I keep everything in tubs or bins during the year with the name of the item and a picture so when it comes time to clean up or if we are doing an art project everything is easy to find.
I have bookshelves in various areas of the room designated for each subject. On the bookshelves are books as well as baskets/bins containing materials used in that subject.
I use a shoe bag and hang on a closet door in the room to hold flash cards. I also use separate bags to hold different games for Investgation. When students are done math work they can go practice math facts or grab a bag and play a game with a partner. I used give away bags from stores or bought cheap cloth bags at dollar stores.
My husband calls me “the queen of sterilite”! I store everything in those plastic tubs! That way, things are easy to find – & easier to move (when I need to move my classroom AGAIN – like I have had to for the last 3 summers – aahhh!). 🙂
I use zip lock bags to store puzzles we are not currently using in the cabinet. When you swap them for others you know all the pieces are there and together.
Over my teaching years I have gathered a large number of children’s books that due to lack of storage I cannot keep them all in my classroom. I keep them at my house stored in 3 large tubs. I placed a divider into the tubs that have enabled me to store September together and so forth through the school year. 3 months per tub. Each month I bring in all the books I will use and take home the prior month and place them back in the correct spot. Works great.
I use a hanging shoe holder on the inside of my closet door. It holds lots of little stuff that can get lost in the overstuffed closet. One pocket for glue sticks, batteries, rubberbands….any small supplies I don’t use everday but when I need them I don’t have to clear out the cloaset to find them. I just wish I had more doors to hang them on around the room!!
I love the use of a good ‘ole Ziploc baggie. I use quart size bags to store word wall words (labeled by the unit and story) and then put all words from one unit into a gallon size bag – 3 whole punch the zipoc bag – place in my gigantic reading binder – and their you have my storage by unit. I also like to store items in ziploc bags and whole punch them once in the top corner and add onto binder rings – and then place on 3M Command hooks in my classroom (anything from specific lesson words – unusual words – million dollar words – centers – the list could go on).
I use wipe wet containers to hold flannel board sets and stories. The students love all the cute designs they now have on some of the containers and they are very easy to stack and store. It is a great way to keep each set separate and organized.
I use a small basket with laminated construction paper as dividers. I take all my stickers and file them thematically. Such a great organizational tool when using positive reinforcement and trying to connect it to a theme!
I use velco dots to hang laminated file folder centers and envelope center to the sides and backs of book cases, this way children can play with a cordinating centers with ease and saves me space in my file cabinet and time.
I also attached heavy duty magnets to the bottom of flour containers with screw on lids (found at the dollar store) and hang them on the side of my file cabinet, I keep dry erase markers,marking pens, and anything I may need a supply of and to keep close. You can also use smaller spice jars with magets to keep smaller items and help keep your dest clear.
I keep all my learning centers in the rubbermaid shoebox-sized containers. I cut out the main picture from the cardboard box and put it in there too, as a label.
I also started using old bleach wipe containers to store plastic shopping bags. Takes up less room.
My favorite: I use a spinning spice rack to store all my glitter 🙂
I have bookshelves with labeled baskets to store and organize my materials. The bookshelves are grouped by subject. I also have a large metal cabinet for all my arts & crafts materials.
I need work on organizing (especially in the summer)! Every nook and cranny has supplies “stored” this summer. 🙂
I use small plastic storage containers to separate and keep all of my office supplies easily accessible. I also use a recipe box to hold ideas that I write on index cards – separated by subject/holidays (of course this was started log before Pinterest!).
My students sit in groups of 4, I put a basket in middle of each group to use for storage of manipulatives, pencils, paper, and other materials. Students also have seat sacks on the back of the chairs to store agendas in for easy access.
I use Rubbermaid Containers labeled with different subjects like Art Supplies, Math Supplies etc. I have stackable drawers for papers.
I use empty wipes containers for storing materials/manipulatives for parents/myself to use to work with individual or small groups of students.(ie. money, markers, counters, dice) I also put manipulatives/ materials in them for assessments.
I wish I had bought stock in ziplock baggies. I use them for everything! I store my Math and LA centers in them, bulletin board letters, supplies for the kiddoes that they keep in their desks-You name it, I use a ziplock baggie for it.
I use magazine holders to store all of my math games and centers. I label the outside of the holder with the power standard and quarter. So when it’s time for me to look for a math game or center I have them organized and ready to go!
I organize my materials into storage boxes by subject for the summer. Post-its on the front of the boxes with the contents make it easy to find what I’m looking for as I do work over the summer!
I organize by month. I also organize weekly tasks so I know what I am doing each day.
I organize by standard. Each folder has all the ideas, worksheets, websites, books, etc I use to teach each standard.
I use a silverware basket (from a dishwasher) to store colored pencils, markers and sharpened pencils.
Having to move classrooms for the second time in two years, I used new trash cans with wheels. My supplies were loaded into the trashcan and they can be pushed to the new classroom.
I use magazine holders to store all of my books (trade books and teacher resources) for each theme. I label the outside with each theme, and then they are easy to find. I also keep my math manipulatives in labeled plastic containers. When my students need individual sets of something (10 counters when learning to add and subtract), I put them into small Ziploc bags to save the trouble of counting them out for each lesson.
I have organized many of my worksheets, lessons, activities, interactive whiteboard lessons, etc….into folders on my computer. I have scanned many of my teaching books into my folders and have my file folders on my computer organized into different common core state standards. I also have backed them up on my external hard drive for safe keeping!
I keep everything in large Rubbermaid containers labeled by season/subject. Also inside the containers are small index cards for each subject/season that has my fingerplays, songs and assorted other storytime ideas ready to go.
I use large pizza boxes for themes. They are easy stack.
I keep my books, etc. by themes in a storage container so I can find the theme easily. Also, so I can add to it as I find new treasures.
I use the clear plasic packages that originally hold 8-10 markers,etc. to store die-cuts, calendar cards and other items I use regularly. I use pretty decorative boxes to store stampers and stamp pads that I use as incentive. Oh, and I use plastic pencil cases to store my whiteboard markers and highlighters. I am packing away for next year so reorganizing and rethinking storage solutions now is a must. if you do not already own one, a label machine is a must have to label, label, label!
During the school year, I use dishpans to hold notebooks, folder, and writing dictionaries. For our guided reading portion of our day, students switch rooms. This eliminates not being able to find rough drafts, or missing materials. It takes a minute to pass out, but well worth the time not spent going back to the classroom to try to find it.
I use the plastic Folgers coffee containers for storing rolled up bulletin board border. The tall cans hold a lot of rolls inside.
Since I have been teaching for 31 years, I have tons of resources and files. After spending time, scanning in the documents, I have color coded and named the folders on my computer so that I will know where they are.
It has been great to keep me organized.
For my stations, I love the use of rubbermaid containers mainly because they last longer and you can see thru them. I used to use pizza boxes.
🙂
Each of my students has a rectangular cubbie box velcro attached to the top of his desk. The student keeps two pencils, an eraser, scissors,highlighter, glue stick and bookmark in this cubbie. This makes it handy and quick to get out items we use frequently during the day.
I use a long stem rose box(from my local florist) to store sentence strip poems and stories.This was started years ago before sentence strip boxes were created!
I have math and language arts binders made for each quarter of school filled with ideas and assessments for my state objectives. I now am in the process of changing over to Common Core Standards.
I also like using magazine baskets for things…easy and handy and I can’t cram too much into them, so I’m forced to stay organized!
I have a really cool organizer on wheels. It has about 20 small, colorful drawers. I can keep anything from paper, to scissors, to rulers, anything really in it. It is very convenient.
In my tiny rm there was no space for my personal anything! So as I was dedermined to have some personal space on the wall between two bathrooms where the door opens to a wall I turned a small shelf sidways and use the top for a mini desk the shlves now are the right verticle slots for files and the large open shelf holds a small stacking type of shelf I added to hold my purse and other small items. Not bad for a space that isnt more than three ft deep and two wide!
I put all my games into large ziplock bags and hang them on a pants hanger. I put up a dowel rod on the wall and hang all the games together by subject.
I wish I could store all my things in the classroom. I store my things by themes.I transform my room and myself each month,I have a lot of stuff!I store my things in theme boxes at home in my “school Stuff Shed” For summer school I pulled out my ocean theme box complete with books, decorations,costumes,work samples,and about 15 Mailbox books. My classroom became the ocean. It’s more work but they love it!
I use magazine holders for trade books, worksheets, supplemental materials, etc. for each of my reading units.
I found a place that recycles all kinds of things for teachers to use for free. So I go as often as I can. I found these big binders in which I store all of my lesson plans and copies of projects to go with the lesson plan. I put them in a plastic cover so that I can use them again. Everything is label and easy to get to.
I have to store alot of my stuff at home. I used to use the boxes that printer paper comes in, but my house was flooded last spring so I started using plastic file boxes to store my things in by theme – I keep the books, centers, flannel pieces, etc. But in one box I have hanging file folders with all my things that need photocopied or ideas I have writen down that way I don’t always have to get the theme box out right away.
I have yet to have a favorite system.I use bins for themes.This is for games books andthing theme related. Then. I have a monthly binder with art project ideas and anything g that is flat goes in the binder.
Milk crates to hang file folders!!!
I use storage containers to keep my stations in check. All the supplies that students will need are inside, plus it makes it easier for the students to quickly get their station for that day.
I also used magazine holders to organize my Mailbox magazines … by grade level (since I’ve been switched between 1st grade and 3rd grade quite often!) and by year.
And since I’ve been attending workshops this summer for the new Math Common Core and ELD Standards, I’ve been taking pictures of examples, printing them out, and putting them into notebooks. This way, I can easily go back and see a visual of what that activity, etc. was. I also write notes next to the picture with suggestions, scaffolding, reminders, etc. I have one notebook for math and another for ELD. 🙂
During the school year I used tops off kool aid i canisters in my math center for sorting things. They can also be used to hold small objects such as push pin rubber band and etc for the teacher desk or shelf. I use them to do art with the children so each one can have their own individual color of paint. These are just a few of the things I use them for, I could go on and on just being creative and saving money at the same time.
I am a Pre-K teacher and one idea that I just implemented was to set up a separate bookcase
at my house for all my class books by theme.
When I need them for a particular theme or for
our spirit calendar, I can find it easily. I
was always having a hard time finding room in
my class to store them in any sort of order
because of lack of space. This has helped me
so much.
I spent a day organizing all of my art supplies into containers this summer (an annual event). Over the school year, everything always ends up just shoved in the cabinet. By the end of the year, it is always a disaster area. My new idea this year is to put an empty open container in the front to hold items that need to be put away quickly. When this container is full, I will be responsible for putting the supplies away correctly. I am hoping that this will help keep things organized throughout the school year!
I purchased a sterlite file storage container its about 12 by 12 inches. I placed files labeled by the month and I put all my worksheets, craft copies letters I always send to parents etc in by the month.
It takes very little space and I always have on hand what I need. Once a month I grab the monthly file and make all the copies I need per month and store them inside the container until I need to use it.
I take it home each summer and can remove or add to it as needed. With its lid it can be stored anywhere.
My favorite tip for classroom storage is a small tip. I always run into problems when drying paintings. I don’t have much flat space to work with such as counters or tables where wet paint projects can lay flat to dry. I took old, empty spools of thread and some twine to make drying lines to hang the paintings. I screwed the spools onto the wall about 5 feet apart, then wrapped twine from one to the other. I used clothespins to pin the art to the line. Just as you would hang clothes out on a clothesline to dry, we use our art line to hang our art. This also works well for displaying the work.
I purchased a fishing tackle box to store all of my dice. Each section contains one type of dice. It is super easy find any style of dice when I need them.
I love to use page protectors and three ring binders to keep my units safe and organized. You don’t even need to take the original out of the sleeve unless it is multiple pages. This has made the paper shuffle a lot less!
I like to store things in labeled shoe boxes. They can be piled up and easy to find what you need when you need it. This year I actually went to Costco and bought some plastic ones for very cheap.
I use a big plastic file box, and file by month. it includes art projects, newsletters…
I store my magnetic calendar pieces on square hot plate pads(the squares you put on the counter to put your pots on.)The pieces attach to the pad, I slip them into a baggie,I see the pieces when I need that piece for the calendar. I store the pad in my file cabinet. It is nice for summer storage and when school starts up you have them right there. I purchased these pads at my Family dollar store.I have used the pads for other magnetic letters and numbers.
I store monthly theme,lessons plans,and projects in rubbermaid totes.
Some of my storage ideas for my theme related story books or seasonal books that I know I will be reading over and over during that time, I have a box that I keep those books in. I also use a large 3 ring binder and page proctors for my flannel board pieces wiht the book or prined story.
I use shoe storage over the door units to have my students store extra supplies. Each student has a pocket with their name and they can go to their pocket and get a pencil, eraser, or glue stick when they need it. Works great for me.
Plus I love the chair pockets to store special folders so they don’t get lost in the desks and I can check them easily.
I use binders and plastic storage sleeves to keep my themes organized. It helps me see what I have and I can easily find what I am looking for.
The large or extra large Glad Storage Bags are good to store your posters, charts, seasonal themes in. Just clip them to a hanger or several hangers and put them in the bag but leave the top open to pull your hangers through. I have a bar inside a tall cabinet to hang them on. Everytime you need a chart or poster you can easily reach for it.
Yikes…I need all of these ideas! I am so disorganized at the moment!
At school I am able to scan all my worksheets and make them into a PDF. I store all of them in folders on a jump drive or store it on a cloud. This way as I am sprucing up my lessons over the summer I have everything at my fingertips.
I save plastic containers from food or other items to use for all kinds of storage. Like a peanut butter jar is great for small items such as paperclips, buttons, beans, ect. Baby wipe containers are good for counting blocks or small games. Before I throw away a plastic container that can be washed I try to think what do I have that I could put in there.