Classroom Survival Packet

Kindergarten is a rough year for most parents.  Their babies are growing up and finally entering "big school." So they always have the hardest time letting go...so instead of waiting for Back to School Night to send all my information (and their anxiety about the first day to build) I decided to send it all two weeks before school starts.  Here's a picture of the front: (not quite finished)

I include a welcome letter from me, the poem "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," our schedule, overview of kindergarten curriculum in general (super cute & perfect!), the abc's of the classroom (everything explained from pickup policy, to sending healthy snacks to school), homework & discipline policies, class list, supply/wish list (cameo please!!!), school calendar, and a questionnaire to help me get to know the parents.

Oh yeah, and you can't forget the most important little guy/gal!  So I added in a little postcard explaining how excited I was to meet them, etc.

Hoping to get these babies shipped out tomorrow from work...and try to sneak in my classroom to take some BEFORE pics to share with ya'll.

Mission Organization Part Two: Classroom Plan of Attack

So I’ve spent the past two days making labels.  FOR EVERYTHING.   For my math tubs {see earlier post here}, theme tubs, and art supplies.  I still need labels for my book tubs but I haven’t found any yet that I really LOVE and that work for me.  I found these great schedule cards that really have everything (let’s face most sets we find on TPT are missing that ONE label—seriously, isn’t that frustrating?) and the best part?  It’s free! You can find them at the First Grade Parade here and they are AWESOME!

Now before I tackle any job like cleaning and organizing my classroom, I have to make a list.  Or in my case lists.  I like having just a TO DO and a TO BUY list.  On my TO DO list...

I make subcategories like:

Label

Organize

Clean

Décor

Prep

Etc.

And my favorite part?  Drawing a nice dark line through each thing I finish! It feels GREAT! :)

Grab my "Classroom Plan of Attack" here.

And then I just dig in!   I like calling it my Plan of Attack--I think it motivates me to be aggressive and get things done. ;) What do you do to organize your classroom?  Make lists? Or just jump in head first?

Mission Organization

At the forefront of every teacher's mind right now is organization.  You're in your rooms (or soon to be!) and cleaning through heaps of "stuff" in order to get the room ready for those kiddos about to run wild in.

I love being organized or rather thinking about getting organized.  I frequent pinterest for tips on organization but that's usually where it stops.  So I'm forcing myself (with the help of this blog) to finally GET ORGANIZED! Yep I said it...and its in writing...;)

Here's step one of my process.  Since I won't be getting into my room until next week, I am left to just start with making labels.  LOTS OF THEM.  Here's my first official FREEBIE. Grab it now!  If there is a label that is missing from there, let me know and I can whip it up for you! :)  

Happy Organizing!!