Trick or Treat Blog Hop 2015

I'm so glad you have joined us!  A huge thanks to Rachel at The Classroom Game Nook for hosting this blog hop. It has been a work in progress for months and is fantastic!

I love staying organized!  What teacher doesn't?  I thought I would share the way I keep my planning organized as well as some digital organizational tricks. 

At school, I keep my materials sorted and stored by units that we teach. I put files in the cabinet and have started keeping other pieces - laminated things or things too big for file cabinet - in copy boxes labeled by month. Another teammate spent the money and purchased the plastic containers for each month. To me, the copy boxes are an easy way to save money and recycle!

Once I have pulled my copies for the week, I store them in these black stacking trays by weeks.  Sometimes, I'm copying things to use 2-3 weeks out to try to stay a little bit ahead of the game. Then I can use these ideas to write my lesson plans. 

When it's time for the week,  I take the huge stack and sort them in these yellow bins by day of the week. Each afternoon, I know where to find everything for the next day. Also, it I have to be out for some reason, my teammates know where to find my materials - all ready to go. 

Here's a sample of my lesson plan for this year. I always make a template to match my weekly schedule and fill in everything I want to be consistent from week to week. This takes out a lot of time in the future since I don't have to write lunch, specials, centers, etc. Find your free editable copy  {HERE} in Google Slides. 

Each year I go back and forth about typing all my plans on the computer or writing the ever hanging plans with pencil. This year, I bound my pages at school and am choosing to write my plans each week. So far, it has been fine and helps me stay organized. I like it - and hey, the plans are for me right? :)

Here's my whole "desk" area

And here's how I stay organize for reading groups. You can read more about that {HERE}. 

Well, thanks for sticking with me this far!  I hope some of my tricks can help you be organized too! Keep reading for a freebie and giveaway!!!

I do have a fun graphing freebie for you. It contains 2 different themed - 1 for Halloween and 1 for Fall -print and go pages the kids can do independently.  I also included a dice graphing game that could be added to your Math Work Stations or center time. I tried them out in my room and the kiddos love it!

Get your freebie {HERE}

If you like this freebie, you'll probably love my new Fall Stations Pack. It includes literacy and math stations as well as a few print and go activities. I hope you'll check it out in my TpT store!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your next stop is Natalie over at It's Elementary!  Happy Hopping!!