Small Tips for Room Prep: Today was my first day back in my classroom for the new year. My classroom is my home away from home… my happy place.Room Prep with Pocket Charts
Apparently this summer I got a little pocket chart happy. I accumulated (aka purchased) 2 clear/see thru pocket charts. black pocket charts, and a set of colorful, small pocket charts that I grabbed at Walmart.
I have no plans for these just yet. But I can’t live without them! Right?
Room Prep with Borders
I also took a few minutes to add a border to my projected area on my whiteboard.
Here is my projector turned ON and with the fun border. I just think it is a simple way to make the board POP a little more.
Room Prep with Clean Bins
I also brought home ALL my supply bins to be washed at home. I wiped them down already, but I just couldn’t get them CLEAN.
And yes, I also decided to wash the scissors, too. {Someone suggested this tip to me somewhere and
I can’t believe I never thought of it before! And I don’t remember who this smart person is.}
Here is a bin that is still wet. Can you see the “stuff” on it?
That crayon and pencil left overs?
Well, it wiped off! {Remember I cleaned all these bins before I washed them!}
Room Prep with Color Coding Accessories
And if you know me at all, you know I always color-code everything. You can find color-coded bins on Amazon here. Since you guys asked… Here is an easy way to get color-coded GOOD Fiskar scissors…
I grab this classroom set at Amazon once every few years. I bought two sets the first year. They had plenty of colors so I didn’t need to purchase any the next few years. I did have to gather purple ones separately. Those were easy to find. The yellow ones were NOT as easy to find. I finally found DECENT yellow scissors here. Here is a link to purple ones as well.
And… while those supplies are cheap and esp. if you have your own personal children at home…
This saves me from buying art supplies when they are actually full price. I tuck them away behind my recipe books. I don’t cook, therefore I don’t use them. Hence, the supplies are safe!
Black pocket charts!?! Where did you find them? I am going to take a risk and dye my blue pocket chart brown with Rit dye next week. Wish me luck!!!
Amber ~ Kindergarten Rocks Blog
Check out the pocket chart link I have above. Scholastic!
I color code my buckets and scissors the same way! I meant to take my buckets home to clean last time I was at school, but I had my two kids in tow and forgot. One of my teammates has a dishwasher in her classroom though, so I guess I can do it at school.
I ran my bins through the dishwasher first and then a friend suggested to use a magic eraser for the rest. It was a lot of work but they came out nice.
Def worth a try! THANKS for that tip!
I follow lots of blogs (and have one of my own) and I often wondering how (or what program) you put your Sharing Kindergarten logo on your pics. If you have time to let me know how you do this I would be greatly appreciated. I have googled it and can't seem to find what I am looking for. Thanks Erica
Where did you find the rainbow scissors? I want so badly to color-code everything!
Where do you keep crayons? I like to have those on the table as well. The last 2 years I had extremely small tables and tried to get the parents to bring those plastic crayon boxes so the kids could keep their own things in their box as apposed to me using my table basket.
I keep the crayons in these bins. Our order for them just had not come in yet. 🙂
Hey! I’m just wondering where you got your table bins! Mine are falling apart and they’re not color-coded to my tables, so I’m desperately seeking new ones!
Awesome ideas! What dishwasher setting do you clean the bins on?
ummmm… it has settings? just the normal ones!