Category: Back To School

RESOLUTION: ORGANIZATION - EXTRAordinary Classroom Uses for Ordinary Items

1/9/2016

The classroom is a space that has its own world of wonders, messes, and needs. I’ve been scouring our school for the most clever, simple, and surprising ways to use ordinary items to solve typical classroom dilemmas. Discover extraordinary classroom uses for ordinary household items and office supplies. You’ll be amazed at the versatile uses, tips, tricks, and techniques for such simple items! Best of all, most of these are FREE(ish) because they are likely items you already have lying around your classroom, supply room, office, or home. Read on and use these ideas in your classroom instantly & check out my Scholastic Top Teaching posts (1) (2) to read the full post and see ALL of my tips!

// EXTRAordinary Classroom Uses for Ordinary Items //

In my Scholastic Top Teaching blog post I had so much fun highlighting items that you likely use EVERY day...but showing new, fun, and FUNCTIONAL ways that they can help you daily in the classroom. Check out a preview of these wonder-items below & read ALL about my tips on how to use them in out-of-the-box ways in your classroom:
-Binder clips
-File folder holders
-Book rings
-Garment racks & pant hangers
-Kitchen items for classroom use
-Tips from other Top Teaching bloggers, too!

// 5 Odd Items Every Teacher Needs to Keep On-Hand //

Teachers love supplies: office supplies, school supplies, craft supplies, you name it! We all have our list of must-buy items as well as wish-list goodies, but over the years I’ve come to realize that some of the most unexpected, seemingly random materials come in handy almost daily and make my life as a teacher easier. Would you believe these are on my favorites list?
-Nail file
-Zip ties
-Binder clips
-Clip-on car air fresheners

Read on to see previews of my favorite picks for odd classroom must-haves & read my Scholastic Top Teaching blog post for FULL TIPS & TRICKS!

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RESOLUTION: ORGANIZATION - Clever Classroom Storage Solutions

1/8/2016

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As teachers, we are always in need of more storage. From dollar stores, garage sales, and resale shops, to repurposing your existing items, finding new ways to store the plethora of materials necessary to run our classrooms is a never-ending teacher adventure.
Check out these easy, inexpensive, and unexpected tips, tricks, and fun finds for clever classroom
storage solutions in 2 of my most popular
Scholastic Top Teaching posts:
Part #1
Part #2

TAKE A SNEAK PEEK @ THE SLIDESHOW BELOW!

Classroom storage/organization is one of my favorite topics because it is such an integral part of the classroom environment. In these Scholastic Top Teaching posts (1) (2), I'll highlight these favorite storage finds:
-Magazine racks for student mailboxes
-Plastic Drawers
-Hardware drawer system
-Plastic food & lunch containers
-Laundry bags
-Dollar store tubs
-Home goods re-imagined
-Thrift store bargain finds
-Kitchen items for classroom uses
-Shoe organizers

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Mission Possible: Resolution to Organize

1/7/2016

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CONGRATULATIONS! You've almost completed your first week back after winter break! It's always tough, so I hope my previous posts about sharing tips for beating the back to school blues & ways to use winter-themed STEM & ELA activities to engage the kiddos on these first crazy days back were helpful!

Now, it's time to tackle those school-related New Year's resolutions. Listen. I'm the WORST at this, so take this series of posts as lessons I've learned by years of trial and failure as I attempt to maintain those goals! These are resolutions for ME RIGHT NOW...considering my room looks kind of like a disaster zone, as I did not go in to do any clean up nor organization over break. #sorrynotsorry

JANUARY IS A GREAT TIME TO:
1) Tweak your classroom setup & cover up unsightly spaces
2) Declutter & organize
3) Find new extraordinary classroom uses for ordinary items to maximize functionality & organization

I'll be posting about these tips, tricks, & techniques that I've highlighted in popular Scholastic Top Teaching blog posts to help you kick off your classroom New Year's resolutions & give you some
good ol' support!

// Tweak Your Classroom Setup & Cover Ugly Classroom Surfaces //

Check out these FULL posts over at my Scholastic Top Teaching blog!

// 5 Classroom Items I'm Glad I DITCHED //

Each year I think about and look for inspiration on how to make my classroom arrangement work better for students and our daily flow. Using trial and error, and research-based findings, I've learned that we can live (much better, in fact) without many common classroom items. Read the full Scholastic Top Teaching blog post to see my top five list of things I'm glad I've ditched in my room. Get a preview below:

Teacher desk
Overhead fluorescent lighting
Large rug
Single student desks
Multi-Colored, Busy Bulletin Boards

// Quick Covers for UGLY Classroom Surfaces //

School surfaces take a beating. Even in newer schools, but certainly in older ones, classroom spaces take tons of wear and tear. We spend the majority of our waking hours in these rooms, so we want them to look their best for our students and ourselves. You’ll be shocked at these quick and simple cover solutions for unsightly classroom surfaces. They’re so easy, just by picking up a few items (or use what you already have) you can transform your ugliest spots in minutes! Read the full Scholastic Top Teaching blog post to see these AMAZINGLY simple & effective transformations that take surfaces from BLAH to BAM!. Get a preview below:

Check back the next two days for parts #2-3 of this series! XOXO -Lindsey

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5 Odd Items Every Teacher Needs to Keep on Hand

9/25/2015

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Teachers love supplies: office supplies, school supplies, craft supplies, you name it! We all have our list of must-buy items as well as wish-list goodies, but over the years I’ve come to realize that some of the most unexpected, seemingly random materials come in handy almost daily and make my life as a teacher easier. Read on to see my favorite picks for odd classroom must-haves!

{CLICK each image below to be taken to the full article to read more details, tips, & tricks!}

1) LINT ROLLER

#2) MANICURE SET

#3) ZIP TIES

#4) CAR VENT AIR FRESHENERS

#5) BINDER CLIPS

Read my Scholastic Blog Post for FULL DETAILS and inventive uses for these 5 "odd" items to keep on-hand in your classrooms. Have you found amazing teacher must-haves for the classroom that involve odd items not typically associated with school use? If so, please share! Practical tips and tricks are much appreciated! Thanks for reading, and see you next week.

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5 Ways to Beat the Back-to-School Blues

9/18/2015

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// Here We Go Again... //

New school supplies, a perfectly clean and organized classroom, a fresh crop of students. Back-to-school is one of the most exciting times of the year for teachers! We talk about plans for our new students, ideas for classes, and eagerness to reconnect with colleagues, but what we don’t speak of are the dreaded back-to-school blues. Don’t deny it. Whether you started school a month ago, last week, or even mid-summer...I think almost everyone feels at least a small twinge of the blues as summer dwindles away and you get back into work mode. Here’s 5 ways I keep my chin up, focus on the excitement of a brand new year, and start off on the right foot when it’s back-to-school-time!

// Featured in SCHOLASTIC INSTRUCTOR Magazine! //

Some of these tips were chosen and featured in the back-to-school issue of ScholasticInstructor magazine! {SQUEAL!} Read about them below,
and check out more info in the
magazine article.

{CLICK each image below to be taken to the full article to read more details, tips, & tricks!}

#1) MANAGE MUNCHIES

#2) GIVING FEELS GOOD

PS: See my PREVIOUS post from this week for a FULL POST on my favorite colleague teacher gifts!!
{You'll see simple steps and inexpensive items needed to make super cute goodies.}

#3) GET ORGANIZED!

#4) LEAN ON YOUR TEAM & BE SILLY

#5) EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

// TPT //

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RESOLUTION: ORGANIZATION - EXTRAordinary Classroom Uses for Ordinary Items

// EXTRAordinary Classroom Uses for Ordinary Items //

// 5 Odd Items Every Teacher Needs to Keep On-Hand //

RESOLUTION: ORGANIZATION - Clever Classroom Storage Solutions

Mission Possible: Resolution to Organize

// Tweak Your Classroom Setup & Cover Ugly Classroom Surfaces //

// 5 Classroom Items I'm Glad I DITCHED //

// Quick Covers for UGLY Classroom Surfaces //

5 Odd Items Every Teacher Needs to Keep on Hand

1) LINT ROLLER

#2) MANICURE SET

#3) ZIP TIES

#4) CAR VENT AIR FRESHENERS

#5) BINDER CLIPS

5 Ways to Beat the Back-to-School Blues

// Here We Go Again... //

// Featured in SCHOLASTIC INSTRUCTOR Magazine! //

#1) MANAGE MUNCHIES

#2) GIVING FEELS GOOD

#3) GET ORGANIZED!

#4) LEAN ON YOUR TEAM & BE SILLY

#5) EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

// TPT //

// CONNECT //

MEET LINDSEY

Find Me On
// TPT //

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RESOLUTION: ORGANIZATION - EXTRAordinary Classroom Uses for Ordinary Items

// EXTRAordinary Classroom Uses for Ordinary Items //

// 5 Odd Items Every Teacher Needs to Keep On-Hand //

RESOLUTION: ORGANIZATION - Clever Classroom Storage Solutions

Mission Possible: Resolution to Organize

// Tweak Your Classroom Setup & Cover Ugly Classroom Surfaces //

// 5 Classroom Items I'm Glad I DITCHED //

// Quick Covers for UGLY Classroom Surfaces //

5 Odd Items Every Teacher Needs to Keep on Hand

1) LINT ROLLER

#2) MANICURE SET

#3) ZIP TIES

#4) CAR VENT AIR FRESHENERS

#5) BINDER CLIPS

5 Ways to Beat the Back-to-School Blues

// Here We Go Again... //

// Featured in SCHOLASTIC INSTRUCTOR Magazine! //

#1) MANAGE MUNCHIES

#2) GIVING FEELS GOOD

#3) GET ORGANIZED!

#4) LEAN ON YOUR TEAM & BE SILLY

#5) EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

// TPT //

// CONNECT //

Be an INSIDER!

MEET LINDSEY

Find Me On // TPT //

FAVORITE THINGS

ERIN CONDREN

SITE DESIGN

SHOP NOW

PHOTO LOVE

PIN-TASTIC

CATEGORIES

ARCHIVES

LINKED UP

// Home // Blog // About // Shop // Connect //

Find Me On
// TPT //