Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
Organize your classroom on a budget. From labeling to sorting supplies, this list of must-have, inexpensive classroom organization hacks will help get your school year off to a great start and keep it tidy all year:
Colorful Plastic Caddies
Plastic caddies have multiple uses in the classroom. Place materials in them for easy science experiment or art station set up. If your students sit in groups, use the caddies to store necessary, daily utensils and supplies. Use them for art supply storage, math manipulative storage, or to simply organize your desk. I purchased my caddies from Target in the dollar bins ($3 each). I have also seen them at various dollar stores.
Milk Crates
Milk crates are a perfect fit for folders and files. I use one of my crates to store Student Data Folders when we are not recording in them. When I need to lug around supplies, I tend to use a milk crate. When topped with a homemade cushion, milk crates make great seats and benches (see Pinterest for millk crate seat ideas and tutorials). Stack them for use a classroom library (ziptie each crate together for stability and don’t overfill). I found some durable milk crates on sale at Target when all of the college dorm items go on sale.
Binders
Binders are great way to organize just about anything paper-related. Use them to file away your master copies, one binder for each subject or hour you teach. A substitute binder makes preparing for your absences a cinch. Archive student work in student portfolio binders. Store absent work and extra copies in a classroom binder for students to access as needed. Binders also make tracking student data simple. Label your binders with these free, editable, printable binder covers and spines from Curriculum Corner.
Labels, Labels, and More Labels!
This will help you and your students locate supplies and materials around the classroom in a jiffy! In my experience, if it is labeled, I’m more likely to use it; I simply forget it’s there! I found several free, editable, printable labels on TeachersPayTeachers.
While plastic drawers aren’t inexpensive, you’ll see them as a savvy investment down the road. I purchased 4, 3-drawer units and will never go back to my previous method of organization. Label the drawers with each day of the week and place your lessons, materials, and other items for the day inside. Set aside drawers to label as “To Copy” and “To Grade” to help organize your piles of papers. I also use one drawer as the “Emergency” lesson plan drawer in case of an unexpected absence. Plastic drawers are helpful in storing and organizing manipulatives, art supplies, extra work, absent work, and copies for future lessons/units. Don’t forget to label your drawers!
Shoebox-sized Clear Bins
This one is a no-brainer. I never seem to have enough of these around. Small, plastic bins are one of the most versatile organization items in the classroom. Use them to store extra supplies, manipulatives, craft items, and games. Use labels to help identify what’s inside. They are easy to stack and easy for even the youngest of students to access. Dollar stores usually have these, but they aren’t great quality. I go for Sterilite and Rubbermaid brands when I can get them on sale. I also ask for these from parents in my Teacher Wish List at the beginning of the school year.
What are your favorite tricks to organize your classroom on a budget?
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Don’t have the hands-on materials you need to teach science? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many districts and schools lack the funding to furnish science textbooks, materials, and equipment. There is a solution. These websites can help you teach science interactively using games, videos, experiments, and other student-friendly activities for FREE. They are an engaging supplement to your classroom instruction. So, reserve that computer lab, sign up for those tablets, and get science-ing!
Science Kids – Enjoy free activities, experiments, games, facts, quizzes, projects, lessons, images, and videos. Students can learn about animals, biology, chemistry, physics, space, weather, and mcuh more.
SheppardSoftware – Free activities and games for younger students. Topics include life cycles, animals, the seasons, dinosaurs, elements, chemistry, cells, and many more.
PBSKids Science Games – For the youngest of our gradeschool students. PBSKids Science Games uses popular PBS characters, like Dinosaur Train, Sid the Science Kid, and the Cat in the Hat, to help teach young students about dinosaurs, nature, engineering, and animals.
Bozeman Science – This collection of videos and other NGSS resources helps teachers and students better understand the Next Generation Science Standards. Search by grade level, standard, or disciplinary core idea.
Coolmath-Games (Science) – Don’t let the website name deceive you. This small collection of free kids science games cover topics like space, electricity, light, physics, and magnets.
Kids.gov – In addition to a library of videos on many subjects, Kids.gov has an assortment of science games intended for a middle school level audience. Students, grades 6-8, can enjoy science games within the topics of animals, energy, earth, environment, invention, innovation, and space games.
Learning Games for Kids – At Learning Games for Kids, younger students can conduct science experiment games, sing science songs, amd play space and weather games.
NASA Space Place – Students of all ages will flip for these space-related games. Topics include Earth, Sun, Solar System, Universe, and Science and Tech.
Mystery Science – Free teacher memberships through June 2018! Mystery Science is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards. No prep lessons with visuals and activities for K-5th grade.
NOVA Labs – Experience the science occurring in the Evolution, Cybersecurity, RNA, Cloud, Energy, and Sun labs that provide meaningful, interactive tasks for students to complete. Students can also watch video clips on each subject. NOVA Labs is geared toward students in grades 6-12.
PhET Interactive Simulations – Free, meaningful lab experiences for physics, chemistry, biology, Earth science, and math. PhET covers a wide range of topics and grade levels.
Mr. Nussbaum – Mr. Nussbaum’s Science includes a large collection of science interactives, explanations, generators, and activities for students. The wide variety of topics is intended for students in elementary and middle school.
Turtle Diary – Turtle Diary’s science games are sure to spark the curiosity in students preschool through 5th grade. Students can explore early science concepts covering a wide range of topics while reinforcing skills through engaging activities.
Back to School Night can be a source of stress for many teachers. Make Back To School Night a little less stressful with these helpful tips:
Be Prepared Have everything ready to go the day before your Back To School Night. Make the most of your time by getting everything ready ahead of time so you can focus on having a successful evening. If you are giving a presentation, practice it several times so you appear confident and competent
Dress Professionally
You don’t want to make a bad first impression. Men should wear slacks, and a dress shirt and tie (a coat and tie is most professional). Ladies should wear a pant suit, a blouse with skirt or slacks, or a dress. Lay off the heavy perfume and cologne, but don’t hesitate to throw on more deodorant just before parents arrive.
Calendar
Provide a printed calendar and note important dates throughout the school year. Field trips, due dates of large projects, holidays, days off of school, parties, parent-teacher conferences, and testing dates are just some of the important events you should note on a parent calendar. Parents appreciate knowing this information in advance.
Curriculum and Programs Information
Your building or district may already have this information posted on a website, or available in printed form. However, it is always a good idea to let parents know what their child will be learning in your classroom. It can be as simple as making a bulleted list of concepts, or writing a short summary of what you will be teaching. Tell parents what programs/textbooks you use for core subjects. Don’t forget to include any tiered or RTI programs your school provides for students who need them.
Let Parents Know How They Can Help Create a list of things parents to do to help your classroom. You may need supplies or other materials for your classroom, and providing parents this list may get you what you need! It is also helpful to provide a list of volunteer opportunities, or a description of how a parent can help.
Communication
Don’t forget to provide your contact information. You may also want to be clear about your preferred method of communication. Explain to parents how you will get information to them throughout the year (email blast, newsletter, class website, etc.).
Make sure you have an easy-to-read schedule to give to parents.
Include the school day’s start and end times, along with any other times you may think parents will find helpful (lunch, specials, class periods, etc.).
Ways To Help Their Student
Create a list of ways parents can help their students to be successful in your classroom. This may look like a compilation of apps and websites that help strengthen skills, or it may be things parents can do with their children.
Tools
Will you be using online tools in your classroom that will need to be accessed at home? If so, provide a brief explanation of these tools.
Expectations
Describe your classroom management, class/building rules, and expectations. This includes student behavior, in-class assignments, homework, projects, policies for make-up work, etc.
Introduce Yourself
Tell a little about yourself. How many years have you taught? What grade levels and subjects? Where did you go to school? Including a few pictures may help parents view you as more personable.
Be Brief
It’s difficult to squeeze ALL of your vital classroom information into a 10-minute presentation, or onto a double-sided, 8.5 X 11 piece of paper. Stick to the items you feel will be most helpful for student success. Parents aren’t looking for a classroom manual, but rather some key points that will give them a sense of what the school year will be like for their student.
Have Fun Let your personality shine through. Incorporate a little humor, or even a little emotion, into the evening.
Students nowadays are becoming increasingly more stressed and anxious. Teaching mindfulness in the classroom can help students learn to cope with emotional and mental stresses. Students who are mindful demonstrate the ability to control their attention, remain calm, and manage stress. Student mindfulness has been shown to have profound benefits for students. Mindfulness allows students to learn by clearing their minds of the things out of their control.
There are several ways teachers can incorporate student mindfulness practices in the classroom.
Breathing Breathing exercises help to calm body and mind. Try some guided deep breathing with students to help them relax and release their worries.
Music Help students relax by listening to soothing music or other calming sounds, like ocean waves, nature sounds, or white noise.
Imagery In guided imagery, words and music can help students use their imaginations to create imaginary scenarios that may promote relaxation and reduce blood pressure and stress.
Meditation Daily meditation in schools has been linked to a reduction in suspensions and truancy and an increase in academic proficiency. It also helps relax students and promotes a sense of well-being.
Sensory Tactile items, like Silly Putty, stress balls, and Play-doh can help encourage young imaginations. Make “I Spy” jars by filling them with items that have strong, familiar smells (cinnamon, flowers, cereals, or popcorn) and have students guess the scent. Use tables covered with water, sand, or rice to focus on sense of touch.
Movement Students are movers. Incorporate movement into your daily routine as part of your mindfulness practice. Yoga is a preferred practice for mindfulness through movement. It is calming, gentle, and flowing.
GoNoodle.com – a brain break app that offers mindfulness videos
“Just Breathe” Original Film – a short film by Julie Bayer Salzman & Josh Salzman (Mindful Schools) in which young children describe their experiences with mindfulness
Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member, and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
For many teachers, summer is the time to complete projects you’ve been putting off during the school year. Exercise tends to be one of those projects. Summertime is a great opportunity to begin building workout habits. The following can help get you started with a summer exercise routine and transition into a healthy start to the next school year.
Use A Fitness App
I like Map My Run and My Fitness Pal. I can log workouts, track how far I run (along with some other stats), and count calories from food. Couch to 5K is also another free, popular app that helps you progress your way to a 5K in 8 weeks. Check out this list of The 38 Best Health and Fitness Apps from Greatest.com to see if you can find an app that works for you!
Start Small
If exercise isn’t part of your regular routine, start with just 2 or 3 days a week. From there, add on days as you feel more comfortable. You can also up the intensity of your workouts.
Keep A Routine
Find a time and day that works for you and commit to it. You are more likely to stick with something if you make it a part of your routine.
Exercise With A Buddy or Group
If you are able, find a friend or a group of friends with whom you can work out. You can hold one another accountable if you commit to group workouts. When you skip out on a workout, there’s an element of guilt added in, which makes you more likely to stick with it.
Mix It Up
For me, one type of exercise becomes boring. To combat the monotony, I use different types of exercise. Yoga, kickboxing, cardio, dance, etc., are all great ways to mix up the workout routine. You can find videos online for just about any kind of workout!
Set A Goal
What is your fitness goal? Is it to lose weight, build muscle tone, run a marathon? Establish your goal, write it on a sticky note, and place the note in a visible place you will see each day. Use an “I will” statement and have an end date. For example, “I will lose 10 pounds by July 31st.” It is also helpful to decide HOW you will meet your goal. Will you run for 20 minutes 3 times a week? Lift weights every day?
Motivate Yourself
Take selfies. I know. I hate this part. If you take pictures of yourself regularly, you should be able to see the changes in your body as you progress towards your goal. Hopefully, these pictures will motivate you to keep going. Positive self talk is also beneficial. Again, use your sticky notes to write positive affirmations to place in a visible location (“I can do this!” or “I am strong!”). This may be cheesy, but it has a surprisingly positive effect!
Tell Your Family/Partner
Your partner or family is a great source of support and encouragement. Tell them your fitness goals and plan. They can help motivate you and hold you accountable (if you choose).
What summer fitness advice would you give teachers?
If you are lucky enough to have some free time during summer break, take advantage of it. Don’t let the summer days slip by. Make the most of your summer without spending much money!
Sleep In and Take Naps
How often do you really get to do this? According to the American Sleep Association, sleep is a basic, biological need, and if we are deprived of sleep, our bodily systems fail. The average adult needs about 8 hours of total sleep time each day (ASA). So, no need to feel bad about sleeping in that extra hour or taking a quick snooze on the couch during the day. It’s for your health!
Find Free Activities
Make a list of the free festivals, carnivals, fairs, and other summer activities that your city or town has to offer during the summer. When you notice you have a free day, see what’s on the list for that day and have fun!
Exercise
Use your summer days to get back into an exercise routine. Use your break to fine tune your routine so you can transition easily into the following school year. The best part about summer is that there are a variety of activities you can do: swimming, biking, canoeing, kayaking, skating, jogging, hiking . . . well, you get the idea.
Have a Staycation
It’s time to explore your own town or city. Take a stroll through a local hiking or nature area. Visit a local museum, zoo, or aquarium. Eat out at a new-to-you restaurant. Or simply lounge at the pool soaking up the sun.
Get Outside
There are many benefits to spending time outdoors. As the Harvard Health Letter titled “A Prescription for Better Health: Go Alfresco” says, spending time outdoors will raise your vitamin D levels, cause you to get more exercise, make you happier, improve your concentration, and might make you heal faster.
Spend Time with Friends
Carve out time each week to have lunch with a friend, or a group of friends. Maintaining meaningful relationships is important to your well-being. The Mayo Clinic says there are many health benefits to having friends including boosting one’s happiness, reducing stress, improving self-confidence, reduced significant health problems, and longer life spans.
Get Ahead on Professional Development
If you have “extra” time during your summer break, think about squeezing in some professional development so you won’t have to work on it during the school year. Don’t have the monetary resources to take coursework? No need to worry, I have created a list of 6 Free Professional Development Resources for Educators.
Organize
Take a few hours each week to do that “spring cleaning” you never got around to. Focus on one room or area at a time. Purge, clean, and organize. You’ll feel like you can tackle the upcoming school year with ease if you have a clean and organized home.
