On to the meaning of today's post: Clutter Free Classroom Challenge Week 2: Make a plan!
This weeks challenge is to come up with a plan for all that clutter! And.. here's my plan!
First of all: Why do I want to become clutter free? That's easy. I hate clutter/disorganization in my classroom. I've noticed that my unorganized room this year has led to less organized kids. So organized room=organized students. Oh yea, and maybe if I'm clutter free, I won't be at school so late. When I'm at school on a workday, I want to be able to concentrate on other classroom necessities like planning the best lessons for my kiddos. not organizing that cabinet that looks like a tornado came through. Most importantly, I want to utilize all my resources. I have so many great resources to use, but I just forget that I have them... until after the lessons. Anybody else have this problem?
On to the plan...
1- Purge ALL baskets that do not go with my blue/green color scheme. I'm kind of crazy when it comes to things matching and I know I will never use them. Why keep them?
2- Go through all resources and organize into subjects. Make a list of all resources based on topic so that I can easily see the resources I have for our current unit of study :)
3- Organize my library. Put stickers on every book and every basket so that students can easily find what basket the book goes back in. Organized library that is easy for the kiddos to keep clean=happy me. Maybe get one of these...
Intelliscanner Picture coming soon.. this is my computer being ornery
4- Don't buy new things unless I ABSOLUTELY NEED it.
5- Organize all math materials into labelled bins that can easily stay organized :)
I'm probably missing something, but this is a pretty good plan I think! If you haven't joined yet, don't miss out!
Hope to be back to regular blogging soon!
I have all of my stuff organized into baskets, but I haven't gotten everything labeled yet :) Most of my stuff is, but I still need labels on my centers and for my guided reading books. Once you get everything done, you will feel SOOO much better :) I know for me, it's made things much easier :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for it to be all organized and lovely! :)
DeleteI am so THRILLED that you have the same basket issue! Unmatched baskets drive me crazy.
ReplyDeleteYou are right an organized classroom does lead to organized students. Great quote by the way!
Have fun organizing and love your blog!
Ann
Mrs. Greene's Kindergarten Korner.
We're are not alone girl, not alone :)
DeleteI have the same issue with lost resources! I started cleaning out my classroom this weekend and found some neat manipulatives to use when teaching fractions. We just finished that unit LAST WEEK! Go Figure! UHG! I am sure we will feel great once we get everything done!
ReplyDeleteOh no, the dreaded "We just finished that unit" find. I HATE when the happens. It happens to me ALL the time!
DeleteHaha!! I have the "baskets have to match" syndrome too!
ReplyDeleteKaren :o)
Mrs. Stamp's Kindergarten
Ashley, I LOVE your plan. Thankfully I have broken myself of buying "extra" plastic bins from target and the dollar store. Now I just let myself look and if I can't think of a specific use for it, I walk away.
ReplyDeleteOne strategy I have in my plan is to purge every worksheet or document that I can find online or have saved on my computer. This was really hard to do for some of my math folders last year (such an environmentalist) thinking I would pull out those folders and use the worksheets this year....nope, hasn't happened yet. I either go straight to the workbook to copy or am using so many new things we have created or from teacherspayteachers. So, I think my math files are due for another purge :)
You have to hold me accountable :)
DeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment on my blog. I have never had a blog before and it is quite intimidating!
I look forward to following your progress as well.
Thanks,
Jessica
classroominprogress.blogspot.com