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Time to Reorganize: Tips From Two Teachers

Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!Well, if you were expecting Melissa, I apologize, but she and I are swapping blogs for a moment and I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy hopping from her blog to mine to see just what she has to say AND SHOW you, just like I will be. 🙂  Melissa and I have been blogging and TpT buddies for quite some time.  We have supported and encouraged one another along our journey and thought it would be fun to join forces and talk about something that we know all teachers want to talk about…CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION!!

My name is Joey Udovich.  Join me as I “walk” you through my classroom to show you just how I do it!

Flash back…

…it’s the first day of school.  Your room looks spectacular!  The desks are all in a row, every paper is in place, every file is absolutely PERFECT!  You take a deep breath and feel so accomplished after all of your hard work this summer.  Then, all of the sudden you hear something in the distance.  Could it be…??  Oh no…wait!!  Yep.  It’s the distant footsteps of your wonderful students!  Sure, you’re excited to get the year started but you know that your perfect room will soon be a memory.

Well, friends, if you’re ANYTHING like me…that perfect classroom is a thing of the past.  I can’t function to my full potential unless I have things in place and there is some sort of order in my room.  Although my room is not as perfect as the first day of school I wanted to share five ways that I have controlled the chaos and have worked past the messiness of student-to-classroom interaction:

1. Pencil Control
I have pencils ready in these adorable $1.00 Target buckets labeled with super cheap Michael’s number stickers.  Each number stands for a student pod group in my classroom.  If someone in their particular pod needs to sharpen their pencil in the middle of the class, or can’t find theirs, they borrow a pre-sharpened pencil from their pod’s pencil bucket.  I have a “Pencil Master” that makes sure all pencils are accounted for each day. It’s a great system!
Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!

 

2. Plastic Storage Bins and Labels
Simple, predictable, but absolutely necessary in every single classroom!  Enough said.  I made some classroom decor sets at the beginning of the year and they have really come in handy!  Click on the picture to check them out!
Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!
 
3. Storage Locker
I got this little locker by using my classroom Scholastic points!  It was FREE!!  I took a couple of pictures so that you could see what I kept inside.  This is just adorable and is extremely versatile!  I LOVE it!!
Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!
4. Plastic Hanging File Container
I am using this for my Interactive Writing Center at the moment, but it would also work well with file folder games, student information, or for pretty much any type of paperwork you would want to organize!  I purchased this at Wal Mart and it’s really come in handy ever since. 🙂
Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!
 
5. My Teacher Survival Binders!
Okay, the truth is that these binders are a part of a large binder that I created last summer.  I have quite a few of them, actually, but I printed out the entirely black and white theme for my classroom.  I added the color with my binders and I have to be honest…I COULD NOT FUNCTION WITHOUT THESE!!!  These are ORGANIZATION at its best!!  Everything that I could possibly need is at my fingertips.  Easy peasy!
Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!
Here’s a look at my most recent binder…”Bright Colors and Buttons.”  It’s a TpT BEST SELLER and has been given some pretty awesome feedback from hundreds of our fellow teachers!  I have made some MAJOR UPDATES to every single one of my binders…they now include editable excel files, how-to videos, and MUCH MORE!!!  Come check it out. 🙂  Simply CLICK on the picture below and it will send you to the shop link.
Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!
Here are some “honorable mentions” that didn’t make my top 5 cut:
 
* Paint Bucket Ruler Storage
* EXTRA File: A place to keep my extra papers
*$1.00 Michaels Photo Boxes for center storage
Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!   Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!

 

Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!
Melissa and I agreed to leave you guys with a couple of products that we are proud of think you will like, as well!  I am showing you guys my Fraction Flip Book and a Freebie that you can have if you “like” my Fan Page on Facebook!
Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!
Facebook FREEBIE!!
Need fresh classroom organization ideas? Get some tips from two teachers!
I would also recommend clicking on my Interactive Writing Center in the above picture.  This is by far my favorite product that has gotten GREAT reviews from teachers just like you. 🙂
Thanks so much for sticking around to meet me and to take that “walk” around my classroom with me!  I hope you will stop by my blog, Create, Teach, and Share to see what Melissa is up to and what organization ideas she can offer!
Take care and HAPPY teaching!

 

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Comments

  1. I love the pencil bins and pennant labels! Thank you for the Facebook freebie- it is exactly what we'll be focusing on in a few weeks, so I will put it to good use! I'm heading over to your blog now to see what Melissa has to say!

    Reply

  4. Thank you, Rachel! I'm truly not sure about the colors. I'm a huge fan of red, so when I saw it I looked no further, lol. Be sure to stop by my blog to see what Melissa's up to and be sure to follow me for some more fun posts! Thanks for stopping by!

    PS: I LOVE my binders, too! Thanks so much!
    Joey

    Reply

  5. You always manage to find me! Thanks for stopping by, my dear friend! I'm so glad you like my freebie! I figured it was something that most third-fifth graders could benefit from. 🙂

    Have a great week!
    Joey

    Reply

  8. I love the plastic storage bins! Where did you purchase them? I can't find them anywhere!

    Reply

  9. Hello, I am a teaching student, about to start student teaching. I would love a list of what you keep in your binders, especially the survival binder.

    Reply

  11. Thanks! Truthfully, these were given to me from a teacher friend of mine. You can, however, buy similar bins at Target and Wal Mart! Hope that helps! 🙂

    Joey

    Reply

  14. How do you organize the binders? They seem like they are so neatly stacked and I was wondering if they are placed into some sort of shelving?

    Reply

  17. I have clear, stackable shelves that they are sitting on. You can truly put all of your information into one large binder, as well. I just have found this to be easier for me. Grab and go! 🙂 I'm sure you could find similar shelves at Wal Mart, Target, Office Max, etc.

    Thanks for your question!
    Joey

    Reply

  18. I believe that I got those from either Wal Mart or Office Max a couple of years ago. I would say that either Office Max or Staples would be your best bet. They have a huge selection!

    Best of luck in finding them and thanks for your question!
    Joey

    Reply

  20. I am so inspired! Can you please tell me a little more about what you put into each of your binders? Thanks!! 🙂

    Reply

  23. Thanks so much, Kerri! I use Power Point to create my products. 🙂 Sorry for the delayed response…I truly didn't see it until now. :/

    Reply

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