If it’s SUNDAY..
It’s time for
Nibits for Newbies
This week’s theme…
SPRING CLEANING!
Not your house..not your closets..
It’s time to CLEAN YOUR CLASSROOM!
Now I don’t mean put on the gloves and scrub down the walls.
( Might not hurt to have some rags & cleaners though. )
So where, oh where, to begin?
YOUR PAPER FILES! UGH!
I know…start here.
I have been called many things..
PACK RAT,
KEEPER of EVERYTHING,
A “Professional” Piler..etc..etc…
But it’s time…time to
THROW IT AWAY!
Grab a JUMBO Garbage bag ( actually two )
and get started.
Here is my criteria:
If a paper can be printed from my computer
RECYCLE IT!
(I can always print another one!)
If I have NOT used it this year…
OR last year..I usually give myself two years..
TOSS IT!
( You won’t miss it..I promise!)
Clear out EVERYTHING..files, crates, BINDERS…
IT IS LIBERATING..and SCARY ( What if I need “that”? )
It’s on my computer..
that is NEXT!
Computer FILES!
I create file folders on my computer so I can find my documents fast & easy!
First I do ELA & MATH
Then I do this:
ELA
..Qtr 1
…August/Sept/Oct
…Aug> Back to School
…Aug> CVC
….Aug> Handwriting
etc.etc. etc
I create folders within folders.
This way I can go directly to BACK TO SCHOOL
OR
WHAT AM I DOING IN AUGUST?
I can also go directly to Johnny Appleseed…
Same with MATH
…Qtr 1
…August/Sept/Oct
…Beg Year Assessments
…Numbers to ten
etc..etc..etc..
Takes a little time…BUT SO WORTH IT!
Then when I need the masters ( because I already RECYCLED them)
voila! 🙂
SUPER SUGGESTION…
Back UP all of your files on a memory stick!
Better SAFE than SORRY!
MATH MANIPULATIVES!
UGH!
My nemesis!
OK…reality check.
Do YOU have math manipulatives
YOU JUST DON’T USE?
The little teeny tiny ones some publisher somewhere thought kids age 6 would
LOVE to use?
( USE FOR WHAT? TEETHING..FLIPPING…THROWING???????)
BAG them, Pack them up, BOX them, STORETHEM AWAY!
I can teach most math lessons with a few cubes, white boards, & smartboard.
I don’t need 700 little beans!
GONE!
The “tissue paper” booklets SOMEONE thought my firsties would need to practice fact families!
(PUBLISHERS…little fingers need CARD STOCK!)
And so…away they go!
I try to keep this to ONE box.
Don’t want to store this either.
and LAST for today..
Classroom library!
Should be this…
Don’t let it go to this… 🙂
Can be messy!
Really take a look at WHAT KIDS ARE READING!
Old ones? DONATE!
Torn ones? FIX
Need to level? I suggest LEXILES!
( Redoing mine this summer..We use DRA/Guided reading levels)
CCSS is all about lexiles..
Learning As I Go! 🙂
And so ..a little cleaning will make your teacher heart happy!
There is MORE..under the cabinets, construction/ writing paper, the dreaded
Storage drawers…I really don’t know what’s in the BACK of those drawers!
And so on & so on!
Enjoy the weather..spend a little time each day…recycling
and HAPPY SPRING CLEANING!
