0 Getting Ahead of the Game

Please note: This post includes Amazon Affiliate links. 

My first year of teaching, I literally lived and planned my lessons day-by-day. It was hard for me to think ahead and get ahead. I had concepts down like hey I think we'll learn about verbs this week, but I had a hard time actually planning and preparing an entire day before that day actually came. {It wasn't so much that I didn't know what I was going to teach, it was more like I didn't know what to do with all the materials/worksheets/activities that I was going to teach with.} My second year was about the same, because I started over in a new grade. Now that I am in my third year of teaching, I am STILL *trying* to get ahead of the game. I don't know if it will ever truly happen, but I am determined!! This year has already been so much better. I've worked out a system that helps me get at least one week or more ahead and I love it, because I LOVE the feeling of being prepared!!! 

In the picture below, you will see that I have a file for every day of the week. 

In each file I put the activities/worksheets for that day.

I keep all my daily files really close, in fact they are right in my desk!!

 I have a {small} filing drawer that I seriously couldn't live without.

I have separated the weeks by color, because I am such a visual person. Right now, I am on the blue week, so all of my activities/worksheets/lessons for this week are ready to go in the blue folders. I am also preparing for the red week and sometimes I put a few things in the purple week. Each Monday I try to get things ready for the next Monday, on Tuesday I try to get things ready for the next Tuesday, etc.  I love having everything ready to go and it makes me a much nicer teacher! 

I use these hanging file dividers to separate each week. 

I found them at OfficeMax {here} and I think they're pretty awesome.

I realize that this system isn't perfect and there are probably a gazillion ways to get organized, but this is how I get it done! It is so important to be prepared when you are a teacher. I find that when I am better prepared, then I have time to focus on the things that really matter!

Materials Needed:

Hanging File Folders - 3 different colors, 5 of each {click here}

Hanging File Folder Dividers, 3-Pack {click here}

Lots and LOTS of Paper Clips {click here}

File Tote {click here}

Also, with the election today, I have been reading this book to my students. 

They love hearing about our different presidents. Click {here} to check it out!!

How do you keep things organized in your classroom? Please share!!!

Detail: Getting Ahead of the Game

0 my classroom ♥

 Hello, Friends! I have been so busy in first grade, that I nearly forgot about this little ol' blog!

I have so many fun things to share with you... some in this post... and many that will be coming soon!

Here I am on the first day of school. I always have the first day butterflies!

Here is my classroom, I haven't changed much since last year... 

It's still a carnival/circus theme, which I love, because of the bright colors.

P.S. My cute mom and mother-in-law made those adorable chair covers - I love them!

Here is my desk... nothing fancy, but completely functional.

I love the sign above that says, "Whatever you are, be a good one."

It makes for a great writing activity later in the year.

I love my newly organized library! 

Thanks to my sweet friend, Erica Bohrer, and her awesome labels. 

Click {here} to check them out!

My rug area just might be my FAVORITE part of my classroom. 

It might be my new rug and awesome easel, but I think my bulletin board has a lot to do with it! 

You can read more about my calendar wall {here}. You can also read more about my popcorn wall, that you can see a little sliver of, {here}

I am so thankful that sweet Cara created her awesome number posters this summer!!

 They are perfect for my Math Wall and way cute, too. Click {here} to check them out. 

I also threw in some of my graphing posters, which you can also check out {here}. 

You can read more about my math wall {here}.

I haven't changed much about my magnetic art wall, except for the magnets. Instead of writing all my student's names with a paint marker, I used my awesome Cameo and cut out vinyl to fit each one. Before applying the vinyl, I painted them all black and glued a strong magnet to the back. They turned out so cute!! My husband thought I bought them from the store... :)

Until I get some student artwork up, I am using Hope's adorable subway art pack! Everyone who comes in my room compliments how cute her signs are! My favorite one is the one that says, "I am in the business of being awesome." LOVE! Click {here} to check them out for yourself.

You can read more about my magnetic wall {here}.

My sweet friend and new colleague made these cute windmills for me! Aren't they adorable?

I got these buckets from the dollar section at Target and the labels from Peace, Love, and Learning. Click {here} to download them for yourself -- they are free!

At my parent meeting, I handed out these bookmarks to each parent {thanks again to my awesome Cameo}. I like to remind my parents that their involvement is vital to reading success. 

I got the idea from A Place Called Kindergarten {here} through Pinterest.

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

At the parent meeting, I also put these hearts on my classroom door. Each heart had something we needed for our classroom on it {pencils, paper towels, glue sticks, etc.}.  I have awesome parents this year and every heart was taken and many donations were given!

These are the poster cards I sent to my new students before school started. 

You can download them from my TpT store {here}.

In a few weeks, I will be adding a smart board to my classroom!! I cannot contain my excitement! :)

It will be a Promethean Board... Any tips or resources will be greatly appreciated!

BTW: I shared a sneak peek of my Halloween unit, that I will be releasing soon, on my FB page. 

Click {here} to check it out and "like" my page.

I hope you all have a great week!

Detail: my classroom ♥

0 how to create your own teacher binder

Do you have a teacher binder? What important things do you keep in it?

In my teacher binder I like to keep my weekly planner, curriculum information, student data, important school documents, and parent volunteer information. It is so nice to have all of these important documents all in one place. If you don't already have a teacher binder, I would highly recommend one!

My binder really isn't anything fancy. This year I am using a small 1 inch binder I got from Target {here}. I plan on taking this thing everywhere, so I don't want it to be too bulky. If you want to make your own teacher binder, then basically any binder will work, as long as it has a clear, front pocket for the cover. I'm really picky and I like the plastic covers that are totally see through {I hate the fuzzy plastic look}. If you hurry, you can probably get your binder cheap at a back to school SALE!

To divide each section, I used 5-tab index dividers that you can find at almost any store.
Click {here} to check them out.

And of course, everything teacher-related needs a cute cover right??

Click {here} to download your own binder cover. 

The font I used can be found for free {here}.

1. PLANNER: The picture below is a sample of my weekly planner. I will be printing this schedule off each week so I can make any necessary changes to it. Things change SO FREQUENTLY in first grade, which is why I can't print it all off at the beginning of the year. You know what I mean... it would be out-dated mid September! I created this template in PowerPoint and you are welcome to use it! However, if you are looking for something that is more unique to your schedule, check out A Teacher's Plan {here}.

Click {here} to download your own weekly planner in PowerPoint. 

BTW: It looks crazy in the Google Docs preview, so be sure to actually download it to your computer.

2. CURRICULUM: In this section, I will be keeping all of my curriculum maps, so I can make sure I am staying on track and teaching my students what they need to know! At my school, we use the Houghton Mifflin reading program and the picture below is a year long schedule that I will be following this year.

Click {here} to get your own reading schedule.

Again, It looks crazy in Google Docs, so be sure to download it to your computer.

I am also going to use Rachelle's Math and ELA Common Core Checklists that I purchased on TeachersPayTeachers. And let me tell you friends, IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Click {here} to check out Rachelle's Common Core Checklist. 

I don't have pictures of the next sections in my teacher binder, for obvious reasons,
so I will do my best to share what I put in each tab.

3. STUDENT INFO: This is a good place for class lists, student phone numbers, assessments, grades, etc.

4. SCHOOL INFO: In this section, I put important school documents, calendars, etc. {All those papers you get at the beginning of the school year that you don't know what to do with, but you know you should hold on to them... } This section is important, because I usually lose these papers!

5. VOLUNTEERS:  I keep all volunteer information in this section. These papers are important to keep close by just in case I need to contact a parent volunteer for whatever reason. It is also nice to know who is coming and when! Basically, these are documents I don't want to be scrambling for at the last minute!

I am sure there are many other things I could keep in my teacher binder, but I have learned that these things are the most important to keep handy and readily available.

UPDATE: I've created a Teacher Plan Book that will help you stay organized all year!

Click {here} to check it out!

Detail: how to create your own teacher binder