Welcome 2014! Linky Party - Day 5 Organization

I am connecting with bloghoppin' for their New Year's Linky Party and today is about ORGANIZATION!! Yippee!

Some well used Organization strategies in no particular order:

I have managed my centers this way for years - and if it isn't broken, don't fix it!

Each child has a tag with their name - first name in the Fall, last name after Christmas and sometimes even phone numbers by the end of the year.

They put their tag under the center icon they choose - most often each center can have 2 friends. It is easy to switch everything around if I need to. This pocket chart is a calendar pocket chart that lets me have 14 choices, 2 friends at each.

My goal is to get the center tools I need for each month listed and into binders/tubs. I tend to just grab what I need at the time and then it doesn't always get put back, so I have trouble finding it for next time, or remembering if I have used it with the current group of kiddos.

I have made great leaps in how I manage assessments LARGELY due to ESGI software. If you haven't checked them out, click {Here}. I am not receiving anything for sending you to their page, I just want to share a great tool. It has eliminated LOTS of paper lists and checklists and lets me access the data at home or school easily! And the reports are awesome.

Something new for me this year is the BRIGANCE Early Childhood Inventory. So far I haven't found the online tool very helpful at all, especially compared to the ESGI tool. 

SO - here's a GOAL - spend some time deciding what type of organization techniques would be best - I wonder if I can create some ESGI tests to use with the Brigance.

I have gone from boxes/tubs that held all my materials to file folders in a file cabinet to BINDERS and page protectors. I have to say that BINDERS win - but I am a little OCD and couldn't deal with the visual clutter of random binders - so I had to made labels that coordinated :O) So now I love how it looks, BUT IF I DON'T FILE things away - then it really doesn't matter.

GOAL - FILE THINGS ONCE EACH MONTH AND TOSS WHAT'S IN THE BINDER THAT I HAVEN'T USED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

I thought I had a photo of the OCD version of my BINDERS :O) - but I"ll have to take it! And no school today since the temp is -27 and the windchill is -50. So here is a shot of the "in process" to give you an idea of the labels.

      

And don't be alarmed when I say 'file once a month.' I have a spot defined for where things go when they need to be filed. I love drawer sets like these and use them for EVERYTHING! So one several of the drawers hold the materials that need to get filed back into the binders.

I really struggle with which way to lean when it comes to my calendar and lesson plans. I have both a paper and a digital source for each. I use my computer like it is attached to my arm, so digital seems to make sense for me. However, I feel less connected to both items when I don't write things down on paper. I think the kinesthetic act of writing really helps my memory and processing. We are required to post our weekly lesson plans on the school website, so I have to have a digital copy of plans. But I really really miss my old handwritten plan book. Part of it is the time it takes to format the plan document on my computer. I'm just a little lot OCD and have to have things look just so. I feel it would be a better use of my time to just write them and scan, so…

The Goal is to either create a tool that is easy to use on my computer for plans or just go back to a hard copy. Hmmmmm. Maybe a PDF that I could format blank, then print and scan. 

I use 2 sets of rubbermaid drawers to house my materials for day to day use. As I plan the week I pull the things I will need and tuck them into the corresponding drawer. This works great for me - and is helpful if I have to be gone. As I empty the Monday drawer I can begin to tuck things back into it that I will need for the next week.

The Goal is to dress them up a little bit with some new Silhouette Cameo labels :O) The drawers have been in use for so many years, that they look a little bland.

They look a little like these - the ones in this photo I actually use for each student table to hold the things that we need on a day to day basis. Markers, journals, science journals, extra supplies, etc.

SPOILER ALERT! If you are interested in tagging along on my journey of a

 then become a follower and my updates will reach your world :O).

Happy Teaching!

Pacing Plan Linky Party

Each summer I make a timeline of what is going to happen with my curriculum for the following year. I teach ADED K and I still feel like I don't have enough time to get everything in! But the plan helps me keep on track. My reading curriculum drives my classroom. The math must be done in sequence, but I do have flexibility with how I implement Science and Social Studies. So I work to integrate them with the time of year or the lessons that are happening in Reading.

 is hosting a Pacing Calendar Linky Party!

 Click {here} to check out what other teachers have planned for the year.

Here is my plan for 2012-13:

Click {here} if you would like a copy.

Happy Teaching!

www.abc123kindergarten.com

Comparison Shopping

I have been visiting my favorite school supply hang-outs and must say I am a little disappointed. Lots of the same things as last year. But I haven't given up hope! It's still early! I did find a few things, 

so watch for a post about that!

 I use a lot of Rubbermaid and Sterilite Containers in my world.

I love the 3 drawer units for all kids of things. 

But I also love the IKEA Expedits. (I think I love them, I don't own any YET.)

So my shopping "savviness" is struggling. I think that the IKEA price tag is to steep to cover on my own, but if I actually do the math..... let's see.

The 3 drawer unit could be found for $12.88. So 3 of those units would be comparable to one IKEA Expedit unit. This cute red one is $89.99. Bummer, I was hoping I could do the IKEA number..... So let's look at uses.

Drawer units:

Pros: price, versatility, easily moveable, lightweight

Cons: not as durable as wood, may need to be replaced sooner than Expedit

Expedit Units:

Pros: sturdy, could be used as room/area divider

Cons: price, possibly tippy if used as a divider, needs storage cubes or tubs to store things on shelf, 

Okay - How about if I don't buy anything yet....... and plan my room arrangement and classroom space...... and then MAYBE I can justify the Expedit :O)

Happy Teaching!

Clutter Free Classroom Step 3 - Purge

P.U.R.G.E - verb -  physically remove (something) completely

That's the task for this week. I do feel like I am always purging in my classroom. I should follow the rule of bring something in, take something out. However........... So I set out to purge as soon as school dismissed. My teaching partner of 8 years was laid off due to declining enrollment, so as she closed up her Kindergarten classroom we inventoried curriculum, furniture, supplies and equipment. Some will be stored until we add a classroom back and some we shared, so I will store so that I have access to it. BUT THAT MEANS I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I REALLY NEED, USE, ETC. ETC.

This is the back corner of my room. At the beginning of the year I was very excited to use this back wall for vertical storage. I tucked my desk against the wall, created a nook with shelves and added my teaching table. BUT I'm a piler and the piles took over. So what I liked was the storage, that my desk was not in the way, that I had a place that was not accessible to students. What I need to change: Prioritize. Not everything needs to be out all at once. I need an "off-site" storage location for the materials that aren't in use. Maybe my storeroom at home (inconvenient), somewhere in the school (not going to happen), purge what is behind closed doors and make room for storage things there (BINGO!).

Enter the 2 big garbage cans on the right side of the picture - I filled 6 like that. Oops! I forgot to take a picture of that. 

I choose to purge as I packed my room up for summer. Do you have to do that? Put EVERYTHING somewhere so that the custodians can come in and clean and polish the floor? I love how clean and shiny my room gets, but I really feel like I just get everything in place during the school year and then WHAM! pack it all away. That is a good way to purge though and I was forced happy to put everything where it belonged and toss 6 garbage cans full of whatever.

When I locked the door the last time I was there, this is what I looked at:

A CLEAN SLATE. I wish that I had a picture of what is just to the right - it is floor-to-ceiling containers that will need to be organized into stations, centers, themes and trash. I do this big job about every 2 years, but it never seems to be just right. So that is the task before me........... Good thing I love stuff like this! I love 'clutter-busting' books like the ones in this widget below.

(If you are reading this on a feed, visit the blog site to view the list.)

Comment and let me know your favorite clutter-busting books - I LOVE reading them, especially if they are in KINDLE form (less clutter!)

Happy Teaching!

Patsi K in MN

www.abc123kindergarten.com

Clutter Free Classroom Step 2

Ok - I know that I am REALLY behind on the project timing - I am working on 'my time'! I had every intention of following the Clutter-Free Classroom's timeline - I REALLY DID! BUT........... let's see, LIFE got in the way! :O) 


So I have done the work and will share it with you as I put my classroom together for fall. Right now the custodians are working hard to make my floor shiny and my carpet fabulous, I should be able to have access again to continue my purge next week.

Task # 1 is in an earlier post titled TRANSFORMATION


Task # 2 is to share my plan - here it goes!


Why do I want to get organized? Good question.......

More time for important life things

Less stress

Enjoy the moment more easily

Be prepared for the unexpected

So I can smile more

More focused teaching

MY PURGING RULES:

1. ask myself – 

• WHY do I have this? 
• WHAT is it’s purpose? 
• Do I NEED it? 
• Is it here because I am AFRAID of what will happen if I don’t have it? 
• WHO else can use it? 
• Is it TRASH? Is it WORTH storing?
•  

2. Have I used it in the last 2 years? If answer is NO, then WHY do I still have it?

3. If I keep it, WHERE will I store it?

4. Did I buy it at a garage sale? Can I DONATE it back to good will?

5. Is it used DAILY?  WEEKLY?  MONTHLY? ONCE A YEAR?

6. Is it 

• TEACHER RESOURCES? 
• TEACHING TOOLS? 
• STUDENT MANIPULATIVES? 
• WORK STATION TOOLS? 
• CENTER TIME TOOLS? 
• CONSUMABLE?
• EASILY REPLACEABLE?

THE ULTIMATE GOAL – ONLY HAVE THINGS IN THIS SPACE THAT ARE NEEDED AND USED!

Let me repeat that: ONLY HAVE THINGS IN THIS SPACE THAT ARE NEEDED AND USED!

Happy Teaching!
Patsi K in MN
www.abc123kindergarten.com
www.clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com

Transformation

UPDATE: The last several months went by QUICKLY! I am officially the mother of a high school graduate! And my younger son is a new driver! Summer is here and I am catching my breath! I am going to do the CFC Challenge 'my way' so watch the upcoming posts and enjoy as you sit in the sun :O)


Original post: Over the last weeks, I have given a lot of thought to change. There are things that we can control and things we can't. I want to spend my energy on the things I CAN control. The Clutter-Free Classroom's New Year Project has me thinking, why is it so hard to get a handle on the contents of my classroom? I am in full control of the arrangement, contents and state of affairs. I don't share it with another teacher, it's not used as an Early Childhood space or After-School Enrichment classroom. It is my haven. So why is it so hard to establish routines? Could it be because the other 15 occupants (5 year olds mind you) don't share my vision? And how can I change that? Could it be because I am a busy teacher, wife, mom, bookkeeper and project-oriented individual? More to come on that, maybe even a new blog!

So with that I am accepting the challenge of the Clutter-Free Classroom. Even though sharing the 'BEFORE' photos of our classroom wasn't one of the requirements, I am going to take a deep breath and post them here. I am a procrastinator and a perfectionist - and keep in mind that the Holiday Break was my time to 'catch-up' and I did spend about 3 hours in my classroom space, before my son broke his arm, my father-in-law was admitted to the hospital and other family members were involved in a serious car accident. Oh my! Needless to say, my classroom is still a "cluttered" slate, ready for the TRANSFORMATION that 2012 will bring. I snuck in to grab manuals so I could make plans for substitute teachers and snapped the photos, I only had about 5 minutes, or trust me I would have scurried about cleaning/stashing for company, but instead you are getting a glimpse at the post-holiday reality.

Here's a peek - no judging please!

Happy teaching!
Patsi K in Mn

Clutter-Free classroom project

Happy New Year! There is a great new project starting at The Clutter-Free Classroom blog. Check it out here 

My mind has been spinning all day with ideas of how to attack organizing and structuring in 2012. When I found this I found myself thinking 'why re-invent the wheel!' I can spend my time on other priorities and follow her structure :o) Yeah!!! So exciting. Now off to do lesson plans for a modified week - my son has a nasty broken arm and we may need to do modified days this week. :(

Happy Teaching!
Patsi K in MN

Kindergarten Purge

     After 20 years in the classroom, I sure have a lot of stuff! I have spent many hours over the last few weeks going through each cupboard and pulling things that I no longer need or use. Wow! AND I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT I'M OFFICIALLY DONE CLEANING (at least until the custodial team in my building is done shampooing and waxing!)  
     Now it's time to really look at my curriculum, standards, theme plan and center plans and decide what to do with what I kept. My goal is to only have things that I USE in my space. The "2 sisters" have motivated me to reduce my footprint in my classroom space - that's tough to do - I love the little office spot I had created, but I am going to give it up! I am currently reading The Daily 5 and love searching through the 2 sisters site for motivation.     
     I also am using tips from Debbie Diller's Spaces and Places: Designing Classrooms for Literacy. I implement the Responsive Classroom approach in my classroom and love the book Classroom Spaces that Work.
     I can't wait to post pictures of my newly organized classroom - BUT I have to wait until I can get back into it. So I guess I"ll just have to spend my time thinking and planning.