Operation Organization #3: Monthly Bin/Library Bin Labels

Ahhhh organization, one of my absolute FAVORITE things in this world. {Is that sad?} Anyways, after screaming, crying, & dancing around the house for a few days following news that I was hired {Insert crazy dance moves again!}, I decided I should start tackling the build-up of boxes that had slowly conquered the basement over the past 3 years. I knew I wanted some sort of monthly organizational system, somewhere I could file away seasonal projects, books, decor, etc.

My classroom has something unique, at least unique to me, that takes up a bit of space, but allows for some storage as well. My room has lockers. Yep, second grade classroom with lockers INSIDE the room. These will obviously be used as my kiddos' cubbies, but there are extras that I can also use for my own storage purposes. All along the top of the lockers is a large shelf, perfect for some tote-sized bins. ;)

Here is my little locker nook of my classroom. 

{This was taken the first day I was able to get in, I just randomly took pics of everything, so please ignore the open locker & stuff on top. My OCD self is trying my hardest to do the same ;)}

Here are the bins/bin labels I came up with to store on top of my lockers. 

I will update with a picture of the bins on the lockers, once I get into my classroom in a couple of weeks.

Remember, I'm trying to stay out until closer to August! :D 

My bins fit PERFECTLY on the left-hand side of the shelf, leaving the whole right-hand side available for further storage. Yay!

To create my monthly bin labels, I simply created 5 different slides in MS Powerpoint.

I uploaded a turquoise chevron background {to match my color scheme} and added a text box labeling each bin with 2 different months. I also added some cute theme-based clipart according to each month, from My Cute Graphics. 

Ps. Can we talk about how OBSESSED I am with My Cute Graphics? FREE page borders, clip art frames, and the most adorable clipart on the planet. Ugh. Love.

The font I used for my labels is: Wish I Were Taller.

I simply printed my monthly bin labels on cardstock, ran them through my laminator, and attached them to my bins using Duct tape. 

You can find my Monthly Bin Labels in my NEW Teachers Pay Teachers Store! :)

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Crafting-In-Cardigans

Also available in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store are these Library Bin Labels with coordinating individual book labels.

For my book bins, I printed my labels on cardstock, ran them through my laminator, cut them, and hole-punched them onto binder rings. During my student teaching experience in kindergarten, my mentor teacher had her books organized by season/holidays, etc. so that she didn't need to have a MILLION book bins, but could rotate her stock of books instead. I place all of my book labels on binder rings and rotate through according to the month/season/holiday.

By placing the individual book labels on the backs of my books, students are able to match up their clipart on their book with the clipart on the book bin labels, making for a MUCH more organized classroom! 

Head over to my TPT Store to see what else I have uploaded! :)

Happy Crafting!

- Kristen

Operation Organization #2: Teacher Toolbox

I have been SO obsessed with getting everything done for my classroom sidetracked by school lately, that I feel like summer is slipping out of my hands so quickly. :( I can't help myself from working on little projects here & there {ALL OF THE TIME}. I've tried to stay out of my actual classroom until closer to August, but it certainly doesn't stop me from tackling projects at home.

One project I've seen ALL over Pinterest is the "Teacher Toolbox" in all of the many designs and styles that are possible. I knew I wanted to create my own version as soon as I saw this organizational dream, because I am not going to have a teacher desk in my classroom this year. My classroom currently does not have a desk in it, because the teacher prior to my arrival did not have one, and I decided I wanted to keep it that way, instead of hauling one in from the storage room. It will really help to keep my {kind of small} classroom opened up & create more room for the kiddos!

To start: I found a few different toolbox ideas on Pinterest that I really liked. 

This toolbox is from Ms. Lilypad's Primary Pond and she has her labels for FREE. 

I was going to use her labels {they match my color scheme}, but decided I wanted to use my drawers for different purposes.

This is the toolbox I purchased from Lowe's. 

It is the Stack-On-22-Drawer Storage Cabinet. 

This toolbox is SUPER affordable: $16.97, but super difficult to locate in the store!

I searched "Tool World" for a good 10 minutes before finally giving up and asking someone. 

For future reference: they're located in the organizational/storage aisles. 

{At least in my store}

I knew I wanted my toolbox to be brighter than the dark blue shade it comes in, so I also purchased some spray paint while at Lowe's. 

{I honestly don't remember what shade, and can't find where I put the can ... I'll update once I locate it!}

I also created my own labels for my toolbox, based on what supplies I knew I would be using most frequently and wanted organized. 

Create, Teach, Share is an AMAZING blog that started the whole Teacher Toolbox craze. This is where I found the dimensions for the toolbox labels.

Dimensions for the toolbox are:

{14 Labels} H: 1.38" x W 2.00"

{8 Labels} H: 2.12" x W 4.25"

Just create text boxes in MS Word or PPT and edit the dimensions up on the toolbar. Fill-in whatever you want to label your drawers and voila! 

I added some multi-colored chevron backgrounds to mine, just by searching "multi-colored chevron" in Google Images.

Here is my Teacher Toolbox! :)

{I am lovin' her}

Some of the boxes are hard to read in this picture, but the labels include:

{Large Labels}

- Glue

- Post-its

- Markers

- Highlighters

- Pens

- Pencils

- Stickers

- Stickers {Seasonal}

{Small Labels}

- Staples

- Tape 

- Rubber Bands

- White-Out

- Push Pins

- Stamps

- Ribbon

- Binder Rings

- Small Paper Clips

- Large Paper Clips

- Eraser Toppers

- Small Binder Clips

- Large Binder Clips 

- Band-Aids

If you are interested in making your OWN Teacher Toolbox, head over to my Teachers Pay Teachers store for a FREE download! :) http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Teacher-Toolbox-Labels-1337320

The font used for my labels is: KG Second Chances Solid. {Free download at DaFont}

I just printed my labels, cut them out, and attached them to the inside of each drawer using a small piece of tape on either side. You could also use double-sided tape, but I didn't have any, so I used what I had on hand. :)

Happy Crafting! :)

- Kristen