Just Admit It...

...you just got finished watching the Jersey Shore.

I can't help it. It brings me such pain joy to watch the Jersey Shore and Teen Mom. It's actually more like background noise, but I do stop my work every once in a while to watch.

I'm been spending some time off the computer getting together all of my stuff. I'm sneaking into school tomorrow so I can bring some of my stuff back, measure my desk, measure my chairs, and move everything so I can figure out how much room I have.

I normally am super picky and crazy about things I see, or ideas I hear about. Normally I have to change them up and really make them my own, but I just couldn't help but be inspired by this post by Create-Teach-Share. Omiword, I love it. I'm already scrapbooking my drawers, but this took it to a whole other level. Funny thing is I've been looking for a cute and useful set of drawers just like this. Every store I've been to has not had one I like, until I found the one in her post. I used pink, green, and yes, you guessed it... Zebra Print!! I pretty much LOVE it!!

Over at my store I posted a new Class Information Set full of goodies to use in your binder. I also posted, per request of one of my wonderful readers, a voice level chart. It's a fabulous idea that I've thought about using in the past, but I haven't ever had a problem with noise. Honestly, it ended up so adorable that I might just have to use it. There are a few other things I'm posting based off some inspirations from my FABULOUS readers!!

Ms. Wendy wanted a blank place for her kids to write their names, depending on what stage of CAFE they are on. So she's going to put this right below the posters, and they'll write on it with a dry erase marker! A new take on the idea of putting post it's under each strategy.

{Find it on Google Docs}

Ms. Tiffany used my book labels, but wanted a sign for the place where her kids return the books. I don't do a checkout system, and I have kids put the books back on their own, but I will use this for the bin where the kids bring their library (school library) books back. So sparkly... 

{Find it on Google Docs}

The class information set that took forever. I don't know why, but in order to perfect it, it took forever. These are all sheets I use constantly. There's a zebra information sheet like the one I posted a while back to hand out to your parents to write down the kiddos information.

{Find it on Teacher's Notebook}

Here is Ms. Laura's request for a voice chart. I love it to the max. It's all kinds of colorful! 

{Find it on Teacher's Notebook}

I've been really slow about getting to bigger customized items, so please stay with me if you're waiting for something. Patience is SOO appreciated. Especially while I get my stuff ready. Depending on how tomorrow and Monday go, I may have to take a customizing break. Eekk... I've been getting overwhelmed though. If you really need something quickly {like one of my bloggy friends who was up at midnight the day before school started and needed nametags} let me know and I'll do my best. Alright my bloggy peeps, I'm away to laminate some stuff while I'm deliriously falling asleep. My 400 follower giveaway is finally coming tomorrow. 

Binder Storage

So I used to use mailboxes for my little firsties. My wonderful and amazing  Aunt bought me 2 huge, awesome sets for me. I love them, but they just never seemed to work for me. The kiddos would take their paper's out and there would be a trail going from the boxes to their desk. The worst was when they'd leave important papers in there because they got stuck. It drove me crazy. Then I started using binders instead of take home folders and things got even more complicated. There was nowhere for them to store their binders.

So fast forward to 2 weeks into the school year last year. I decided I was not dealing with another year of that madness. For some reason I decided to store the binders up and down inside of 2 Steralite, plastic crates (1 boys, 1 girls). My problem was that I didn't want to put them in order every morning and I didn't want my TA to have to either, so I needed the kids to put them in order. Having firsties do that most days is impossible. There's always someone that doesn't put it in the right area, or ends up somewhere else. This was where, what I think is my best idea ever, came from (lol, maybe not the best ever, but still I'm proud!).

I have 3 Steralite, plastic crates:

 In each crate, I put 10 folders, labeled with numbers:

My kiddos have secret agent numbers, and this way I don't have to re-number than the following year. In the morning the kids come in, turn in homework, and put their binder in their folder with the correct number. They put them open side down, so the spine is facing up (I have their numbers on the spine). I even got them facing them all the same way so the numbers were always on the left. The kids always knew which color crate their number was in, and where their folder would be.

When it was time to get their mail at the end of the day, my helpers would just pass out the folders (that contained the binders, mail, worksheets, homework, projects, etc.). The kids would put their papers in their binders then I would call quiet tables to get packed up. On their way to get their backpacks they would place their folder in number order back into the crate. (Hey, BONUS!! They're practicing number order, woo!! Go me!!) It eliminated the whole papers falling all over thing, and it makes it so easy to breeze through the bins real quick to make sure all the numbers are there and no one forgot their binder (a HUGE no, no!!).

I made signs that go on the front just to help the kiddos remember which bin their binder goes into. I hope someone finds this post makes their life a little easier. If I didn't explain it, or you still don't understand, please let me know!! I would take a picture, but I don't have mine here. This is the best I can do for you :-P

Enjoy!!

STRIPE Binder Signs

DOT Binder Signs