Messy filing cabinets have always kept me from feeling like I had an organized classroom. I never had a really good system for managing my teaching materials and so they ended up in a file that I always intended to refer back to, but…I swear that those filing cabinets have always had their own lives!
This year, we have been kicked out of our classrooms during planning times/specials because we have other classes using our rooms for Spanish. That filing cabinet situation became an even bigger challenge with this new development. My awesome colleague down the hall suggested I try out binders. She was totally right! These babies are awesome!
I have only three binders. They are big. They are sturdy. Each binder contains all of my teaching materials (other than center activities) for each Trimester. They are bulky, but definitely not too big to take one out of the classroom for my planning period or to take one home for some Netflix/couch inspired planning.
I have organized everything according to the standard. Each standard is printed on an Avery label and slapped onto a clear sheet protector. I have sorted each standard into the binder according to which trimester it was to be taught.
One sheet protector for each standard. Simple.
Inside each sheet protector, I store all of my goodies related to that standard. This has made my planning a breeze!
I LOVE this system! Have you tried binders in your classroom? Do you have another organization tip?
This is a GREAT idea! When I received my first classroom this year, the previous teachers left all of their ANCIENT papers in the filing cabinets, so I cannot even put all of my stuff in there! This will definitely solve my problems! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome idea! 🙂
Lindsay Rodriguez
Just Keep Teaching
Maybe I should try that out. I have way to many papers floating around. If I don't already have a file labeled with the right theme it ends up in a random place. Then, I can't find it when I need it. Grrrr… Thanks for the idea!
Carol
Super Sparkly in Second
I love binders! I actually do a binder for every month. I love it because it lets me add more things to each binder. However, it just takes up a lot of room. I also use a filing cabinet for center pieces though. I find it hard to store those in a binder.
Krystyn
Ms Richards's Musings
Love this!! Thanks so much!. I feel that I lose track of all the different activities when it's not right in front of me. By having it in binders you are constantly reminded that these activities exist. Totally trying this.
Ha ha! I can totally relate to antique papers from previous teachers overwhelming a filing cabinet. That is why a filing cabinet system NEVER worked for me!!!! When I couple that with the CCSS, this morphed into a perfect solution 🙂
Alyssha