Optimum Organization!

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend!  I know I did!!  I'm linking up with Kristen and Elizabeth for their Optimum Organization linky party!  I love being organized (who doesn't, right?) but sometimes it can be hard to STAY organized.

Here are a few ways I try to stay organized!!

The first is more for my kids than me.  I am lucky to have cubbies for each student.  I bought baskets at the Dollar Tree for each kiddo to have in their cubby.  They keep their math toolbox inside, as well as hats and mittens in the winter, lunchboxes, stuffed animals that sit and watch them work, basically anything small that could find its way rolling out onto the floor!  They work great and they look cute too! :)

This is where I keep my daily plans and activities.  The top five drawers are for Monday-Friday. I keep everything I need for that day in the drawer.  The extra drawers I use for writing paper, larger projects, or whatever I may need it for.  I have thought about having drawers for the kids to turn their completed work into (and maybe one for incomplete as well?!) but I haven't set that up yet.  But these drawers are colorful and cute and very helpful in staying organized!!  I've seen them at Michaels, but they were about 30 bucks at Walmart (super deal!!).  I want more.  I just don't really need them ;)

Here's the shelf where I keep most of my reading and math binders.  I know, most of them aren't labeled, but I know what they are!  I feel like labels would make it less pretty!!  The top shelf I have my Scott Foresman units, 6 traits of writing stuff, my month-themed book, and binders for center ideas.  The bottom shelf is Scott Foresman black lines and the rest are decodables and other books to use in reading groups.  Does that sound organized?  It may not sound it, but I know exactly where everything is! (Even without labels!) 

I have this on my desk to keep track of things I need to file or copy and for work that any absent kids miss.  I try to keep it nice and empty!

I think I mentioned this last tip in another post, but it definitely helps keep me organized.  The top shelf is all math games.  I have a basket for each addition strategy.  The bottom shelf is centers. I have a basket for social studies, language arts & reading, writing, math, and science.  The kids can choose any of these centers when they finish their work.  They are pretty good at keeping it organized!

Join in the party and share a few ways you organize your classroom!!!