New Year... Same Love of Organization

Happy New Year, y'all!  I can't believe it's 2016!  2015 was a pretty good year for me.
I spent my birthday with some amazing friends. 

In March, I got engaged.

In June my fiancé, Anthony, and I went to Arkansas for his cousin's wedding.  He was reunited with his uncle who he hadn't seen in years.  Anthony's dad died in 2001 so seeing him with his uncle was so special.  

In July I said "YES" to my dress!

In November I visited one of my best friends in Auburn.

While in Auburn I was reunited with one of my sweet sorority sisters who I hadn't seen in 4 years!

And we closed out 2015 with some wonderful friends at one of our favorite spots.

As I look at these photos I am reminded of how blessed I am with such great friends and family.  I'm so excited for what 2016 will bring!  If we're being honest, I'm looking forward to July the most because I'm getting MARRIED! AHHH!

With the end of the holiday season comes back to school.  I don't know about you, but I'm not ready... AT ALL!  This break, although short, has been wonderfully relaxing and just what I needed.  Today I have spent time cleaning up my desktop and getting organized for the new year.  Adding a calendar to my desktop was my favorite organizational addition a few months ago.

Today I made all new calendars for the rest of the year!  Be prepared, y'all!  You can download my 2016 printable calendars in my TpT store today!  They're FREE until 7:09 to celebrate my wedding on July 9th. :) Click the picture below to take you to product link.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year!

How to Organize Your Literacy Rotations

The biggest thing I try to explain to a teacher who is asking me for help setting up their literacy rotations is that I didn't organize all of this over night.  I spent the last two years really figuring out how to organize everything in order to best suit my needs.  Everyone works differently, so PLEASE don't think that my organization system will necessarily work for you.  

My goal when I set up my classroom is to make everything my students will need on a daily basis easily accessible and easy for them to find.  I want them to become independent in the classroom so I can focus on my guided reading groups.  I make sure there are no reasons for any student to interrupt my group time because they don't know what to do.  The only reason a student should interrupt my group is in case of an emergency. 

1. Clear display of literacy rotations 

I like to use a pocket chart to display my literacy rotations.  It doesn't have to be a pocket chart as long as it stays on the wall all day.  I don't particularly like using my Promethean Board because I use it for another purpose.  My center cards have a visual aid for those students who need a visual support.  The Daily 5 banner was made with my Editable Banner Template in my TpT store. 

I move my Nemo clip as we move to each rotation.  This is so students can easily check to make sure they know what they're doing.  Sometimes I have a student who has been in the library for one rotation and returns once we have started the next.  This student can look at where Nemo is on the chart and quickly find their place. 

To the left of the pocket chart is a clip chart.  I have two classes.  My morning class is on the left and my afternoon class is on the right.  I use the clips to show students which group they're in.  This makes moving students from group to group easier.

2. Group materials organization

This 6-drawer plastic organizer is directly next to my small group table.  I have the materials I will need for each group stored in the proper drawer.  In each drawer is a folder to separate the materials for each class' group.  I put the books, plans, and organizers (if applicable for that day) in the folder.

The two larger drawers at the bottom are for other materials.  The first one has extra copies of organizers for me to quickly grab if I need them.  The bottom drawer has plastic covers with Jan Richardson inspired word analogy charts for word study.  When I taught Kindergarten I had alphabet charts and letter tracing sheets in them.

On the top of my rolly cart is my timer.  I have a color countdown timer that shows green for more than 10 minutes, yellow for less than 10 minutes, and red for 1 minute.

On the floor in front of my organizer I have extra book boxes.  When I take a trip to our Guided Reading Library I always grab at least one extra book set for each group so I am not constantly searching for books in the book room.  I keep leveled texts for each group in these book boxes.

I have a limited amount of slates in my classroom so I like to use the Wall Pops on my kidney table.  They also add a bright color pop, which I clearly love!  I use these for my students to practice writing a few of our weekly spelling words before we start our reading.

In front of each student's Wall Pop is a pencil basket with needed materials.  Each basket has an Expo marker, felt square for a dry erase eraser, crayons (for Luckeyfrog's Text Detective activities which we LOVE), and a pencil.  Since taking this picture I have wrapped all of my small group pencils in purple duct tape so they know it belongs to the guided reading table.  As soon as they accidentally walk away from the table with my pencil they rush back to return it.  If one is dropped to the floor they know where to return it.  I have stopped having to replace these pencils. #teacherwin

3. Word Work

Each week students have a new spelling word list.  Usually our word work consists of a spelling word activity.  However, when we're working on a particular grammar skill I do switch it up with a grammar activity.  For example, for the last few weeks we have been reviewing plural nouns so students may have a plural nouns activity for word work.  I always keep the word work basket in the same place so students know where to go.  I love these baskets from Really Good Stuff!  They're bright and easy to find.  If I write on the board "Word Work: Plural nouns activity in the yellow basket" they know where to go.

4. Work on Writing- Process Piece

This is our writing board.  Students independently move their clip down the chart when we're working on a process piece.  This makes it really easy for me to see who is getting close to being ready to meet with me or who is taking too long in one area and needs me to check in on them.  You can find this Writing Process Clip Chart in my TpT store.  I also have a chalkboard + chevron version.  

Notice the poster on the left for revising (green) and editing (red).  This is color-coded for a reason.  (Please see explanation below the picture with pens and highlighters)

Right below my writing board is a plastic drawer organizer. On top are our revising and editing tools: highlighters, green pens, red pens, and a few booklets for students to reference.  The highlighters are for students to find "boring" words in their writing that they may be able to find a synonym for in a thesaurus.  Green pens are for revising and red pens are for editing.

5. Displaying directions

I always have my directions for Work on Writing and Word Work displayed on the Promethean Board throughout my literacy rotations.  I keep the directions short and sweet for students to refer to.  If directions are posted there are no excuses for students to interrupt my small group with questions about what they should be doing. 

6. Keeping track of turned in work

Students turn in their completed Word Work into this bin.  Only teaching language arts is amazing because I have less papers to check every week.  This bin is a LIFESAVER!  All of a student's turned in work is in one place.  I can quickly check the bin every afternoon to see who I'm missing word work from as I complete my check list (compliments of Ladybugs Teacher Files).  Our school requires a Thursday communication folder.  Each week I am able to grab each students' work straight out of the completed work bin, check it, and stick it in their Thursday folder. 

I hope you found this helpful!  Please feel free to leave a comment or question below. :)

Top 10 Classroom Set Up MUST HAVES!

This year I am setting up my third classroom in my third building.  Though the way the room is set up is different, there are 10 things I find to be absolutely necessary no matter where or what I teach.  So... here are my classroom set up MUST HAVES!

1. Anchor Chart Focus Wall- This isn't a full picture of the wall, but you get it.  I have seen this on Pinterest with border instead of colorful tape.  I used Scotch Expressions Tape because it is thinner than border, therefore saving space for more anchor chart frames!  I had space for 5 on my wall.  I used black paper, blue duct tape for the border to hold it on the wall, and hot glued clothespins to the top of the duct tape border so we could change out anchor charts easily throughout the year.  My kids knew where to look for go-to important information.  It was also a HUGE favorite for my administration ;) 

2. Wring Process Clip Chart- Our current language arts curriculum no longer makes time for writer's workshop. (It's a real shame.)  I found it to be extremely difficult to find time to meet with my students to conference on their writing pieces and keep track of where each student was in the process during process pieces.  A writing process clip chart is a MUST!  Students were able to see which of their peers were available to edit with and I was able to quickly see who was ready to meet with me. 

This is one of my TpT items. Click the picture to purchase!

3. Turned In Work Bin- Seriously, this changed my life last year!  I cannot tell you enough how awesome this is!  I bought a portable file box, added file folders with each student's number, and voila! Student work was already organized by student and it was super easy for me to take home their work and not have to worry about losing it.  My school last year also required Tuesday Communication Folders which included important PTA notices as well as student work with feedback to go home.  The turned in work bin made Tuesday folders super easy because all I had to do was go through each student's folder, add feedback to necessary papers, and stuff folders.  This also eliminated any issues with students who could not seem to remember to write their names on papers.  I tried the "No Name" wall, but often times the ones who didn't write their name also didn't care to check the wall for their work.

Click the picture to download the freebie in my TpT store.

4. Student Check In/Out- After teaching routines and procedures I allow my students to leave the room freely to use the restroom.  I did start keeping a bathroom log by the door due to some students taking advantage of that privilege so I could have documentation for parents.  Anyway, I bought a baking tray, sanded it down, and spray painted it to add some color.  I used wash tape to section it off.  I made the magnets with pebbles from Michael's, puffy paint, and circular magnets.  This was a great way for met to see where students where at all times if they weren't in the room.  Students were able to check and see if another boy or girl was already in the restroom because I only allowed one boy and one girl out at a time.

5. Crate Seats- Looking to add some extra storage and extra color to your classroom?  Buy some colorful crates (I have seen bright ones at Walmart and Target around back to school time), wood (Lowe's and Home Depot usually will cut to size for you), fabric of your choice, staple gun, and pillow/quilt stuffing from a fabric store.  Make sure to have the squares of wood cut slightly smaller than the inside of the crate where it will sit since you are adding fabric.  These crate seats stored extra student supplies all year long and provided extra seating at my meeting area. Every year just reupholster with new, clean fabric.

6. Command Center- Last year I bought a white bookshelf from Target to put by my door.  I stored items that needed to go in and out of the classroom easily.  Examples: breakfast envelopes, breakfast trash bags, copy folder, library book crate, bin for borrowed items from other teachers, box tops container, nurse passes, etc. (I will update with pictures as soon as I can get back into my classroom)

7. Daily Papers Storage Bin- These plastic drawers are a great way to organize the items you will need every day.  I keep my whole group papers, read aloud, and items I need to set out for new independent work stations in these drawers.  This is a great way to ensure all of your items are organized just in case there is an emergency and you have to call out or you're running late and your neighbor teacher needs to get something out to get your students started.  I can't tell you how many times my grade level chair or a teammate said to me, "I needed to borrow a copy of the activity to run my own set and I knew exactly where I would find it in your room."  I also loved hearing from my neighbor teacher, "When your sub stated she couldn't find the papers for the day I knew she was confused because your stuff is always so organized.  I just pointed out the drawers."  I LIVE for those moments. haha. 

This photo is not from my classroom.  I have different labels on my organizer, but this is how I labeled my drawers.

8. Large Calendar- I bought this calendar pack on TpT from Lovely Little Learners two years ago when I taught Kindergarten.  It was nice to have a large visual calendar for my kinders, but I didn't realize how useful it would be for my 2nd graders.  I would write our specials, due dates, etc. in the squares.  My kids always looked to the calendar to see important dates and loved when I updated it each month so see the important days for the new month.  I used Scotch Expressions Tape to set up the blocks.  It does take a while to tape up evenly, but I truly believe it's worth it.  If I didn't I wouldn't have set it up in 3 different classrooms!

Click the picture to go to Lovely Little Learners' TpT page for purchase!

9. Don't Lose Your Papers!- As teachers we are handed important papers all day long and we have no time at all to put them in a safe place.  For me, these papers are safest on the wall near my "desk."  Last year I used push pins on a cork board strip that was on the wall.  I don't have that in my room this year, so I found this gem at Target in the Dollar Spot section.  I can't nail anything into the wall, but I'm going to use Command hooks to hang it so I can continue to clip up important papers.

10. Small Group Materials Storage- Last year I bought this 6-drawer rolling organizer at Michael's on SALE!  It was such a steal!  Nonetheless, Each of the top 4 drawers are for small group books,  graphic organizer copies, word study cards, etc.  I keep this right next to my kidney table and have easy access to each group's materials.  In the bottom two drawers I store extra graphic organizer copies and dry erase sleeves. This year I will be team teaching so I am wondering if I'm going to want to purchase another to keep my AM & PM classes separate. Hmmm.

On Amazon they have the colorful version as well as one with black bins!

Happy organizing!