SensoryEdge Kids Furniture and Educational Toys Blog


Thursday, October 22, 2009

Classroom Storage: Making Learning Fun


An organized classroom is a fun and efficient classroom. To maximize daily schedules, teachers need to organize their materials for easier reference so they can separate materials they use everyday from materials periodically. Storage can be exciting. Classroom storage can be a fun way to learn because you can use book displays as libraries and cubbies as mail boxes. Assign students jobs and they naturally become interested in the subject.

You can have a cubby assigned to each student so they can have a place to keep their art supplies, assignments, & books. Teachers can also use the cubbies to give the students projects, leave notes or give home work.

Its also a fun way for students to learn responsibility in the classroom and for them to get to know their classmates names. Many cubbies, such as the 10 Tray Mobile Storage Unit, come with removable plastic drawers.

For students who are still learning to read, each plastic draw can be labeled with a picture of the item that is inside. Students will love being called on to retrieve an item for the teacher or a classmate. Books that are displayed in an orderly and eye catching fashion will not only help the classroom look organized but it will also encourage the students to read. Books are part of the classroom, its common for classrooms to have lot of books for quiet reading or book reports. If you arrange the books in an orderly fashion this will encourage the students to check them out.

Cubbies can help teachers showcase books and display books in a manner that will interest the students. The best way to display the books is to place them in an angle that will show the front cover instead of putting them in a line showing just the spines. Students have materials that they need to carry around, portable storage is just the thing for this. Retrievable storage cubbies such as the See, Store and Take-Along Storage Cart, is equipped with lids that have handles. You will find that students like carrying them around and take pride in it.

Organizing the classroom using cubbies is fun and easy, it can also be an activity to keep them busy while the teacher is involved with other projects. Also, for super safe storage solutions make sure to check out the tip me not line of school furniture from Wood Designs.

Labels: , , ,


posted by SensoryEdge   
0 commentsAddThis Social Bookmark Button





Friday, July 17, 2009

Five Steps for More Organized Classroom


Classrooms are like a treasure trove for clutter. Class projects, drawings, supplies, and toys-the things lurking in every corner that are just waiting to cause chaos and disarray to every school room! Don't stress, we'll help you beat the mess!
  • Don't hang on to everything. Yes, some things will need to be filed away for future reference. Those art projects from three terms ago and the piles of dry erase markers that haven't worked since the Clinton administration aren't among them. Once a semester, go through everything (and we mean EVERYTHING) that is taking up extra space in the classroom.

  • File away neatly anything that will be of use to you, and throw out everything else. For things that hold sentimental value like Christmas cards and letters from students, start a scrapbook and separate sections based on school year. This way you have one nice compact space to keep valuable items while still keeping the classroom neat and tidy.

  • Don't let your students hang on to everything either! How often do you make them go through their desks and cubbies? If it's not at least once a week, you can be sure that there are piles of old test papers and forgotten homework balled up somewhere in the back corner. Each week before you all leave for the weekend, have students clean out their personal space. Added bonus: Wait until this day to hand out any papers that need to be signed by parents. That way, they can't use the excuse of "It got lost in my desk".

  • Use the cubby system. Yes, the tried and true cubby method is still the best way of keeping a classroom neat and tidy. One variation: use removable tubs instead of traditional cubby holes. That way students can search for lost items more efficiently, overflow is kept to a minimum, and they add a bit of pizzazz to the classroom if you choose ones with bright colors!

  • Try and get the rest of the school in on the action. Perhaps a monthly "cleanest classroom" contest. Offer the students a prize...like a free homework pass for each child or maybe an extra recess at the end of the day. With so many eager students in on it, the whole school will be spotless in no time.

Labels: , ,


posted by SensoryEdge   
0 commentsAddThis Social Bookmark Button







Have a question? Our phone number is 800 734 8019 Fax 818 716 5376
.

Get an Instant 5% off Coupon emailed to you by joining our Newsletter.
Your First Name:

Your E-Mail Address:

Previous Articles
Syndication
Article Archives

Kids Furniture and Educational Toys Website