The Perfect Storage Container
Organization is music to a teacher’s soul. When things in our classroom have a designated home, students take better care of the resources, we know exactly where to find them, and it adds a sense of calm to our learning spaces! From math centers to morning tubs, I’ve found THE perfect storage containers and today I wanted to share the goodness with you.
Throughout the post, you’ll find Amazon Affiliate links, which means Amazon tosses a few nickels my way if you purchase something through that link, at no extra cost to you, that help keep my corner of cyber-space running and helps fund giveaways!
Math & Word Work Choices
Classroom Storage For Morning Tubs
Morning Tubs are a paperless morning work choice that offer my students the opportunity to work cooperatively with their peers during those first few minutes of our day. Our tubs are filled with lots of manipualtives (reading and math). While students are ‘playing’, they are also engaging with academic tools in a non-threatening way. They have the chance to explore new words with our phonics dice, they can make silly sentences with our sentence puzzles, create words with our letter tiles, conjure difficult math problems with the base ten pieces, and create 16-sided shapes with our geoboards.
I use these medium clip-top bins for morning tub bins. They are much smaller than the large bins and SUPER deep. They are perfect for storing lots of manipualtives, cards, or materials. (Read more about our Morning Tub routine here.)
Classroom Storage For Math Materials
I have 30 cubbies in my 1st grade classroom and use the last 4-6 cubbies for Daily 5 and Guided Math storage. I store things that I want my students to have access to in these cubbies because they are 1st grade sized. Even if completely stacked, students can reach the top bins.I clearly label every bin so my friends know exactly what to grab and where to put materials back. This helps keep things organized and allows students to be in charge. My friends know that anything with a label can be touched by a 1st grader. If a bin doesn’t have a label, they need to ask me before touching! (The bins on the left are size small, the ones on the middle are size medium and the ones on the right are size large.)
Themed Books
Each week, our classroom bookshelf hosts a different series or book theme. (I’ve share more about our Weekly Bookshelves here.) Many times these books go directly back into our classroom library but other times times they go into the large tubs, especially when they are seasonal books or books Levels O and higher! Again, I snagged a set of 6 large Sterilite bins to store these books!
Indoor Recess Choices
Through Donors Choose funding, our classroom was blessed with TONS of indoor recess choices. From Legos, to MagnaTiles, to K’nex, to Interlox, we have so many options when rain and cold weather come. I’m using these new DEEP tubs to store our pieces and they are perfect because they allow lots of little hands to grab at one time. Plus, the large opening makes clean-up a breeze.
Where Can I Find These Classroom Storage Containers?
- Amazon – sets of 6 (Right now, they are on sale for $3.15 a piece…a STEAL!)
- Home Depot
- Dollar General – in stores only
- Target – only carries them in green in stores and blue online
Does an organized classroom make your heart skip a beat?? I’d love to hear your favorite organization bins and tubs. There can never be too many bins!
Get Free Teaching Resources!
Join me for weekly classroom updates and free resources that are just-right for your guided math classroom!
Ashley says
Your room is always so organized! I imagine your kiddos know exactly where to find and return all of your classroom supplies and teaching resources. I also love these bins, especially because my kinders can open and close them with ease!
Karen Frey says
What an amazing giveaway!! All of you ladies are so sweet <3
Thank you for the chance to win!!
Judith says
I just bought the 6 pack large tubs. They are so awesome! Would love to make the morning tubs! What a great way to start the day.
Allison Adams says
How do you display your library that kids read or pick books from? Do you use tubs ? What do you use ? Loved all of your ideas – ready to sell containers I won’t use and buy/order yours ! Thank you so much for your ideas !
Catherine says
Hi Alison! You can read more about our book displays here.
Lindsey Pintar says
Hi! Silly, simple question, but how do you attach the labels to the bins so they stay on and continue to look so nice? Glue? Tape? Hot glue?
Thanks so much, love, love your organization!
Lindsey
Catherine says
Hey Lindsey! I use craft Glue Dots and they stay!!
Jessica says
Do you have editable labels for the bins?
Thanks!
Angie says
I love your storage idea. Can I ask where you got the storage unit/shelf at? I’ve been looking for one that has the deep tall shelves like that.
Thanks,
Angie
Susann says
hello I have two storage containers and a craft room how to sell to get red of at least one container would an organizer in ct. do it or show me how to
. I beleve the problem is not knowing how to sell it on line the correct way
First Class Containers says
Thank you for sharing these storage solutions! The use of stackable bins to maximize space is an excellent tip. I’m definitely going to reorganize my classroom using these ideas.