Organizational OCD

I am sure this is a common ailment for many teachers, but I suffer from a bad case of Organizational OCD.  I'm not naturally organized, I have to work very hard at it, so I've become obsessed with baskets and bins to assist me in my endeavor to become organized.

That being said, I'm sure many of you have seen the rolling carts with the primary colors for storage, but if not, they look like this:

I bought them at Sam's Club for the lowest price I'd ever seen them.  Normally they are around $80 but Sam's had them for $25 so I bought two for my classroom.

 Now, unfortunately, they do not really go with the color scheme in my classroom, so I busted out the scrapbook paper and modpodge and VOILA:

Well, I decided that I'd really wished that I'd gotten some for home in my craft room/office so I went back with my fingers crossed they'd still have some and thankfully they did!  YAY! 

I think that warming up my craft muscles on the first two sets was a good idea because my set for home turned out just a tad different. Hehehe

As you can see, this time I gave them a COMPLETE overhaul using spray paint (creme and chalkboard) as well as some stencil and paint on the top.   I wanted to match them to these ADORABLE storage bins I found at Michael's last year.  

FYI: I thought that in the past I had seen these for around $70-80 but got curious and looked at a couple of teacher supply sites to see if I remembered correctly.  I did...kinda: School Aids has them for $99.99.  Now, I mean no disrespect towards School Aids, but WHOOT WHOOT!  I FINALLY got a deal when I thought I was getting a deal!  Now, that being said, I TOTALLY fell for a sales pitch on some carpet cleaner while I was there the second time, but that was only $40 and it DOES clean...just not NEARLY as well as this knucklehead told me it would.  Oh well.  I STILL SAVED MONEY!  

Curious again, after hearing that one of my colleagues went to our local Sam's Club to get some after seeing mine last week and they were sold out, I looked online at their website to see if you could order them and have them delivered to the store.  To what will likely be her dismay, but to my relief that I was not wasting a rare opportunity to get these so cheap,  they are selling them online at Sam's for $66.83.  To their credit (yeah, not-so-much), that does include shipping. ;)

Well, I need to my classroom so have a SPECTACULAR Sunday!

Deep Breath...I'm Gonna Do It!

I'm going to take the challenge!  I have what I like to refer to as "Organized Chaos" going on in my room and I am finally in the first stage of recovery.  I am admitting that I have a problem.  SO, I'm counting on the Clutter Free Classroom to lead me out of the dark, dismal clutter-filled dungeon.  Lead on, Strong Leader! 

This is my desk--though I rarely sit here, it is  the first unpacking zone of my morning.

This isn't bad as I just had to completely reorganize it before Christmas when one of the shelves gave  under the weight and spilled everything onto the floor.  

Cleaning basket on the floor for quick touch-ups.  I also just added that.  These used to be across the room under the sink.

BONUS!  My inbox was actually cleaned out on Friday before I left school.  :)

This is my actual work area/meeting area.  This is unpacking zone number two.  By the end of the day, this table is usually covered.  I can't explain it.  :(

On the stool I have all of the Scholastic Book Orders that filled my mailbox when I returned from break.  Why are they here?  No idea.  I am not sure what I'm going to do with them yet so it seemed as good a place as any, I suppose. The pink bin is how I file all of the papers that need to be returned to my reading groups.  That is actually organized and ready to disperse tomorrow in our Tuesday Folders. WHOOT!  

Another angle of my work table.

My library is in a state of...well let's just say it's in a state.  I started with the best of intentions, too, but I am still struggling with a way to ensure that the books will be returned to their proper place when a student is finished.  When I find them in the wrong places (desks, cubbies, random places in the room), I place them on a shelf to be reshelved.  Oy--that's a mouthful.

I just did some reorganization here on Friday to put the station activities in those new magazine holders from Target.  I apparently got distracted because you can see the leftovers on the chair.

The leftovers.

The shelves above my sink--not too bad.

I just moved the pillows over here b/c they were on the bottom shelves of my library and I decided that I needed those shelves for...BOOKS!  Whodathunkit?

Not bad...

This needs some attention.  It has cups, plates, mouthwash, standardized testing copies, and treats.  A bit of  a mix that makes no sense.  I should mention that I don't use these cups or plates for anything.

My writing station--not bad.  The only reason the crayons are there is because that is where I keep my stragglers and I have a plan for those using a Pinteresting idea for Valentine's Day.  ;)

Believe it or not, I've actually gone through this basket MANY times.  I have most of those copies in digital files.  Someone please tell me to recycle them?

Intended organization going slightly awry...  The folders are mostly empty, the manilla envelope is for a student who withdrew and I want all of her stuff together for when I receive her withdrawal packet.

Rarely used nonfiction resources.  I have such a hard time getting my students to choose books from over there, but you put them in the school library and they head straight to the informational books.  Bizarre.  I think I need to make it look more appealing.  I am also thinking about getting rid of the magazine rack and all of the contained magazines.  They. Are. Never. Used.

Another failing attempt at being organized.  If only I didn't have the attention span of a PUPPY! :(

And so begins the tour of my closet.  I am SO glad that this door not only shuts, but also locks.  I have made a very honorable attempt at being organized here, but it's those moments when I have to put something away quickly or those days when I can't get to it (for putting it in its appropriate place, anyway) and then INTO the dungeon/closet it goes.  :(

I can't even make excuses for what you're seeing here.

Though I know what is in each of the pink-lidded bins, I think I need to finish labeling them to feel good about them.

Buddy Read books.

Many of those portfolios are empty and the rest are storing things that I.  NEVER.  USE!  Ahem...RECYCLE THEM, KRYSTAL!!!

Hey, it's a way to store charts. ;)

Yeah--no idea, no excuse.

UGH!  Deeper in, and definitely darker!

Please don't judge me for the tops of my filing cabinets.  Again, tucked in the closet and I'm reverted back to the peek-a-boo game of childhood where, if I can't see it, it isn't there.  Hmph!

Now, as bad as this looks, this is where I store all of my empty gift bags, wrapping paper, and totes.   Certainly there's a better way...

This is actually organized!  WHOOT!

SO that's it...and now that I'd like to go bury my head in the sand, I can only hope...that there is still hope for me.

Applying My Theme

WOW!  What a bunch of work to recreate and apply my theme to things I'm already using.  I don't even know if it's overkill or just a bunch of things that only I appreciate.  Truly, I am not concerned if only I appreciate them.  The fact of the matter is that I spend a bulk of my life for over 200 days a year in this classroom and if it looks pretty to me and I appreciate it, it makes me happier...thereby making the lives of my itty- bitties (the ten year olds) and my loved ones better by default.  A happy teacher makes a happy learning environment. 
**Stepping down from my soap box.**

I made a sign (stay tuned, I'll post it below) for my classroom because even my principal stopped by during preplanning to ask me for a favor and stopped dead short in her tracks to say, "Oh, I was going to ask you to make something for me, but seeing this, perhaps I should ask someone else."  To which I replied, "Nonsense...what do you need?"  She is my boss after all, and I absolutely adore her. 

Now, what she was referring to is no surprise to my teammates.  These lovely ladies have come to expect what my principal saw every time we have an extended break.  It's a combination of my self-diagnosed ADD/OCD (or ACDDDO, in alphabetical order, like it should be).  Basically I pull everything out of my closet, shelves, drawers, bins, etc. and re-organize it. I don't know why.  It makes no sense and I wish I had complete mind control over my OWN brain to stop it. 

And THAT is what brings me to my current dilemma...why is it that I'm trying to apply my beach theme to everything this year?  Is it because I've already reorganized and need something to occupy my OCD part of my brain?  HAH!  I assure you, that is not the case.  It is because the school year is when my ADD takes complete control.  Grade papers?  But, but, but, I haven't typed that cute sign (found on Pinterest) up on the new beach backgrounds I've bought and downloaded:

Feel free to click on the poster to download it.  I won't embarrass myself by telling you how long something so simple took me to recreate.  *blush*

Have a great Sunday...I'm off to grade papers!  

Seastars, Sand Dollars, and Love,

Krystal

Sneak Peak

I've finally gotten around to taking some pictures of this year's classroom.  Here are a bunch to wet your whistle and then I'm off to bed (captions will have to be added tomorrow, folks, sorry).  It is waaaaaaay past my bedtime for a school night!

These are used to remind the students of the color code in my classroom.  Some of them have three teachers, and it can be a challenge remembering what each teacher has assigned to a specific time of day.  There are also labels on their desks with their numbers printed in the ink color that matched their period as well. 

My homeroom made quilt squares to honor the memories of the  nearly 3000 people lost to the attacks of 9-11.

This was a Pinterest modified idea.  Each roster is listed in Wordle format and posted outside of my door.

This is the Hello and Welcome board outside of my door.

I have this board posted outside of my room to remind the students  of the resource and lunch for the day.  They have about 25 minutes in the hall before entering, so they should, in theory, have read it before entering.   My Secret Word will be posted on this board beginning next week. 

This is the view of my door (the classroom side) with folders for students who were out and a couple of reminders.  The first--the BEACH sign--tells them what they should remember before entering the Beach every day.  The second is at about eye level for the seated children that reminds them that their future is in front of them (meaning the instruction/or activity in front of them, not who or what is seen in the window of the hallway).

The clipboard hanging is one that I decorated with scrapbook paper and some small shells and starfish.  It contains  my Tardy Log and is located just inside the door.  When students are Tardy, they are to sign in, so as not to disrupt instruction to report in.  You can also see the Standout Students and Student of the Month Character Traits posted next to it.

This is a word wall on which bricks containing Figurative Language will be posted.  It used to be posted outside on the hallway walls, but I've brought it in to make it more student interactive and am going to try and color code it to reflect class period.

This is my AR Stars board.  It is simply laminated scrapbook paper with an image of beach sand.  When the students take and pass their first AR Quiz, they (in theory) take off their flip flops and enter the beach to begin beachcombing for seashells.  For every passed quiz, they get a seashell sticker with their name on it and for every tenth quiz passed, they get a larger, laminated seashell placed on the board.  The smaller shells are sticker sheets that I buy at A.C. Moore and they are 27 for about $1.00 (although sometimes I find them on sale) and the larger ones are simply clipart shells that I printed and laminated last year.  The paper and larger seashells can be re-used so I am able to save the school on laminating.  The flip flops are scrapbook paper that I cut out on my Cricut using the "Life is a Beach" cartridge.

I found these signs on one of the blogs I'm "stalking" and will figure out which one and post the link this weekend.  

I have an individual reward ticket procedure and draw five tickets, randomly, each Friday.  I take their pictures in front of the board and they get a visit to my candy bin when I draw their names.   

I have a separate clipboard for each of my class periods.  I found these key chains at Home Depot and the cover pages are old calendar pages that I trimmed down and laminated for durability.

The hanging garland in front of the door I found at Big Lots, on  clearance--WOOT-WOOOOT!

I have posted these Pinteresting finds before, but here they are , in use, in my classroom.  I also have a Dr. Seuss corner so that his books are easily accessible when I need them for mini-lessons.

These are the bins where the students put their individual reward tickets.  I am embarrassed to see that I  haven't added labels to them yet.  That will  most likely change today (Mrs. Van Kampen LOVES labels).  :D

Each child has an individual bin to turn in any assignments or anything that I'd be collecting whole group.  I just realized I didn't take a picture of the flip side of these and will try to do so today after they take their vocabulary quizzes.

This is a close-up of the sign.  Ideally, the children would read it and then check their papers for the listed items before turning them in.  I truly think that the number of "Anonymous (no name)" papers has dropped, dramatically, but there are still those precious few who forget.

I saw something on Pinterest where people were making alphabets for students to use in their stations (spelling or vocabulary).  I modified it to fit my needs and this is my lunch count board.  It is an old calendar page that was a picture of a beach.  I'm not sure if the picture is as clear as I had hoped, but it was only my second attempt at making them--the first attempt I gave to Mrs. Devine to use in her room.

Here you see the board in action.  This also serves as my attendance.  This will likely be updated this weekend because I saw the CUTEST idea on Pinterest last night *insert cheesy grin here* and am just dying to get those boards home to give them a face lift!

I refer to two of these signs often:  "Nothing is never and option!" and "It's okay not to know; it is not okay not to try."

Believe it or not, this is a $5 beach towel I found on ABC Distributing.  I thought it was super cute and brightly colored so it is a backdrop behind the student computers.  The sea-art above I made and (I believe) I have posted before.  If you'd like to know how I made them, leave a comment.  I'd be happy to share the simple instructions!  :)

The top of my media cabinet has some "Personals" as well as a few of my favorite things.

More of my Teacher Desk wall area.

The wooden word phrases I found at A.C. Moore for $1 a piece a few years ago and the sign I found on one of my Blogger Stalkee's pages.  I'll post the link here after school sometime today to give proper credit.

Seastars, Sand Dollars, and Love,

Krystal