Center Organization

Organizing your centers is one of hardest things for teachers, but can be one of the biggest pay-offs if you take the time and just do it. I'm going to show you how I have my math, word work, and writing centers organized.

Before I begin, I have to stress.......This was not all done at once! It has taken me a couple years to work up to this. Just focus on one center this year or one aspect of this organization system. You will continue to tweak your system as you grow professionally and finally reach a point of contentment.

I begin by using a table/chart to provide a visual and guide that I will house in a binder and use for easy changing of centers.

I have these charts made for each center.

Once I have chosen what activities that I want in that center for that time frame, I place a copy of the chart and all materials (that can fit) in a plastic envelope with a label of the dates covered. I have designated a specific color to each center. My writing center is black, math is red, and word work is blue. 

Once these plastic envelopes (purchased at Dollar General for $0.50 each!) are stuffed and labeled, they are placed in a storage tub that is labeled with the month and placed above my cabinets until needed.

You will find different activities that you like better and will constantly adjust your charts, but the overall system is in place and pretty easy to use. My goal is to have it so organized that my student teacher can pull down a tub and immediately know which tubs to replace when and with what materials. My third grade daughter helped me switch out centers last school year on Fridays and it was a piece of cake! My focus can now be taken off the stress of center changing and on to something else! lol

I have included a copy of my center activities for the first half of the year, along with a blank template for you to begin creating your own! ;)

Click HERE

More classroom projects

First project - I'm sure that many of you have seen this trick and are thinking duh, but humor me anyway. I hate the wall hangings that have the double hooks and I remembered seeing a trick to use so that you don't have to measure or level. It worked great! Tear off a piece of painters tape that is exactly the length you need from one hook to the next. Then place that piece of tape on the wall. Stick your command hooks right on each end and voila!

Second project - I've been using this version of Whole Brain Teaching scoreboard for 2 years now and LOVE it! I needed some new gems for my points. Just hot glued some magnets to the backs of these and ready to go. Make sure your magnets are strong enough to hold them on your ten frame. My ten frames are card stock and thick laminate and some of the magnets would tend to slide.

Third Project - I've already shown you the board, but didn't really address the technique used for the border. It's super cheap (FREE! You know that roll of paper all workrooms have) and super easy. Simply cut your strips of paper into whatever size you want. I think mine were around 4-5 inches wide. I accordion folded them. (Make sure you fold several together at one time to save a lot of time!) Next, simply wad up like you're going to throw it away. Unwad (is that a word) it and start scrunching and stapling. 

Going Bananas!

I can't remember where I found this cute banana container (maybe Dollar Tree), but I knew I'd find a use for it. Anyone else do this? Well I think it's perfect for my monkey linking game.

Another game that my summer school kiddos have a blast playing was this frog game. I made them say the sight word on the frog every time they would try to make it into the bowl. Fun, yet effective!

CAFE board

This is my new CAFE board for my Kinders. I love how this one fits the Kindergarten standards and provides them with the fun beanie babies reading strategies that are so effective. Each skill is represented with a visual which helps the students understand what the objective is.

You can find the printables for this board HERE!

I've moved!

So, I've moved into a new room at my school and I LOVE IT! First of all, it's bigger! Secondly, it has a bathroom. Thirdly, I'm now with my other Kinder teachers (adios 2nd graders!) Lastly, it's red! Well, of course all of my blue tubs and decor will not match. It's been so fun finding and creating all new red and black things. I've kind of fallen in love with ladybugs too! Here's a picture of my room- the blank slate!

I have a fun idea for my classroom library, but for now I've just made the letters that will hang in it. I found these wooden letters at Wal-Mart. My husband painted them for me and I found some bling stickers (Dollar Tree) to fancy them up! 

My other project was some wicker basket sets that I bought used from a teacher online site. Once again, the lovely husband painted them for me. I added some polka dot duct tape trim and some ribbon. I love how it turned out!

I have several other projects going, so I'll be blogging again very soon! Have a fun, yet restful summer!!!

300 Followers!!!

I did it! I've reached 300 followers on my TPT store! I remember just starting out and wondering if anyone would be interested in my products. It's been so much fun making things and knowing these products are in classrooms all over the country. I appreciate your business and hope that the products I make are engaging for your students and help save you time. To thank you for following me,  I've made a packet of journal pages. I've created different pages that will grow with your students as they grow as writers. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy!

Click on the pic above to get yours!

Pencil Sharpener

I'm not sure if you've heard of the "Classroom Friendly" pencil sharpeners or not, but......they.......are.......awesome! This sharpener was created by an elementary teacher, just like us, tired of sharpeners that are loud and quit working just months after use. I have used her sharpeners for 2 years and have LOVED them. Here is a demonstration of my daughter using it.

You can find these sharpeners at http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/.