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!