I have a confession to make. I am an organization junkie. I have photographic evidence. After posting this picture on my Facebook fan page this week, I realized I am not alone {though one reader did think I was perhaps suffering from OCD}.
The thing is, we’re really really busy as teachers. If our classrooms are organized, we save time in the end because we aren’t digging for things we need. This is the first year I’ve taught with centers so I’ve found myself spending tons of time creating centers. Whether I’m designing them myself, or just printing and assembling ones I’ve found on TpT, it takes SO MUCH TIME! I don’t want to have to do this every year. I needed a system.
So I went to Walmart and bought a tub for each month. Then I labeled the tub using cute Scrappin’ Doodles monthly clipart. I made myself sit down and sort through all of my ziploc bags of centers. I had them roughly grouped by skill, but broke them down by months to make it even faster next year. I put them in piles by month before putting them away. This helped me see which months needed a few more centers so I really know what I need to make or buy this summer.
But then {this is where the sickness takes over!}, I couldn’t stop. I needed room for my center bins on my shelf, but in order to do that I needed to move my binders of resources and curriculum. My filing cabinet at school was full of old things that I rarely use and would be the best logical option for the binders. I knew it would get worse before it got better, but it was time for the junk to go so I could have the much-needed storage for my current set of resources. I’m ashamed:
I warned you. The picture is deceiving because I was shooting straight down on the piles. They’re huge. I had every lesson plan book since I started teaching in there. I ended up with a rolling trash can full of junk and only saved a handful of items.
Why am I showing you my dirty little secret? Because I feel so much better! I didn’t need that junk and it was in the way. I feel like teachers have this “must save the things!!” mentality because we tell ourselves we might need it in the future. It took me *years* to finally toss the stuff I had inherited from the teacher who retired from my room when I started. I felt guilty getting rid of it, even though it was old and just sat in the closet. I put it in the hall and marked it “free” but no one else wanted it either. There comes a time, friends, when you have to let it go. Now look at these gorgeous things. 😉
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| Out of order because I keep the current month on top |
I think it was time well spent. =)
Before you go, I wanted to pass on a $15 gift card to you. A new company, Educents, is offering $15 to everyone who signs up before they launch on April 2nd. No strings attached and you enter with your email address. You can use your gift card once they open for 30-90% off educational products for parents and teachers. I’m excited to see what they have to offer next month!
Looks good! I started to do the same thing, but I never finished it. Now I am motivated to purge and finish! Thanks
You can do it!! =)
OH! You have inspired me! It looks so good!!! I think I see a trip to Walmart in my near future! 🙂
Cynthia
2nd Grade Pad
That last picture looks so great! I have a (small) filing cabinet filled with extra copies and things I haven't looked at in ages. I know I should just purge it, but I feel so guilty!
Sarah
MissKinBK
Give yourself permission. Get rid of it!!
I made my trip to Wal-mart and my labels last night. Now to head to my classroom to organize my math stations! Love your new bins!
Samantha
Thanks! Good luck with yours. 🙂
I love the bins and labels. But this is definitely a summer project for me (along with switching over to binders from files).
Looking From Third to Fourth
I also made the jump to binders for some of my reading and writing workshop files. It's a project, but so worth it. Summer will be here before we know it!
H yeah. Definitely necessary. Especially since we're in the middle of switching over to common core. Very inspiring. Thanks!
That should say "Oh yeah." 🙂
I NEED to do this! Looks great.
Kathy
KS and her kids
Ok now come do mine! 😛
Jivey
ideas by jivey
Ohhh — we would so be friends !!! I LOVE organizations!!
Organizing is one of my favorite hobbies! I love this post! I'm your newest follower 🙂
✿Sue✿
✿Science for Kids Blog✿
Christi- you have no idea the type of nervous feeling you just gave me thinking that I need to do this RIGHT NOW! I wish I could pause teaching and blogging just to spend a day organizing like you did. 🙂 j/k… but you DEFINITELY motivated me. You're so incredibly organized and I love your totes!
Jessica
Second Grade Nest