Centers Organization Linky Party

One of my new years resolutions this year was to organize my centers so that they don't drive me crazy are more effective and easier for my students to put back when they are finished, so I thought that I would join in on Lesson Plan Diva's Center Organization Linky Party!



I am lucky enough to not only live in a city with a wonderful resource, like Crayons to Computers {a teacher free store for eligible schools in the Cincinnati tri-state area}, but my school is eligible for me to "shop" there once every 5 weeks. This place is AH.MA.ZING! Here is a picture of one of my recent finds there:

These are clear boxes that apparently stored Air Heads. These things are PERFECT for centers! So, here's what I have done with them.

I placed these numbered signs {I don't remember from where I got them on blog land - if they are yours, please let me know so I can give credit!} on 10 of the lids. I love this because I can simply switch the lids of the boxes when I need to change the center. {I then write the name of the center on the side of the non-numbered box and store it in my classroom closet. This way, I don't have to find new storage while the center materials are not being used. Does that make sense?}

This is what the boxes look like when they have a center in them.

In each box, I include the directions for the center and then all of the necessary materials inside of a ziploc baggie.

For the recording sheets, I have a folder with the numbers 1-10 written on them. I place the recording sheets for center #1 in folder #1, etc.

I write the words "completed" on the left side of the folder and "new" on the right side of the folder. My students know that when they choose their center, then they also grab their folder from the folder holder {see pic below}. They grab a new recording sheet from the "new" side and then place their completed work on the "completed" side of the folder. This new system has made my life sooooo much easier {especially when I have to check their center recording sheets}. Now they are all in one simple place!

Here are all of the folders in the folder holder and a picture of the centers where they sit on my bookshelf.

Welp, that's all I have for tonight!

The Bees Knees

Okay, so if you haven't been able to guess yet, my theme in my classroom this year will be.....BEES! :o) I have found some really great ideas online that I am planning on using in my classroom. One of the ideas that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE (and can't wait to make) is Our Five 'Bees' Promise from  First Grader...At Last!.  I have also been in the process of making many more bee related items for my classroom.  Unfortunately, I don't have any new pictures to include since I have not been able to start setting up my classroom yet, but I promise to post some as soon as I get in there!  I was able to find a picture of my Kindergarten classroom door two years ago that inspired my decision for the bee theme this year.

In addition to deciding on the theme of my classroom, I had a genius idea as I was opening up a can of peaches for my daughter. It's strange how we teachers can come up with crafty ideas to "turn trash into treasures?" :o) I decided to turn the many soup, vegetable and fruit cans that we use in my house into nifty little pencil holders for the students to keep at their desks.  I used scrapbook paper to cover each can and then "laminated" each one by covering it with packing tape.  I then added a label to each one to write the student names on as soon as I get my class list.  I also plan on adding a piece of Velcro to the bottom of each can to keep them secure to the desks.  I am *hoping* that this idea will actually work.  I'm curious to see if it will help my students stay organized.  I guess time will tell.

Finally, for all of you that are parents of infants or know someone who has an infant, ask them to keep their baby wipe containers and formula canisters.  I wrapped mine in scrapbook paper and again "laminated" them with the packing tape to use as inexpensive manipulative holders!  Here are a few pics of the ones that I have created recently.