Lego Love: Storage Tips

My OCD kicked in and I decided to get my Lego tubs organized!!!! 

Last summer, I asked my Facebook friends for any Lego donations and had great success.  I ended up with a couple of large bins.  My intention was to get organized before the school year and then the year began.  We are now in November and I finally can breathe and want to get my room running more efficiently.  

I purchased this sturdy cart from Amazon.  The drawers can be pulled out and carried to work spaces. The cart is also portable and can be moved wherever the kids are working.   I am making labels for the drawers.  The drawers come in clear, black or multi-color.  I bought the clear.  I really wanted to see inside the drawers and it would also bug me if the color drawer did not match the Legos inside.

My students started sorting for me and I brought home the rest to finish.   A little Netflix, the couch and some tea made it go by quickly!  I can't wait to dump these large bags of sorted legos into my drawers on Monday.

I sorted the legos mostly by color:

• red, pink and purple
• orange and yellow
• blues
• green
• white and clear
• browns and tans
• gray and black
• people and accessories
• wheels and axles
• doors, windows and fences
• extras 

Link for Printable

I made the Lego head container out of a giant cheese ball container.  I used spray paint and sticky black vinyl.  I use it for decoration but I also store extra bricks inside.

Setting Up for B2S Middle School Style

I moved from Elementary to Middle School two years ago.  This will be my third year in fifth grade.  I really love setting up my classroom but it is so much easier and less time consuming now.  Primary teachers go above and beyond!!!  Here are some things that I do to make it even easier.

Things that I do to get ready: (If you make a to do list before you go in it helps)

#1  Clean out closets and organize...purge

I quickly go through all my cabinets and drawers.  I am still weeding down my teaching materials, if it is not science or math related, I have been giving it away.   Last year, I saved photo copy boxes and when I finished a science unit I put it in a box and labeled it.  The copy boxes fit in my closet.

Take note of materials and what you may need as you organize.

#2 Name Tags...no more labeling

I was obsessed with labels and then went to a number system in my elementary classroom.  No more!!!

I have two homeroom classes and found it hard to use numbers.  The only thing I label is their desk nameplates for the open door day.  I bought the $1.00 chart strips from Target.  The kids want to see who is in their class.  We have the kids bring their nameplates with them when we switch classes the first few weeks.  Fifth graders can write their name and label their own workbooks and notebooks!!!!  Our students share desks and they write their name on masking tape and put on inside. Buy extra sharpies!!!!  (Hint...laminate first.  If there is an error, write over sharpie with dry erase marker and it comes off!!!)

#3 Bulletin Boards..leave them up all year!!!!

There are fewer bulletin boards in Middle School.  I cover the boards in my classroom with fade less black paper and have not changed them since I moved.  I cover up over the summer.  I did update the middle board with a STEM section this year  Design boards that you don't have to keep changing.  It will save you time.

#4 Copy for First Week (3 days)...Keep it Simple

You will not get through everything you have planned.  I was looking at my plans from last year and there were so many extra things added like an assembly, school pictures, fire drill, school tour, etc.  The activities that you do plan take longer than you think.  It is good to have extra things, but it should be focused on starting curriculum, like setting up interactive notebooks, going over math practices, multiplication quiz, etc.  

Choose your B2S activities carefully.  I am doing a Math About Me Using Equations and a Fifth Grade News sheet.  I do have team building things planned as well.  (you don't want to repeat from other grades)  Start out slow and establish your routines and expectations!

#5 Planning

I like to create a pacing guide for my math and science units.  Luckily, our grade level team has created it together.  There is so much to teach and it keeps me on track.

#6 Furniture

I like my desks in groups.  We do a lot of group work in math and science.  I also want my desks facing the front board, because I use the projector for math and use many video clips.  I bought the supply carts from Target and have one for each group.  If they are not using supplies, they can be moved.  There is two extra shelves to store notebooks and anything else we need.  The carts are on wheels and can be moved.

I use a kidney table as my desk with cubbies for storage.  The teacher desk was taking up too much space and I was never at it.  I keep my lap top on a cart near the front board.  I use a student chair at the cart, because they teacher chair was cumbersome.

Have a great school year!!!!

Extra Gum Task Card Holder

I am obsessed with Extra gum and just finished my first pack in the new plastic holder. (They fit right in my car console)  The teacher in me could not throw it out.  I figured I could use it for something.  They are the perfect size for task cards or any kind of cards that size.  Now to get some more!

A Light Bulb Moment (Motivating Student Participation)

Today I was teaching a math lesson on place value.  I saw the light bulb go off in one of my student's faces and a hand shot in the air.  I spontaneously ran to my closet and pulled out my bucket of "light bulbs" and put one on his desk.  It was amazing how many hands went up during the remainder of class.

I took a photo of my student and you can see how proud he is feeling.   I am going to enlarge a light bulb and let kids sign their name on it.

I ordered the light bulbs a few years ago for writing workshop. (I am now teaching just math and science) I did a search for "light bulb stress ball" and there are many companies that still sell them.  I bought mine at Office Playground.

Here is my can I made.  Coffee can spray painted black.

Here is a link from There's No Place Like Second for the free printable

A Great Classmate (Freebie)

We had a great first week of school!  Here are the kids working in groups sharing ideas about great classmates. I had them do it independently, then in groups and as a class.  I charted them out and we used the charts to create our classroom rules.

Available for 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade

Click here for link

Pencils Problems (free printables)

Why does every lesson begin with the following...

Mrs. Hall I need a pencil!!!

I need to sharpen my pencil!

Can I go to my locker to get a pencil???

Working at the Middle School and having my fifth graders switch classes for the first time can be quite challenging. Every time I start a lesson, it is interrupted several times.  Some days it can take 10 minutes to get started.  To help alleviate this problem this year I am trying two new strategies. 

#1 Pawsitive Points

Click here for link

The purpose of this sheet is to keep all your paw points for the quarter.  I want my students prepared for class, that means they have all their personal materials for each class, including sharpened pencils. I will give them 25 paws and they can earn leveled rewards for their paws remaining.  Rewards could be homework coupons, extra quiz points, lunch with teacher, electronic time, etc.   I will work with my teaching partner to decide on the incentive for the first term.  Our school mascot is the panther and our colors are orange and black.  I am printing these on orange cardstock and they will be punched and put into their binders.

#2 Borrow a Pencil

I will keep several pencils on the board ready to borrow.  It will cost one "Pawsitive Point" to use one of mine.  The hope is that the children will be prepared and this will also allow a quicker start.  (I teach them to get things ready during homeroom for the day and sharpen when they enter the room. ) 

Click here for link

Notebooking Caddy

I am tired of my whole class getting up to get supplies when we work on our notebooks.  To help with this pet peeve of mine, I have made notebook caddies for each group.  I will put them in my cabinet when we are not using them, so supplies don't magically disappear. 

Each caddy has one bottle of Elmer's white glue, 3 glue sticks, 2 pairs of scissors, small ruler and an eraser.  I numbered each item with permanent marker (nothing fancy). I bought orange to match the glue!!!

My students are trained to bring me the empty gluesticks for a new one.  This helps make them more responsible for their items.  My glue supply lasted the whole year.  I use this technique with pencils.

Monday Made It- Pencil Holders

Click here to Linky Party

I started teaching summer school today and came home motivated to create something for my room.  I popped into Walmart and bought two bright striped metal pails that will be perfect for my sharpened and unsharpened pencils.  I needed to replace the ones I bought years ago from Really Good Stuff.  I tied lots of scrap ribbons on the handles.  I still need to cover labels with packing tape.

Click here to get the free printable on Ideabackpackblogspot.com

Fabulous in Fifth!

I am moving up to fifth grade next year.  I am so excited!!!  I will be teamed up with one teacher and my subjects will be math and science.  Can't wait to start looking for new lessons and activities for fifth graders!!!  I hope to get back to my weekly bloggging.

Help...I Need a Secretary!

One of the things that I dislike about teaching is managing the paper work.  Back to School time is the worst.  It is tough trying to manage who brought in slips, who is missing what form, what language should I send home, etc.  During the year, there is a continuous flow of permission slips, notes from parents, dismissal procedures, etc. that continue to come in.

I have used a method  for many, many years to help make it easier.  I have created a "Communication and Form Binder."  You need to get one pocket folder for every two students that you have.  Use a three hole punch and put in a three ring binder.  Number or label each pocket for a student.  I use a number system.  I could make it "Cute" but it serves its purpose...look how faded out the folders are!

As slips come in, I check them off and then place them in the right pockets.  I also save any important notices from parents and absence notes.  I am starting a communication log that I will keep in the front for any conversations about a student in person or on the phone that I might want to document.

 I also got a new idea from Ginger Snaps about sending home papers that need to be signed and returned in a special manila envelope.  I used her idea for our Open Door Day and it helped.  I typed up a sheet with specific directions for each form.  You can't miss it on the neon paper.  After two days, I am only missing three students' paperwork.

I hope this will help you.  I spent the day getting myself organized and now I am all set until next week!

Teacher Week: Where I Teach Wednesday

Welcome to Where I Teach

You will see many Pinterest inspired projects in my room.

My new lunch chart and check-in station.

A couple views from the door.

I use rotating jobs(Teaching Oasis) and here is a handy way to get organized.

Some writing materials and Partner Poetry Books.

Student's cubbies(Hope King) and soon to be Word Wall.

Bucket Fillers and Birthday iPods(Bubbly Blonde)

Here is a work station for an extra teacher in the room.

My listening center and book theme bulletin board(Beth Newingham)

My remodeled book corner.

My collection of chapter books.

The black crates are picture books and the rest are popular authors and genres.

The CAFE board(Ladybug Teacher Files) and handy materials.

A book display and Author's Purpose.

Here is My Calendar before and an after.

Math Tool Kits and Manipulatives for easy access.

Social Studies board at the end of the year and materials.

Science bulletin board(Ladybug Teacher Files) and Word Work table.

My writing center(Teacher's Wife) with many resources.

Some of my favorite projects!

                                          

                                       (Oneteacherstake)

A couple of different views of my room.

Happy School Year!!!

I'm posting for  Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Week!!!

{if you want to link up too, just right click the picture and save it to your computer}