Sunday 3-2-1 Summary Week 8: #mtboschallenge

I'm doubling up today with this post for the #mtboschallenge Sunday 3-2-1 Summary and the Sunday Scoop with Teaching Trio.

Welcome to the #MTBoSChallenge!  Each week there are two options: 

           On Saturdays, you can choose to blog on a weekly prompt.  This week's prompt is about sharing Organization Tips.   No worries if you didn't blog yesterday, you can still submit your post on organization using the linky at the bottom of that post.

           On Sundays, you can choose to blog a Sunday Summary of your week.  The idea for the Summary is to provide you a way to reflect on the past week or share what you are looking forward to this coming week.

     Feel free to choose either option (or BOTH!), add it to the linky on the bottom of this page and don't forget to tweet it with the hashtag #MTBoSChallenge as well!

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An InLinkz Link-up

#mtboschallenge Week 8: Organization Tips

This is Week 8 of the #mtboschallenge on twitter.  The challenge is to blog once a week for the remainder of 2014.  Each Saturday there will be a different prompt shared to blog about.  The prompt will be shared prior to Saturday on twitter using #mtboschallenge  You can link up on my blog (or any other blog that shares the link up). Also share your blog post on twitter with #mtboschallenge .  You can copy the following graphic into your blog post.  Each Sunday @druinok from  Teaching Statistics will host a 3-2-1 Summary prompt where you can blog about anything you choose.   Feel free to join the blogging challenge on either Saturday, Sunday, or both days.  We really hope you join the challenge!

The prompt for this week is to share any organization tips you have.  Please check all the blogs that link up and leave comments.  

Previous Posts on Classroom Organization:

• Papers
• After School Routine
• Daily and Class Files for Absent Work
• Classroom Conduct
• Passes
• Photos of Classroom Set-Up
• Managing Paperwork

Last Spring I ordered a kidney table with some voucher money I had from mentoring another teacher.  Unfortunately the person who was supposed to order the table never did so I came back to school this August to discover it had never been ordered.

It finally came in a couple weeks ago and I had to figure out how to organize things so I would be able to use it for small groups (the whole point of ordering the table), but also have necessary supplies at my fingertips.

I <3 this table!

I can fit five students around the table which is the maximum size of a small group I would pull.  I love that when students have questions now they come and sit right down at the table. This is for sure my favorite piece of furniture in my classroom.

My planner, MATHia folders by class, other files

I keep my desk pad on the table and put everything out at the end of the day to get ready for the next morning. 

Desk pad, Seating Chart/Class List Binder, Daily File

I struggled with where to put my daily files, but decided I needed them right near me because throughout a lesson I will grab what I need from the file and that way I never misplace anything important. I love my pop up post-it holder,  I am constantly grabbing a post-it to write something down.  I now need to stock up on pop-it post its because despite my vast collection of post-it notes I have very few pop-up notes.  If you know me, you know I love any excuse to buy post-it notes.  LOL  I also keep a stapler close by.

Daily File, Stapler, Pop Up Post-Its, Supply Caddy

Mailbox, Passes, etc

I knew I needed some sort of caddy for supplies.  I bought this at Office Depot/Max and I am loving it.  My favorite thing about it is that it spins around.  Everything that I consider a necessity is at my fingertips. It doesn't hold my full marker collection, but it's a start.

Pencils, Highlighters, Ruler, Scissors, Eraser, Passes, Binder Clips

Classroom Key Chain, Paper Pads

Paper clips and Post-Its

Birds eye view of my spinning organizer

Nameplate, paper, mailbox

I have a small trapezoid table next to my corner bookcase where I keep absent work files, kleenex, and the electric pencil sharpener.  I need to get some hand sanitizer ASAP based on the amount of coughing in my classroom lately.  Some days I feel like I'm teaching in a petri dish full of germs. I put a fun little pumpkin decoration on the table.  I'm going to do a separate post this week on all the cute fall/Halloween decor I've put up in my room.

Absent work files, kleenex, pencil sharpener

Close up of the absent work files

Turn in basket and Extra copies file

Another view from behind

I'm looking forward to reading everyone's posts on organization.  I'm always looking for tips to make myself more organized so I can maximize my time at school.

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An InLinkz Link-up

Currently October

I'm linking up with Farley today for her October currently.  Make sure you check out her link up, you will find posts from hundreds of teachers.  Reading everyone's Currently posts is always a fun way to start out a new month.

Listening:  I'm usually the first one awake every morning so I always have some quiet time to start my day.  I usually check through social media at this time, but want to start using that time more productively as a prayer/devotion time to start my day. Once my husband wakes up and comes downstairs he will turn on the TV and watch the local morning news.

Loving:  Everything about fall.  It is my favorite season.  I love spending my Thursday nights and Saturdays watching my three boys play football.  I love that it's finally getting chilly enough to feel like having a Pumpkin Spice Latte or Peppermint Mocha (soy no whip) at 9 AM when my little plays.  The weekends are the best.  I love lighting my Autumn Wreath Yankee Candle while I do some schoolwork or housework.  I also love fall baking and cooking.  This is the perfect time to make chili or meatloaf, two of my favorite fall/winter meals.  I could go on and on about everything I love about fall.  There's nothing like the crisp cold air, leaves changing colors, and a trip to the pumpkin patch. I'm looking forward to all the fun things we have planned this month.

Thinking:  How I cannot wait for our annual fall trip to Door County, WI.  It's my "happy place" and it's become a tradition that we go there every summer and fall (sometimes Spring).  The boys all love it and we have our favorite two resorts we stay at.  We've been there so many time we have our favorite shops and restaurants that we have to go to. Trying to schedule our trip around football has become a challenge as the boys get older.  Next year our oldest will be on Varsity so that will make it extra challenging. I look forward to our Door County trip as my #1 favorite thing about fall.

Wanting:  Yesterday I spent my prep decorating my room at school.  I have a few finishing touches to put up today.  This weekend I need to finish up our home decor so my husband can take the storage containers back downstairs.  I also want to do some fall baking and cookie decorating. My family appreciates home baked goodies.

Needing:  To start working out again.  That will be on my definitely to do list this weekend.  I belong to a gym that I haven't been to since summer.  Now that the weather is crisp and cool I'd like to start going for walks in the evenings.  I just need to start doing something!

Trick-or-Treat:  I think the Dollar Store is a great place to find really cute super inexpensive Halloween decorations/goodies.  I went there a couple weeks ago while my little was at football practice and picked up the cutest window clings, magnets (well those were a bit cheap), and other goodies.  I will have to take some photos of my classroom and add them to this post because I have acquired quite a few Halloween decorations for my classroom over the years.  My students do love it when I decorate and make positive comments about it.

Hope you all are enjoying fall as much as I am. I'm hoping to add some photos to this post later so feel free to stop back.  Have a great day and spectacularly spooky October!