IT'S ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR!
  • // Welcome //
    • Meet Lindsey
    • Classroom Tour
  • // Blog //
  • // Connect //
    • Contact Lindsey
    • Get Featured

GET ORGANIZED...or at Least START Out that Way!

8/6/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
It's back to school time, and while my classroom may look like a bomb went off by the end of the year, or STEM challenge goodies may be strewn about during maker time on any given day...I like to AT LEAST START the year organized. No matter how "Type A" you are, or how hard you try, keeping a perfectly organized classroom is nearly (if not completely) impossible.  I always tell myself that the best I can do is to SET UP THE ROOM to NATURALLY ENCOURAGE organization, and then maintaining that organization throughout the year is much easier.

The only problems are time, cost, ease of use, and classroom practicality. It takes a LOT of trial, error, and frankly wasted time, energy, & money to find what really works for you & your room.  Soooooo, I like to get super clever, and even "cheat" a bit when it comes to clever classroom storage solutions. We can NEVER have too much good storage in a classroom, so sometimes you have to look at ordinary items in different ways to imagine how they could be used for storage in your room.   Keep reading & pop on over to my Scholastic Top Teaching blog to see how I made the following my FAVORITE storage solutions that have stood the test of time! 
  • Laundry bags = LICE PREVENTION (and a neater space)
  • Dollar store containers for...well...pretty much everything
  • Thrift store finds as cute, durable storage to match my room theme
  • IKEA Magazine racks make GREAT STUDENT MAILBOXES!
  • Kitchen & food storage goodies that serve fabulous class storage purposes
  • Hardware finds that are great for math manipulatives
  • Home goods that make the room more cozy & hold TONS of stuff
  • Office supplies that find a great home in the classroom for executive functioning


// SNEAK PEEK of my Clever Classroom Storage Solutions //

See the slideshow below for a quick look at how I used bargain finds, household goods, thrift shop surprises, and unusual items for CHEAP & EFFECTIVE classroom storage!
*NOTE: Each individual picture is linked directly to specific blog posts about how I used that tool in my classroom last year.  Just click and you'll be redirected!


// Get ALL of the Juicy Details //

I've curated all of my best tried-and-true clever classroom storage solutions from over the years in these two Scholastic Top Teaching blog posts! I had so many great tips, tricks, & techniques, that I busted up the collection into two separate posts. Quick lists of items for your storage treasure hunt & their awesome...even UNUSUAL uses are listed out simply to help you grab-n-go with some back to school organization....without the hassle or cost!
Picture
Picture


// Follow ALL of my Scholastic Top Teaching Adventures! //

Don't miss out on my Scholastic Top Teaching blog posts for the 2015-2016 school year! Click the image below to go to my Scholastic blogger page and subscribe to updates!
Picture


Picture
Picture
Follow

Be an IEMD INSIDER!

* indicates required
2 Comments

5 Things I LOVE about My New Teacher Bag: 5 For Friday

9/26/2014

6 Comments

 

// That's my bag, baby! //
{Insert Austin Powers Here}

Picture

Oh, How I love my New Teacher Bag....
Let me count the Ways...5 Ways, to be specific!

I am a bonafide, undeniable, pack-horse bag lady! I have been since high school, and don't see that habit changing any time soon. This year I invested in a new teacher bag and sure am glad I did! This bag and utility storage accessories from Thirty-One Gifts is the answer to all of my pack-mule teacher prayers! Special thanks to my friend, former teacher, and Thirty-One rep, Vanessa, for helping me choose the perfect tote!!
Picture
Picture

1) Size & Durability

Now knowing what a pack-mule I am, it's no surprise that my teacher bag needs to be as big as possible and tough enough to pass for a Ford F150. Between my MacBook Pro, iPad, notebooks, teacher planner, life planner, folders, bags of pens/pencils/sticky notes, and a few personal items...I need a bag that holds a ton, but is still manageable to haul around back and forth to school.

This Thirty-One Zip Top Organizing Utility Tote is the PERFECT size. It holds everything I haul home from school, plus more and has storage options both inside the bag and around the base of the outside. I have yet to TOTALLY fill the space inside and out....but it's only September. I'm SURE that I'll find a way to fill it to the brim by May! 
Picture

2) Design & Details

Function is foremost, but let's be honest....I want a cute bag. I'm luggin' this puppy around to and from school daily and want it to be bright, cheery, and full of pattern. A monogram is a HUGE bonus, and the brightly colored handles, make this bag my daily ray of sunshine!  It's such a cute design that I {almost} don't mind how heavy it is or the RIDICULOUS amount of teacher stuffy I need to tote home to complete on a daily basis!
Picture

3) Strength & Durability

Now that you've had a glimpse at the junk I'm haulin' each day in this, you shouldn't be surprised that I bought this bag because it's super sturdy. The strong, wipe-off fabric, reinforced base, nylon double-stitched handles, and grommet reinforcements means this bag can "take a {teacher} licking" and come back for more!
Picture

4) Functional {& Cute} Accessories

Ever noticed how the larger your purse {or in this case, teacher bag} is, the more DISORGANIZED it becomes!?!?!?!  That drives me nuts! Luckily, Thirty-One offers super functional, sturdy, portable, and let's not forget--CUTE--accessories. 

I purchased the Fold -N- File tote to insert into my jumbo bag. It's the perfect size to hold file folders, my planners, and my zipper pouch of tech devices. Better yet...it also features two exterior mesh pockets and two cutout round handles so it’s easy to carry. PS--LOVE the cute coral gingham pattern!  

I also picked up this Pocket-A-Tote, which feeds through the grommet holes and can hang on the inside or outside of your bag. It's the perfect place to store small necessities like chapstick, gum, or car keys.

Picture

5) Pockets Galore!

I've already raved about the overall storage this bag provides, but the external pockets on both the bag itself and the Fold -N- File tote insert are so incredibly useful! I wasn't sure how much I'd use these at first, but they are worth GOLD. Umbrellas, my glasses case, water bottle, quick storage for keys before putting them away, and about a million other items find their ways into these pockets for instant easy access. 
Picture

// Want Your OWN Bag, Baby? //

If you're looking to replace your existing teacher bag, give my gal pal, Vanessa a shout! She's super fab to work with and has REAL TEACHER insight into needs for teacher totes and must-haves when ordering for school functionality. 
  • Check out her personal Thirty-One site HERE.  
  • Her  Personal Customer October Special: Host an event in October that earns over $400 and the hostess receives a FREE surprise gift from me valued at over $60! 
  • See her hostess incentives & rewards HERE. 

Picture
Picture
6 Comments

Clever Classroom Storage Solutions: Part 1

8/22/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Check out my Scholastic Blog post for 5 Fab tips on clever classroom storage solutions!

I love quick, cheap, effective ways to store the plethora of "stuff" in our classrooms and help keep organized amongst the mess that daily classroom life brings. Below is a sneak peek of my post this week on the Scholastic Top Teaching Blog!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments
    Picture

    // CONNECT //

    // SHOP TPT //

    Picture

    Be an INSIDER!

    * indicates required
    Follow

    Picture
    Picture

    MEET LINDSEY

    I'm a teacher, wife, mother, bargain hunter, 
    & blogger...constantly searching for ways to be creative & connect!

    Picture

    Find Me On
    // TPT //


    FAVORITE THINGS

    Picture
    Picture

    ERIN CONDREN

    Click HERE to get $10 off your Erin Condren order!

    SITE DESIGN

    Love my site? I create custom designs for Weebly sites. to chat about rebranding your site through design, & check out Weebly's ease of use and TONS of features by clicking below.

    SHOP NOW

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    PHOTO LOVE

    Picture
    Follow me on Instagram

    PIN-TASTIC

    Visit Lindsey Petlak's profile on Pinterest.
    Follow me on Pinterest

    CATEGORIES

    All
    5 For Friday
    9/11
    About
    Back To School
    Bargains
    #BEASTMODE
    Behavior
    Blog Categories
    Blogging Besties
    BRANDING
    Centers
    ClassDojo
    Classroom Decor
    Classroom Environment
    Collaborate
    Communication
    Connect
    Contact
    Contribute
    Currently
    Decor
    ELA
    ELA Centers
    Elementary Entourage
    Elementary STEM
    Erin Condren
    Events
    Executive Functioning
    Explore Site
    Fab Fashion Friday
    Fab Follower Freebie
    Family
    Fashion
    Favorite Things
    Festivals
    Fitness
    Food
    FREE
    FREEBIE
    FREEBIES
    FREE Downloads
    Get Featured
    GIF
    GIVEAWAY
    Giveaways
    Goals
    GoNoodle
    Grammar Centers
    Halloween
    Hands On
    Hands-On
    Health
    Information
    IPad
    Lesson Plans
    Lifestyle
    Link Up
    Linky Party
    Makeasplashvegas2015
    #makeasplashvegas2015
    Manic Monday
    MARKETING
    Marketing Maven
    Math
    Math Centers
    Meal Prep
    Meals
    Meet Up
    Meet-Up
    New Students
    Notecards
    Organization
    Parental Engagement
    Peek At My Week
    Planner
    Planners
    Poetry
    PRIZE
    Products
    Projects
    RESOLUTIONS
    Sale
    Scholastic
    School Spirit
    Science
    SLANT Box
    Social Studies
    Stationery
    STEM
    Stitch Fix
    Storage
    Sunday Savings
    Sunday Scoop
    Supplies
    Target Giveaway
    Teacher Crush
    Teacher Life
    Teacher Planner
    Teachers Pay Teachers
    Team-building
    Technology
    Tech Tips
    Themes
    TIME MANAGEMENT
    TPT
    TPT Seller Challenge
    Tptvegas2015
    #TPTVegas2015
    #tptvegasstyle
    Treat Yo' Shop
    Trendy Teachers
    VALENTINE'S DAY
    Volunteer
    VOTE
    Welcome
    Wellness
    Wellness Wednesday
    What I Wore
    What The Teacher Wore
    Winter
    Wordless Wednesday
    Work It Wednesday
    Work Stations
    WTTWW

    ARCHIVES

    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014


    LINKED UP

    Picture
    Picture
    GoNoodle Inspiration Blog

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

// BLOG DESIGN BY LINDSEY PETLAK // IMAGES - GT WALLPAPER //
  • // Welcome //
    • Meet Lindsey
    • Classroom Tour
  • // Blog //
  • // Connect //
    • Contact Lindsey
    • Get Featured