Organizing Centers...Target to the Rescue!

If you ask me, organization is a personal thing.  There are so many ways to be organized and to store things, yet there is no single way that is superior to another.  We have to find what fits each of us the best.  That being said, I'm going to share with you how I plan to store my center materials next year and explain why it will work for me.  Maybe, some parts will work for you too!

Students love center work but the parts and pieces that need to be stored are annoying!  To me, anyway.  Last year I tried storing things in binders.  Didn't work.  I've tried manila envelopes-yuck. And, even gallon sized ziploc bags-ewww.  None of those ways were presentable looking enough, and accessible at the same time.  So, this next year I plan to use something that, I think, will suit my needs.

In my unexpected obsession with centers last week, I hightailed it to Target thinking I might want to invest in some expanding files.  No way! They are too expensive and I would have needed too many. As I walked in circles around the office department insisting that there must be something I could use, I found these:



Bankers Boxes!  The best part, you get two boxes for $7!  Yippee! 

I will store each center in a file folder inside the box.  The contents of each folder will look a bit like this:

Note: I'm OK with using baggies as long as I don't have to see them.  Tee hee!  By the way, the quart sized bags are perfect for those slightly larger pieces you might have.

Having everything contained in this box is presentable, contained, and yet accessible.  There are no bent envelopes or crinkly bags to have to look at.  Yay!  I will keep the box in the closet where the rest of my center materials are stored.  Here's a look inside one of the boxes (so far).


Some centers obviously won't fit in these boxes.  I'm talking about those activities with parts and pieces (magnetic letters, etc).  I store those kinds of materials in pencil boxes in large plastic crates (in my closet).  Again, things look presentable and contained, yet they are easy to get to.  Sorry, no pics because we are banned from school until the week before school starts.

Speaking of parts and pieces, take a look at these manips I plan on using in my word work center next year.  The blingy letters are from Target (.99 cents in the scrapbooking aisle) and the punch out letters are from the Dollar Tree.  As I mentioned above, they will be stored in pencil boxes.  I placed each set of punch out letters into baggies and then put the baggies in one pencil box.


There you have it, yet one more way of keeping things organized!
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5 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!! I tried to email you back from your comment notification only to find out you weren't on there :) check out this link if you'd like for people to be able to find you :) http://mrsstanfordsclass.blogspot.com/2012/07/excellent-post-about-comments-and.html BTW your finds are adorable!!

    Jessica

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  2. Love the boxes!! I've been looking for something to put my extra books in that I store in milk crates above my cabinets...a HUGE eyesore!! These boxes would be PERFECT!!! Thanks for the tip! Headed to Target right now!!

    Kim
    Second Grade Savvy

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  3. I love this idea!! I have my centers in ziploc bags in baskets right now & the messiness of it is driving me crazy! I'm going to have to make a trip to Target for this. Thanks for sharing!
    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure

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  4. Love the box you found! I hope you got a good price on it.

    April
    Wolfelicious

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  5. Woohoo for Target! I am your newest follower and I nominated your blog for two awards! Come on over to pick them up and don't forget to check out my giveaway...$25 Target Gift Card and an item from my TpT!

    Teaching Joys

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