Classroom Library & Labels

Today I worked on labeling things around my classroom. I spent some time on Monday and Tuesday making labels, cutting them out, laminating, and then cutting again. I labeled my student book bins first:

A little info about how I manage book bins: every student has their own book bin, which I purchased from Really Good Stuff. They are allowed to keep up to 7 books in their bins, only one of which can be a chapter book. When they arrive in the morning, they have a few simple "jobs" to complete, and then they are free to shop for books until the bell rings. When they are finished, they read silently at their tables. They are also allowed to book shop at recess time. I used to have assigned days for students to book shop, but I found that the more control I hand over to the kids, the more smoothly my classroom runs. I also tried many different "bell work" routines throughout my first 4 years of teaching, and I finally figured out that just letting them read works the best for me.

This is the first summer that I have not re-organized my classroom library! I did do a quick weeding out of books that were not read very often, or were falling apart. My library is organized by genre, author, topic, and series. Each bin is numbered, and all books in that bin contain a sticker with the matching number. I used to organize my library with pictures printed out on address labels, or different colored stickers. I found that numbers work best, because the bins are in numerical order on the shelves, so students can find them more quickly. I have used this system for the past 3 years, and I very rarely find a book out of place (maybe 5 per year).

My bins were purchased through Discount School Supply during my first year of teaching (they have nearly doubled in price-yikes!). I decided to re-organize my library over winter break, and I spent all of my Christmas money on these sturdy bins. When looking for bins I wanted ones that were clear, and allowed the covers to be facing out. Both of these features allow students to browse books more easily.

Here is a picture of my whole library:

Picture books:

Chapter books, magazines, and dictionaries:

Here is my finished teacher toolbox:

And, finally, my baskets that contain teaching materials for every day of the week:

I am so glad to have this tedious task finished! All of the labels I used were made by Kristen Doyle (edited by myself). Visit her Teachers Pay Teachers store here.

Time spent working on room this week (including cutting, laminating, etc.): 14
Cumulative hours: 59

Fun with Files

I did end up going to school today for a while. I just couldn't stay away. :) I spent the day organizing my files. I store my teaching materials in binders, which I keep in my cupboards (more on that later). I have one 3-drawer file cabinet, which I use to store files that I need to access frequently (student cumulative folders, book orders, permission slips, etc.). I also have 6 file drawers built in to my cupboards, which I use to store photocopies. I needed to re-vamp my file system badly, and it feels really good to have it done!

My top 3 drawers contain:
-Math, science, and social studies copies
-ELA copies
-Daily 5 copies

I wanted to store all of my paper in one drawer, but the construction paper wouldn't fit. :( Here is my computer paper:

This drawer contains various math games and materials. Some go with our math curriculum, and some were purchased on Teachers Pay Teachers.

My next job is re-organizing my binders. I hate organizing files and teaching materials, because so much thought has to go into the process (what to keep, what to toss, etc.). I have been avoiding it like the plague so far this summer!

Time spent working on room today: 5.5 hours
Cumulative hours: 45

Deck the Walls!

I am waiting on my bulletin board materials (trimmers, letters, alphabet line) that I ordered to arrive, and I am getting very anxious to put some things up on my walls! They are pretty bare at the beginning of the year until my students arrive, but there are some basic things that go up ahead of time. We do not have to remove anything from our walls in the summer, but, since I moved classrooms, I'm starting with a clean slate.

I put my number line and doubles posters up today (ignore the blue paint-I still have to paint over it):

I love my number line, because it contains the number names. My students use this feature all the time. The number line is by Teacher's Friend. The doubles posters are from Edsen. To get everything to stay up on my beautiful white, cinder-block walls, I use Stikki Wax. I love this stuff! My things stay up on the walls for years when I use it.

I love the fact that my classroom has an entire wall of built-in cabinets. However, that takes away a lot of wall space that could be used to display things. Most teachers put things up on their cupboards, which can sometimes looks messy. I use some simple charts by Frog Street Press (LOVE their stuff!) to create some continuity on my cupboards (kind of like a mini bulletin board). I am going to use my cupboards as a math wall this year. Each chart is going to display a certain subject area (time, money, geometry, etc.). I still have to add the headers, but I'm very happy with how it looks so far!

I also started putting some things up in the hallway. I always stick with the same "theme" inside my classroom (blue, green, and yellow), but I like to do something a little more fun in the hallway. This year I decided to use Carson Dellosa's new Funky Frogs. I'm usually not a huge fan of the frog theme, but these guys are just too cute! The log is above my doorway and says "Welcome!" and the big frog is right next to my door and contains my name and room number. The little frogs are going by student hooks.

I might go into school today for a bit, otherwise I won't make it in until next Wednesday. I can honestly say that it's hard for me to stay away for an entire week, so we'll see!

Time spent working on room today: 6 hours
Cumulative hours: 39.5

Organizing the Cupboards & Counter

I have been avoiding my cupboards and counter, because I knew it would be a big job to get everything organized. Since I had just one weekend to move classrooms, I placed everything in the cupboards quickly, knowing that I would have to go back and re-organize.

Here is a before and after shot of my counter space:

It probably doesn't look very different, but it was so. Much. Work. 

I also looked through the piles of unwanted items that teachers have placed in the staff workroom, and I found 16 FREE books to add to my classroom library!

It was a pretty successful day! I will probably try to stay away from school for the rest of this week. :)

Time spent working on room today: 5 hours

Cumulative hours: 33.5

Getting Started

While I was waiting for the cleaning crew to finish up in my classroom last week, I did some planning. I took pictures of each wall after the room was cleared out. I then printed the pictures on computer paper, and used them to plan my bulletin boards and wall space.

My room was all ready to go last Wednesday already! I spent about 2 hours last week, and 6 hours today at school. The first thing I did was put all of the furniture back exactly how I wanted it. This is where my craziness comes out a bit. You know how it's really annoying when your students' desks or tables shift during the school day? During the summer, right when the cleaning crew is finished in my classroom, I like to put my tables exactly where I want them during the school year. That way they have 2+ months to make a little dent in the carpet. During the school year, they barely shift, and when they do, they always fall right back into their little dents.

Next, I began putting some things out on the shelves, such as my classroom library bins. Due to the fact that I don't have any "working corners" (every corner is taken up by either built-in cabinets, counters, or the door), I had to place all of my classroom library book cases along one wall. I love seeing cute, cozy library corners, so this is a bit of a bummer. :( Here is a peak at my classroom library so far (I am going to re-do the labels this summer):

My big project today was organizing my teacher desk materials. As mentioned in a previous post, I decided to get rid of my teacher desk. I decided to make a teacher toolbox for my office supplies. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, search "teacher toolbox" on Pinterest.) I still have to cover the drawers in scrapbook paper and add labels, but this is what it looks like so far:

I also needed something to hold papers that need to be filed, and books/resources that I use frequently. I found the PERFECT solution in a closet of old, unused materials (it needs a good coat of spray paint):

Next, I organized the rest of my desk items that would not fit in the teacher toolbox:

Here is my finished "teacher desk" area:

I am LOVING my room without a desk so far! It freed up so much space, and it really forced me to get organized. I never realized how much "junk" was shoved in my desk drawers.

Here is what my room looked like at the end of the day today:

(Note: It drives me crazy that the SMART board is not centered in the middle of the room!)

Time spent working on room last week & today: 8 hours

Cumulative hours: 28.5

Where I Work (and Shop!)

I work at a teacher store as a 2nd job year-round. I love having so many decorating options at my fingertips! My co-workers are probably sick of me asking which borders look best when layered together. :)

As I start setting my room up, you'll see that many of the things I use come from the teacher store. I took some pictures of the store where I work, so that everyone can see how huge it is. Here are the bulletin board sets (you can see the back wall-the bulletin boards go all the way down the left wall).

Here are just some of the charts and trimmers:

The wall of accents:

If you live in the midwest and would like to know where this store is, send me an email!

And now I wait...

The summer cleaning crew started cleaning the upstairs classrooms today. We are the first elementary school to be cleaned, which is nice because we have all summer to get our classrooms ready. However, I'm always hesitant to start setting things up this early for 2 reasons:
1) Everything is really dusty by the time school starts.
2) We do not have air conditioning, and everything gets damp and wrinkly when the weather gets warm and humid.

When they are finished cleaning my classroom, my first job will be to work on my classroom library. For now, I wait!