My Teacher Bag

I have been participating in the Clutter Free Classroom Project. 

This week is organizing your teacher bag.
For all my lack of organization in my classroom, my teacher bag is quite the opposite.
Every year, I get a new teacher bag.  Why?  I don't know. 
My latest teacher bag is this beauty:

It was a gift from my sister-in-law (a fellow teacher). It just happens to be thirty-one gifts.
I LOVE IT!! 
It has plenty of pockets, for pens and snacks.

Plus, it's POLKA DOTTED!!!  My classroom theme is polka dots, so this bag fits in perfectly!
The other awesome thing about this bag, is that it is wide enough to fit my organization tools.

I can't live without my expanding file.  All my to be graded assignments go in there.  I bought this one last year, my bag just happens to match, how nice!
Then my other expanding file for the students graded papers. 

It has 25 sections, one for each kid.  I send home graded work on Tuesdays and Thursdays in a "take home" folder.  So this works perfectly for housing them over the weekend, and their already sorted.

Here it is all packed and ready.  There are also a couple of teacher manuals and my lesson plan book in there too.

How do you organize student work that goes home?

Happy organizing!

EmilyK

Too Many Storage Containers...

I have been participating in the Clutter Free Classroom Project.
Ok.  I know that tag line sounds strange.  Can you really have too many storage containers? 
Let me clarify.  I have too many types of containers.  Here is the photo collage of them all:

I mean seriously. I didn't know I had this many types of containers until I took pictures of them all. Some were from "inherited" from retired teachers, others were purchased, and some are from the district math or reading series.  In taking these pics I realize that I may need to look into stream lining...
My fave go to containers are the following:

I have these everywhere.  I put all kinds of things in them.
When you need Sticky clips you can take the can where you need it to go.

For book storage:



These were a splurge buy.  They are great because they fit almost all sizes of books.



I love that these fit chapter books perfectly.

For folders and files, I started with these:

Then because I couldn't find those when I needed more I switched to these:

My advice is to go through your classroom and see how many types of storage containers you have.  Could you have some that you could change out for matching?  (I know I will be doing this step for sure!)  Also, in looking at the containers it is like a progression through my years of teaching.  As a beginning year teacher I bought containers (not enough) and thought they were great.  Then over the years I needed other containers to fit different needs.  I didn't really plan for consistency, and I ended up with a hodge podge of 20 different types of containers, whether I bought them or not.  I wish I had planned ahead.

EmilyK

Clean desk?!

I have been participating in the Clutter free Classroom Project.

This week the focus was the teacher's desk.
I admit that I my desk is a MESS!  I am piler...ok I admit it.
I lucked into a head start on this task.  I started with my desk during week 3.

My principal insists that we keep our desks, so I am trying to make it work.
The first task is to tell you what I like about it.
Not much!  It holds my piles! :)

The second task is to tell you what I would like to change.
I would love a new work area!
My principal insists that we keep our desks, so I am trying to make it work.

The third task is the changes I have made.
Before:

After following the rules I set for myself:

This was completely empty in back. 
The money bags are for a Student Council project.
After that, the space will be empty again!

I purged 14 files of paper!

My one big issue is still the top of my desk.  I had this much available space last week.  I tried to clear a corner.  I just haven't dedicated myself to that...yet.  Week 5 I will start to take care of that.

Also this week I finished purging a cabinet.
Before:



After:

I don't know at this point if I have anything I want to put in this space!

All these went to my neighbor teacher:

The last task is my advice for others who are trying to clear clutter.
At first I thought I just needed to organize what I had in a better way. 
When Jodi kept talking about not just rearranging, but purging things, I was initially hesitant.
My concern was misplaced.  It has been great seeing what I don't need anymore.

The other best piece of advice I can give is tell your co-workers you are trying to declutter.  My fellow teachers have been great at supporting my effort and asking what I have purged.  (Believe it or not they knew I was cluttered!) 

Good luck!
EmilyK

Multiplication Ain't No Repeated Addition

Yesterday, I and several other teacher leaders from across the district, had PD and I learned something that shocked me.
Multiplication is NOT repeat addition.
Ok, I am no Master Mathematician.  In Common Core language, I lack a mathematical mind.  (I mean it, I have never had this.)
So I have always taught math trying to avoid teaching formulas or having only one method. 
(Teaching the topic in multiple perspectives is an idea from my dad, did I mention he teaches Accounting at a university.)
Well, back on topic.  The 5th grade teachers were talking about a new term they were going to be teaching the kids, scaling. 
What is scaling you ask?
Well I Googled it, and this is what I found: Multiplication Ain't No Repeated Addition
The long and short of it.  I sat there thinking "I HAVE SCREWED MY STUDENTS UP... FOREVER!"
Of course, I know that's not true.
Apparently, multiplying whole numbers this strategy works well.  When it comes to multiplying fractions with other fractions, this does not work as a strategy. 
As a third grade teacher, how have I fixed my mistake?  I explained to my students that we are going to have repeated addition as a strategy, but when they get past 3rd grade, this strategy will NOT be an option, because the numbers will either be too large or too small for this to be a good use of our skills.

Please tell me I was not the only one who has taught it this way?
EmilyK

4 days of decluttering

I have been participating in the Clutter-Free Classroom Project.
Ok, so I have been working on this post all week.
On my first day to declutter, I have opted to take on my desk drawers first.  I started last week with this drawer.

Tuesday morning, I jumped right in.  I started with my marker basket.  If they didn't work, I pitched them.
Then I made this discovery.  Look at all this masking tape.

 Well I vowed to keep no more than 2.  So I slid them all on my arm, and walked them down to the community supply closet.  As I walked in the office, the school secretary asked what had happened to me.  You see from a distance, all this tape on my arm looked like a cast!
Here is al the stuff I happily purged on day 1:

Look decluttering can make you rich. $1!!!

Wednesday, I tackled another drawer and I did not take pics of it.  (I was a little too ashamed of it.)
My neighbor teacher said it best, when my grade level met and saw the mess, she said, "I always love seeing your desk.  It makes me feel better knowing I am not alone."
Look what I found:



I should have moisturized hands!

 

I have been looking for these batteries since BEFORE winter break!

Here is the wonderful after:

Thursday, I insisted upon making progress with the top of my desk.  I have again carved out about 2 square feet. 



This may not look great to some of you, but it has come leaps and bounds!

It's much prettier from the students point of view!

Friday, I excitedly tackled a couple of shelves in my tall closet.  They were picture perfect.

Look, room for my new Vera Bradley purse! 
Believe me this was packed before.

Can you see the empty part of the shelf?!

I also pawned a stack of copied material off on my neighbor teacher, because she plans to actually use it.  Yeah!  Look at how much space that opened up:

Reflecting on Week 1 of the Declutter stage, I found it helpful to take on non-paper related drawers.  Those will be for the weeks to come.  Also, I don't miss any of the "stuff" I got rid of! 
If you are someone who is in the declutter stage, Good Luck!  It's ok to let stuff go.
If you are not trying to declutter, maybe you should think about at least cleaning that one drawer. (You know which one!)

One final thought, I promise we will be posting next week about some new stuff.  Not just clutter.  Though it has been a great (albeit) time consuming challenge.

EmilyK

4321...Rules to Declutter

This is another post for the Clutter Free Project
All week I have been assessing my classroom.
Looking for ways to declutter. 
Thinking of rules I can make for myself. 

Here is what I came up with:
4  Questions to ask yourself about the items in your classroom:
    -When did I use it last?
    -Is this something I will use again?
    -Where will I keep it?
    -Is that the best place for it?
     (Note the hanging file, that isn't being properly utilized!)

3  Paper copies will number no more than 3.  (I can't commit to be all electronic at this point.)
    This is my attempt to purge extra copies of things.  I have a binder system for most paper copies.
    So I will store a copy electronically (when possible), a copy in my binder, and the original (if its in a resource book.)
    *The environmentalist in me is really nervous about this one!

2  Supplies of 2, is all I will do. 
    I discovered some how I have 5 staplers. (All of which worked.)  Why?

   I had tons of tape.  Why?

   I am lucky enough to work in a school where we have a communal supply of these types of items. 
   So I can go get more, or I can go find it from another teacher hoarder.
   *Beware 4 pen containers, I am coming for you.  2 containers will do!
     
   Here is my drawer after following these new rules:

1 Mantra
   If you get an item out, put it back as soon as you are finished with it, in the place you got it from, so you can be clutter free! 

I hope this helps someone!

EmilyK

Are you triscadecaphobic? (plus a freebie)

Ok, I may be in the minority, but I like Friday the 13th. 
It may have something to do with the fact that my classroom
number is 13. 

I have planned a Friday (half day in my district, YEAH!) full of
activities using 13.  I have attached one of the activities.

13 people

Also, I am presenting for the first time at staff development tomorrow.
Wish me luck!!

EmilyK