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The Brown Bag Teacher

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Storing & Organizing Hands-On Materials

Being a first-year teacher, there are so many little milestones that you celebrate…the first day you’re home by 5:30, the first time you send out a newsletter without a parent response, the first time a student calls you “mom”. This week I celebrated a fantastic another milestone – the first time I’ve had materials of my own to store! 🙂 It’s a nerdy celebration, but one that makes me smile.
At the beginning of the year, I purchased stock in plastic containers to create my classroom library, but didn’t need any other storage containers because I didn’t have any materials to store -ha! Now, with 2.5 months left in the school year, I could justify purchasing storage containers for my hands-on materials (literacy centers, in-class activities, task cards, etc.)
Through Home Depot, I picked up these awesome Sterilite Clip Boxes {they were each a dollar less expensive at Home Depot than Amazon or Target). The quality is awesome and I love that they are wide enough to fit a manila envelope. The clips actually stay closed, and they stack SO easily.

Up to this point, I has been saving my materials by week. As I have started preparing to review past units, I struggled to find my hands-on activities. (i.e. What week did we introduce text structures???), and knew I needed to start storing my materials by topic. I keep all of my exit slips, packets, homework materials in binders, but task cards, games, sorts didn’t fit easily in a binder.

To label the containers, I chose 9 largest units that we cover in 5th grade reading, plus 2 general ‘fiction’ and ‘nonfiction’ containers as catch-alls. In these more general containers, I keep general comprehension activities, character trait task cards, and prerequisite-skill activities that don’t fit into other categories (i.e. cause and effect).

I used labels that coordinate with my Mission Organization: Black and Yellow pack, so everything was easily accessible! {I’ll be adding these labels to the pack later tonight!}

Inside of each container, I’ve included the materials, so they’re ready-to-go into our literacy center or small group bins. That means answer keys are attached, there is a rubber band holding everything together, and step-by-step directions included.

Then, in the 12th unnamed bin, I’ve put supplies that always go ‘missing’ during literacy centers. This way students have immediate access to them and don’t have to hunt. Our mysteriously-missing supplies include game boards, EXPO markers, erasers/socks, dice, and playing pieces!

I love the way these containers turned out and really like having easy access to the activities my kids love {hands-on activities!}. Since I  know we definitely need to review theme soon, I can just grab the box and quickly make a game plan or see where we’ve already been. I know this is such a silly milestone, but it is one that makes me feel a little more like a real teacher. 🙂 Plus, the organization-goodness makes my obsessive-heart happy!

How do you store your hands-on materials? Do you have a favorite storage container? If so, I’d love to hear about it!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tammy Smith says

    I love this idea!!!! I am new to 5th grade this year, and I have a tremendous pile of literacy center stuff shoved in bags, in drawers, and in cabinets. After seeing your organization system, my mouth started to water. I bought some bins, and I also purchased your Organization packet. However, I did not find these AWESOME bin labels. Did you add them to the pack? Is there a way to get them? THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR IDEAS!!!!

  2. Kate says

    Isn't it awesome, Leanna?! I have loved all of the milestones. It makes for so many small victories throughout the year. 🙂

  3. Kate says

    Go, Deb go! I have one filing cabinet and use it to store dictionaries – ha….maybe I should work on that this summer. 🙂

  4. Kate says

    Hi Darnee! Hahaha – we'll organization is kind of my compulsion. Plus, I can never say no to an attractive storage bin 😉

  5. Darnee L.W. says

    This is awesome! I wish I'd had the presence of mind to do this when I started, heck even now, lol. Gotta look into those bins, they are the perfect size!

  9. Deb Hanson says

    I could SO use your organization skills! They look so nice!! My materials are all thrown into my two filing cabinets- some in folders, some not. Maybe this summer…

  10. Susan Kelleher says

    I love those bins! I currently have my things organized in milk crates, and I hate it! Your bins look fabulous and are easy to use! Excellent!

    Passion in Portable land

  11. Miss Lifesaver says

    I know some will think I'm crazy for this, but I never keep my task cards or other manipulatives like this because I've changed classrooms SO many times, it's just easier to be electronic. So yes, I re-print them every year. That being said, I don't worry about making them all cutesy or laminating them since I only use them for a short time. It works for me!

  12. Leanna says

    I know the exact same feeling! Its been a crazy first year in a new school and grade level. I taught kindergarten for mid-year last year, but 4th is SO different. Many milestones from my first full year of teaching. I hope you're enjoying it too 🙂

    Leanna
    lilismilee.blogspot.com

  15. Kelli says

    I enjoy organizing supplies just as much as you do! These are great! Definitely a summer to-do list with all my new literacy centers. Thanks for sharing!

    Kelli