Organization-Math Common Core

I thought I'd take time to show you how I organize my math stations and math teaching materials.  Back when we taught by chapters with a Math Program, I had binders where I placed all kinds of worksheets/activities inside to go with each chapter.  I labeled them by what chapter and skill and how many days to spend on it.

{The second picture is of the binders in a box at home, not on my shelf at school.  I brought them home to organize this summer!}

Gone are those days!  I have decided to move away from "chapters" especially since we are on our THIRD program in the past 11 years.  (2 in the past 3 years..)  I've decided to create Standards Binders.  Math was easier to create, partially because I was one of the teachers who helped align our curriculum to the new CCSSs (I guess they aren't really new anymore, right?!) and math is my strong point.  {Next year we move to our "new" LA curriculum, but I can't really create binders to go with those...  We will be teaching "themes" so I will be creating ways to organize things by themes.  I'll post more on that another day, when I know I can wrap my head around it better.  I taught by themes this past year, as you know by what I've been posting and also creating.}

The binders are pretty simple right now.  (I have updated the font since last year)  I'm still dividing up my old binders and sorting them into the new ones.  In each binder, I plan to have dividers and organize them by standard, as best as I can.

As I find things, I will put it in a pile to file right into my binder.  {I WILL DO IT RIGHT AWAY!  okay.  hopefully that will help me remember that since I usually end up with a bazillion papers to file at the end of the year...} In the front of each, I have the standards for each domain.  (From my checklists)

My stations are pretty simple as well.  Since they are "themed" right now (By the way, I do plan on having some newer non-themed ones to go along with the standards---to use ANY time of the year... I just have to find the "just right clip art" if you know what I mean!  Feel free to comment below on what you'd like to see!!!)  My stations are designed to print, laminate, cut and go.  I store them all in ziplock bags.  When they are done every 2 weeks, I put them ALL into ONE gallon sized ziplock baggie and pace them in a magazine file.  {I do the same with my literacy stations too---and put them in the SAME magazine holder-so they stay together.}  My masters are just stored on my computer.  Less papers, ya know!  You can do the same, whether you bought from me or anyone.  Teachers Pay Teachers allows you to have access to what you bought forever!  Saves room on your computer.  Saves time trying to find the right file.  PERFECT!

 {Baggies containing all of my stations.  Inside each bag are other baggies with each game/station}

 {Front row of magazine holders.  Labels coming soon!  This year was spent organizing to how I like it--now I can label!}

 {Back row-I can fit 2 rows on my shelves}

 {They are tucked behind laminated poster boards that I use for displays!  You'd never know they were there!}

I am putting my binder covers and spines in this post for you to have for free.  WARNING.  I made these last year, when I wasn't so savvy (not that I am yet either...) but they take forever to print.  MAKE SURE TO PRINT AS IMAGE FOR FASTEST PRINTING! (once you click the print button, click on the "advanced" tab and find "print as image" This works for at least macs.  Not sure about PC's)   I'll try to work out the bugs.  My spines just wouldn't go into my binder either.... hopefully you'll have more luck.  I think it was the binders I bought.  They are small enough when I print them here!  So, I just laminated them and taped them on my binder.  Still looks cute ;)

 

Click on your grade level to to grab your freebie:  KINDERGARTEN   FIRST/SECOND  THIRD/FOURTH/FIFTH  SIXTH

They kind of match my Common Core Standards Checklists.  Leave a comment below with what grade you teach and I will pick a winner (or 2) to give a free Common Core Checklist of your choice!  I'll choose a random winner tomorrow night! Congrats to numbers 3 and 11.  I've emailed you!!  Check your emails! :)

Did ya know?!

So, as I was cleaning up my computer last weekend, I thought of a post to put out there to help keep things organized (which I was NOT!!)  ;)

Did ya know that if you set up a google account (it's free!) and follow blogs, you don't have to remember to bookmark them and return to see the good ideas?  Once you have an account, you have a little "reader" that has all the new posts from all the blogs you follow right there!  I didn't know that till I actually started a blog!  What does that help?  Eliminates a million, jillion bookmarks!  (which I still need to delete....)

Did ya know that once you have that google acount and you download cool freebies from our sites (that are through the google docs) it's saved in your account too???  I didn't till I started my blog....  well, it wasn't till much later that I actually REALIZED this fact-----you don't need to save it on your computer!  If you lose your hard copy, you just log into your google account and go to google docs and everything you've downloaded is there!  My desktop is now THANKING me!  I can actually SEE the cute little picture of my boys!  (Instead of looking at a bunch of overlapping files because I just had no idea what to do with them.)

Did ya know that if and when you purchase things from Teachers Pay Teachers, your purchases are saved there forever????  It's just like google docs!  No need to waste space on your computer keeping those files!

Did ya know that when you purchase something from a seller on Teachers Pay Teachers, when the seller updates the file, which most do, you can go back and download it again to get the new awesomeness???  Speaking of which---if you have purchased the Common Core Checklists from me, go back and download again!  I have a second version in the file with a less fancy font.  K-4 also has 2 duplicate sets in the file with super hero GIRLS!  (5th grade-give me a few days, if you are reading, and I should have the girls updated in yours too.  I do have the additional font updated on TPT already, if you weren't diggin' the cutesy font)  ;)  If you haven't checked out the checklists, here's one reviewer's comment: "This product is amazing!!! I have already printed it off and placed it at the front of my teaching binder! Bravo for creating such a cute and fun learning resource! Keep it up!!!"  (click on the picture to take you to my store---there you will find the checklists K-5)

Did ya know that you should delete most emails?  Most emails don't need to be read more than once!  And if it's read more than once, the second time it's read because you are deciding whether or not to delete it.....  Me <--------guilty!!!!!  This was told to us at our little in-service when we got our new laptops....  SO TRUE!  I need to live by that more!  And, if I think I may need it, I created a folder that says 2012-2013 and I will drag it into there.

Did ya know that when you leave feedback on Teachers Pay Teachers, you get credits to apply to future purchases?  Speaking of which, if you don't think I deserve a 4 on something-or aren't giving me a 4, please let me know what is wrong!  AND-if you email me, most likely I can fix it for you (if it was a problem), etc.  That doesn't mean that I can custom make things all the time, but I do like to make sure everyone is happy!  :) 

Did ya know that you have 2 days left to enter to win a bunch of really cool stuff for me reaching 300 followers?!  Click on the picture to read how and enter!