Sunday, July 27, 2014

2 Stars and a Wish.. A Little Back To School Classroom Organization

Hi Sweet Friends!
If you are like me, you are gearing up for another school year.
I couldn't want to link up with Mandy's Tips for Teachers for

I'm ALL about staying organized in my classroom.  I feel like I teach better when my classroom is organized and runs efficiently.  SO I wanted to share with you 2 things ( my STARS)  I feel help me stay organized and  something I wish I could do better.  ( I'm hoping you all will have some tips to help me with this WISH.)
Use magazine boxes labeled with the days of the week to keep your needed copies and other items needed for that particular day.

( My magazine boxes are located on the right hand side of this picture.)
I used to keep my copies and needed items in a file folder in my desk.  I LOVE these magazine boxes.  They hold so much more material, AND they are easy for another teacher to access if needed.  It also helps with those last minute emergency plans for a sub if one of my little ones wakes up and is ill that morning.   My parent volunteer comes in every Thursday or Friday and makes the copies for the following week.  Once the copies are made, I quickly refer to my teacher plans and place the copies in the corresponding box for the following week. 

Forgot My Homework Binder



A teacher on my team introduced this to me last year, and I LOVED it.
I am forever trying to keep track of students who have forgotten their homework, didn't do their reading assignment and etc.  The school in which I teach does a monthly Homework Club Reward, and I have a Homework incentive in my classroom as well.  I used to keep track of missed reading assignments and etc in my teacher planner.  BUT with all of the other notes I jotted down, the student names and assignments missed were hard to find.  I needed something easier and more organized to help me keep track of missing homework.   The "Forgot My Homework Binder" has a tab with each student's name.  Inside of the Binder, each student has a homework sheet.  Each student simply writes the date, assignment that is missing or not completed, and I initial the entry.   I have it sitting by the homework basket in my classroom.  Each morning I check student's planners while they are working on their Daily Morning Warm-Ups.  If a student is missing an assignment or did not complete their reading minutes, I ask them to sign the homework binder.
To create the homework binder, I purchased a 3 ring binder along with enough of the tabbed file folders for each student in my class.  I wrote each student's name on a tab.  Then I made a homework sheet that included a column for the date, item not completed, and my initials.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzNouuyeXxevN2g5eTR6OW9STWc/edit?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzNouuyeXxevN2g5eTR6OW9STWc/edit?usp=sharing
You can download the cover for the "Missing Homework Binder" and the 'Missing Homework" sheet for FREE from Google Docs by clicking on either photo above or HERE.
Classroom Library Check Out System

Oh my, I need SO much help with this one.  I would love ANY and ALL ideas that have worked for you.  I have YET to find a system that keeps my students responsible for classroom books that they check out of our library.  What do all of you use?  I WISH for a system that is easy for the students to use, helps keep the responsible for returning the library books back to the classroom library, and helps me keep track of my classroom library books.  I loose OODLES of books every year.  I also don't want to have to spend a lot of time managing this system.  

I have entered all of my classroom books online into LibraryThing. I've even reorganized my books by subjects. Here's a little peek into my classroom library.

 Thanks so much for stopping by.  Good luck on a new school year!!  I would LOVE to hear your suggestions on my WISH. 

For more STAR ideas, please check out the links from my FRIENDS below.




6 comments:

Katie said...

Ugh I wish I had a suggestion for the classroom library, but mine is a disaster too. I've tried so many things and can't seem to find a system that works and doesn't take time. The time one is the big killer for me. It seems all systems take up so much extra time away from kiddos actually reading. Wah! If you find a system, definitely post about it!

Katie
Dirty Hands & Lesson Plans

Krystal said...

I love your homework binder idea! Might have to try that this year!! As for the library, I'm in the same boat. I need to organize my books and make it more user-friendly, as well as figure out a system for the kids to check things out. Wish I had the answer for that one! But your library sure looks great :)

good enough teacher

Rachel said...

I just started a No Homework notebook this past year! It's great for parent conferences! Thanks for the printable! This will make is so much cuter!

Rachel
A Tall Drink of Water

Theresa said...

I don't use a check-out system for my classroom library. At the beginning of the year, we spend several days teaching lessons all about the classroom library. Several of which I think help keep losing classroom books to a minimum. I would make sure your students have individual book boxes, make sure all of your books are labeled on the OUTSIDE of the book to easily differentiate which books are yours from books that aren't yours. Also, in teaching students how to use the classroom library, I always teach them that these are books that stay at school. They do not go in backpacks, desks, etc...I've taught in multiple grades, and Title I schools for a long time, and haven't had any trouble with this once my sweets know what the expectations are :) I hope this helps! Good luck!

Theresa @ True Life I'm a Teacher!

Sally said...

Love your ideas! I don't use a check out system for my library. The kids are pretty good about returning them, and are great at helping put books back where they belong. It works for me!

Sally from Elementary Matters

Mrs. Giboney said...

Hey there, here is a link to a post I did about how I organize my library and how kids keep track of books they are borrowing...sorry I didn't put it in a fancy link button, but copy and paste will work ;0)

Jessica
http://littleinbetweens.blogspot.com/2013/07/wednesday-wisdom-library-organization.html