Tuesday 10 April 2012

Classroom Organization

I feel like organization is one of my strong suits (at school anyways... home is a completely different story!) I love to see everything with a nice, colourful label on it. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy when I see a kiddo putting something back in the right spot. :) So here are just a few of my organization strategies and some free labels to help you get started!

Here is my organized art supply cupboard. I bought these little flip top containers from SuperStore (Canadian) a while back. They are a good size and stack nicely! I love clear containers because I can see what exactly is inside them. If you would like a copy of my art labels, click {here}.


Here is a picture of my classroom library. Again, I use clear containers. I sort my books by themes, authors, and series. Each tub has a number, description, and picture. On each book, I put a matching sticker with the tub number and picture. It makes putting books away really easy for the kiddos! After a brief "training session" at the beginning of the year, we hardly have any books out of place! I don't know if my number system would work for you, so I've uploaded my labels without numbers. Feel free to download my library labels {here}.



My math manipulatives are all sorted and stored in (you guessed it) clear containers with lids. I don't have any good pictures of them, but you can check out my math labels {here}.


Another organization tip for you... I store all my monthly files, books, decorations, centers, etc. in large file boxes. I might upgrade to large plastic totes one day, but for now the cardboard boxes do just fine. I like having everything in the box. If I didn't have the storage space at school, I could keep the boxes at home and just bring it to school the month you need it. Click {here} for my monthly labels. (You can download July & August {here}.)


And here's a quick little management technique I picked up from Pinterest {seen here} that has really worked for me! Every second Friday or so, I take the last 30-60 minutes of the day to have "Ketchup and Pickle Time". Underneath the ketchup card I write down the names of students who have work to "catch up" on. If they have more than one piece to do, I might write a number beside their name. If a student has no work to complete, they become a pickle and can "pick something quiet to do" (drawing, card games, reading, etc.) It really helps me during those weeks where I can see the piles of unfinished work just piling up. And it's a nice way to end a Friday, too! Want to try your own ketchup and pickle time? Download the cards {here}.



**Update** I've had a few questions about the daily schedule cards. They are created by the fabulous Cara Carroll at The First Grade Parade. You can download them for free from here. I did create the time cards though. You can download them from here. They are in a word document, so you can edit the times yourself. I drew the hands on the analog clocks with a black marker after I printed them out, but you could add arrows in word if you have the time!


There ya go! Enjoy!

45 comments:

  1. LOVE your organization and labels!! I am SO the same way - my classroom is beautifully labeled and strategically organized. My home..eh... well, I would love it to be organized buuuut it just isn't. I blame it on my two kids, that works, right?!

    Nicole
    Rowdy in Room 300

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful classroom. Thanks for the labels!

    Lori (luvyorkies@gmail.com)
    Teaching With Love and Laughter

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are great! I WISH I was naturally organized...I am more of the organized chaos type gal:)

    Lou

    Pencils with Pizzazz

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for sharing! I am jealous of your organization. Your labels look great!

    Jenny
    Luckeyfrog's Lilypad

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for sharing your labels!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love labels and organization too! I feel like our classrooms would have similar characteristics :) I've been meaning to ask, would you ever want to have a MB blogger meet-up? How many of us are actually out there!?
    I get jealous watching all the other bloggers meet up haha!

    Thanks for the cute labels, they are adorable!

    Kaleigh's Klassroom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kaleigh! I'm not sure how many MB bloggers are out there... it might just be us! Haha!! It'll be a small meet-up ;)

      Delete
  7. Oooh, you're seriously good :)

    ❀Barbara❀
    Grade ONEderful

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love your labels. I wish I could be soo organized!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AWESOME tips! So glad I found your blog- I'm your newest follower!!

    Kimberly
    The Learning Tree

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ahhhh... LOVE the organization!!!
    Ketchup and Pickle... very cute!
    I call it "your time". As in, it is your time to complete your unfinished work or do something quietly of your choosing if everything is completed.
    ❤Traci❤
    Dragonflies in First

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you so much for sharing your labels!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I tried the "catch up" and "pickle" time at the end of the year after seeing it on Pinterest, and my students asked, "Where's the mustard?" So we decided to have a "Must-Do" list with a picture of mustard. :) They had to the "must do" work first, then either catch up work or pick something fun to do. It works great! Your picture cards are so cute!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the mustard idea!!! I "must" add that to my list! ;) haha!

      Delete
  13. Thank you soooo much! I have been looking all over for the perfect labels! I can't wait to try the "catch up" and "pickle" idea too. Thank you!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. They say there are no stupid questions, but this just might be on...
    Do you print your AMAZING labels on actual labels or do you attach them with something? Thank you so much for sharing these with us! I can't wait to get them in my room!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Renee,

      I actually print my labels on cardstock, laminate them, and attach them with clear packing tape. I feel like it makes them more durable and they stay put for a long time! :)

      Amanda

      Delete
  15. Awesome, awesome, awesome! I love these time and schedule cards! Totally my vision, but I wouldn't be able to create something like it!

    Do you by chance have the schedule cards in a .doc format to be edited? I thought I wrote on Cara's wall to ask her, but I can't find my post.. if not, I can ask her again. If you do, my email is kkleighton@gmail.com and I would really appreciate it!!

    Thanks, and keep up the good work! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. What font did you use for the labels? Thanks so much for sharing! These are great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is my absolute favourite font. It's called "smiley monster" and it's free from Kevin & Amanda. You can download it from here:

      http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/freescrapbookfonts/smiley-monster/

      Thanks for stopping by!
      Amanda

      Delete
    2. Thanks! I love it! All of your stuff is so adorable!! What program do you use to design your labels and lessons?

      Delete
    3. I use Microsoft Word and Powerpoint to create everything. Word is good for worksheets and Powerpoint is good when you need to format a lot of objects, like in labels and math centres. I buy a lot of my clipart and frames from the websites listed on the left-hand side of my blog! :)

      Delete
  17. You guys have saved my sanity! I thought I was the only one who is organized at school but has a home that looks like a hurricane ripped through it (which I also blame on my 2 kids). I love all these labels to better organize my arts & craft things so I can find them quicker....now to find cheap plastic containers for my art supplies!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you so much Amanda! I'm changing from second grade to first grade and you labels were just what I was looking for. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I LOVE these labels! Thank you so much for sharing them. I can't wait to use them!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I featured your awesome Ketchup & Pickle Time cards on my blog today-- thanks so much for sharing such wonderful ideas :) :)

    ~Stephanie
    3rd Grade Thoughts

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you so much for the word document! You have made things much easier for me:)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you for the labels!!! I can't wait to get these on my clear bins so I'll be ready for the next year!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Love your labels! Thanks so much! Any way you could post the library labels with the numbers as well? I've been planning on numbering my library this year, too!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you so much for the AWESOME labels! Is it possible to get them in an editable version? I would greatly appreciate it! akegoheels@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thank you for the labels!! They are very nice! What paper do you print yours on to make them stickers? Did you use Avery and what number or did you just tape them onto the clear tubs?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I print my labels on card stock, laminate them, then attach them to tubs with clear packing tape. I find they last a really long time this way!!

      Delete
  26. I hope you still get messages even on older posts. I was sent to you from 3rd Grade Thoughts and just printed your manipulative labels and ketchup/pickle time pages. Thank you so much for helping me be more organized!

    Ashley
    ashley58926@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you for the wonderful freebies! The time cards are AMAZING!

    ReplyDelete
  28. so many great freebies! THANK YOU! and i love the "ketchup and pickle time"!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi! I LOVE your classroom labels! I was wondering If you had an editable version of the book bin labels to add in a few genres! Thanks! My email is kmatherne89@gmail.com.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Can you email me your math labels to edit? I have the same font and just need to add a few of my own manipulatives! Thanks :)

    alibug2@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I would love it if you could email me your book labels as well. I wanted to edit a few and add some of my own. Thanks! my email is jarrieta.stfrancis@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would also love the book labels. slphiggins@gmail.com

      Thank you for everything... going from grade 6 to kindergarten and alot of your stuff is helping me ALOT!!!

      Delete
  32. Your labels are soooo perfect!!! Exactly what I needed!! Thank you sooooo much for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. THANK YOU again! The tub labels are just what I was looking for and the awesome photos of your classroom library in the clear tubs! I am starting Daily 5 with my grade ones this year and I am in the process of trying to organize my books. Do you happen to have the file WITH the numbers for the tubs, as it will make labeling the books so much easier! MUCHO thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  34. If there's an editable version of the labels, I'd love them! I use both the book and classroom labels! I'm going crazy trying to find something match yours so that my whole classroom is consistent. cbelluomo@gmail.com. Thank you SO much for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Wow! Just hopped on your blog. This is such a great post. I absolutely love your labels (all of them). I know this post is an older one, but if you can, I would love to have an editable version of the tub labels as I have few more that I want to add for both the craft and book tubs. Thank you so much for sharing! It really is appreciated! Lbutrico@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. thanks . I love it .It is so cute labels

    ReplyDelete
  37. THANK YOU!! Just starting to think about classroom organization as we start BTS next month! I LOVE when teachers SHARE their creations instead of TPT. THANK YOU again!

    ReplyDelete