Since then, writing has been one of the most important ways we communicate with other humans.

We write to communicate

In today’s world, more than ever writing has been a key way to communicate with others.

Even if we do not know the language, you can use Google to translate what you are communicating into the appropriate language.

For many, writing can be difficult.

As teachers, regardless of what you are teaching, we should help ease this difficulty with daily writing prompts for our student writers.

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-Balancing Home and Work Life in your Calendar
-File Organization
…and even more!

Now available in our Shop!  And the second copy to share with a friend is half price!

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Writing prompts help

Writing prompts help students eliminate writer’s block. They help to inspire creativity and create a habit of writing and sometimes will help the student learn something new.

Writing prompts is one way to help get student’s writing juices flowing. There are several ways to create writing prompts. You can begin by having students write a list of:

1. Things they love or hate or both.
2. Things they want to do before they die.
3. Places they want to visit.
4. People they admire and why.

However, if even as a teacher, you have difficulty, there are many writing prompt websites, and writing prompt apps.

One app I’ve used in my class was, “Writing Prompts”.

My favorite writing prompt idea was to have a paper bag with an item. The students can put their hand in the bag to feel what it was but could not see it. This would prompt imagination and creativity for the writing piece.

Another idea I used often was to post a picture on the board for students to either write an informative, persuasive or narrative piece.

Writing helps intellectual development. When a student writes, a teacher is able to understand whether they have moved from the knowledge level of Bloom’s Taxonomy to the analytical and critical thinking skills level. Writing helps students  practice using their higher order thinking skills.

Essays are decision-makers

Often an essay is a way that many students are judged. Essay results are often a grade, college admissions, scholarship awards or determining a students’ academic ability.

Essays also help educators understand a student’s thinking skills. Writing essays add value to academic growth. Writing on real world topics help students authentic their writing skills.

Write authentically

Creating writing prompts that allow students to write a letter to persuade a city council to add more sidewalks is something they may have to do while living in a community.

Or, writing an editorial on why a night club should not be next to a 24hour daycare center. Allowing students to write on real world issues helps to make their writing real and not just for the teacher.

Even asking a student to write on the other’s perspective, i.e. the night club owner, would also help develop higher order thinking skills.

GRAB THE DREAM!!!

Dr. Genola Johnson has over 20 years in education. She is the Executive Director of Georgia Educational Learning Consultants, Inc.

Could you use some lined writing paper to get your students started?

Download this pack of 5 different designs from Organized Classroom!

Click here to email your freebie

~Charity

The post Ways to Encourage Reluctant Writers appeared first on Organized Classroom.

What is an equivalent fraction?

Knowing math vocabulary is super important. Students need to know that fractions have numerators and denominators and that those numbers are above or below a fraction bar.

When teaching students from the beginning, I like to have an informal definition which makes more sense to them as we are exploring this new topic.   My official informal definition is:

An equivalent fraction is when you have 2 fractions that are like cousins.  They might look different or have different “parent numbers,” but they are still related and match up if you know how to make their bottom numbers the same.

I know I am probably making a ton of math teachers squirm because I am not using specific math vocabulary here.  Keep in mind that I really do teach that too.  But this is my easy definition that students will remember when they are just starting to explore the topic of equivalent fractions.

You might also enjoy:

Math Games Bundle

6 math products that will be perfect for students in grades K-6!

See it HERE.

How do you solve to find equivalent fractions?

There are several resources listed below that you can use as resources to help you teach how to find equivalent fractions.   Make sure to stop by and check each of them out to find the best tools for your students!

#1  Equivalent Fractions Calculator:  This unique calculator can allow students to explore the operations involved in finding their solution.  I also love it for having students self-check their work for the correct answer.

#2  Equivalent Fractions Chart:  A fun flip chart that shows students multiple ways how to make equivalent fractions.  It shows a picture, the fraction, a decimal, and a percent.

#3  Fraction Tiles, Cubes, or Circles:   Hands-on manipulatives as a concrete learning method.

Equivalent Fractions Videos:

#4  Khan Academy Fractions Tutorial:   An easy way to showcase basic equivalent fraction concepts with (what else?) pizza!

#5  Equivalent Fractions on a Number Line:   I didn’t even know this was a thing until recently.  I love that there are so many ways to show how to find the same solution.

#6  Fraction Decimal Equivalents:  Just reading the comments from appreciative students was the main reason for including this video on this list.

Equivalent Fractions Games:

#7  ABCYA 4th Grade Bingo Game:  This is super fun!  I may or may not have gotten sucked in to playing it by myself – ha!

#8  Equivalent Fractions Game Triplets:   A super entertaining online game good for centers practice.  It has a fun space theme storyline and has pictures and different equivalent fractions to sort.

#9  Math Fraction Games:  Super fun bug themed fraction ideas!

#10  Calculator Soup Fractions Calculator:  If you want to do some whole group practice on an interactive whiteboard, this would be a great website to use!

Equivalent Fractions Worksheet:

#11 Equivalent Fractions Examples:   I love this resource guide with worksheet examples, along with tutorials that use Legos to teach the concepts!

#12  Using Area Models to Teach Fractions:  This is an awesome (and FREE) Bundle.  I love how the author shares exactly how she teaches it in the classroom too!

#13  Alien Go Fish Equivalent Fractions Card Game Freebie:  Fern Smith always has the cutest freebies!

#14  Hands On Fraction Fun Blog Post:  I adore the idea of using measuring cups for finding equivalent fractions.  She shares how she teaches it here.

#15  Squashing Fraction Misconceptions Blog Post:  Another amazing post with tons of teaching strategies for fractions – and some you may have never thought of before!

BONUS Resources!

#16  Fractions Interactive Notebook Grade 3 Sampler

#17  Fractions Vocabulary Cards and Word Work Activities

There you have it!  15 awesome teaching resources for equivalent fractions, with an extra couple thrown in for good measure!  

How about a BONUS FREEBIE?

Here is a simple worksheet with answer key included. Enjoy!

Click here to email your freebie

How do you teach equivalent fractions in your classroom?  Leave a comment below and share with us – we love collaborating!

Happy Fraction-ing,

~Charity

The post 15 Fabulous Equivalent Fractions Teaching Tools appeared first on Organized Classroom.

Why Predictions Matter So Much

Predictions aren’t just for fortune tellers or weather forecasters. For students, making predictions is a fundamental part of how they make sense of information. When you encourage students to predict, you’re essentially asking them to actively engage with what they’re seeing, hearing, or reading. It nudges them to look for patterns, connect what they already know to new information, and build expectations. This process makes learning more dynamic and, frankly, more memorable. Think about reading a story: If a student predicts what a character will do next, they’re invested in finding out if they’re right, which keeps them reading and comprehending. The same applies to science: Predicting the outcome of an experiment forces them to consider variables and potential results before they even start. It turns passive reception of information into active construction of understanding.

Building Mental Models

Every prediction a student makes helps them build a mental model of how things work. Whether it’s a concept in math, a historical event, or a character’s motivation, predicting what’s next strengthens their internal representation of that idea. If they predict incorrectly, that’s also valuable feedback, prompting them to revise their model.

The Role in Comprehension

Good comprehension isn’t just about understanding individual words; it’s about understanding the flow and anticipating what’s to come. Predictions train this foresight. When a student struggles with a text, it’s often because they aren’t predicting effectively, they’re just reading word by word.

Reading and Language Arts Power Pack

11 reading and language arts resource sets that pack a punch!

This power pack includes the following 11 files:

• Beach Activities Pack (K-6)
• Chapter Book Reading Strategies Activities  (grades 3-8)
• Chrysanthemum Reading Packet (grades 2-4)
• Contraction Packet (grades 1-3)
• DI Spelling Menus Packet (grade 2+)
• Never Ride Your Elephant to School Activities (grades 2-4)
• Reading Bingo (grades 2-8)
• Space Theme Reading Logs (grades 2-5)
• Fiction and Nonfiction Story Maps (grades 2-6)
• Vocabulary Bingo (grades 3+)
• Writing Menu (grades 3+)

See more details HERE.

How to Actually Teach Prediction Skills

Okay, so how do we move from just hoping students predict to actively teaching them how to do it well? It starts with making the process visible and providing structured opportunities. It’s not enough to say, “What do you think will happen next?” We need to unpack how they arrived at that thought.

Pre-reading and Pre-listening Strategies

Before diving into a text or a listening activity, spend time setting the stage. Show students the cover of a book, the title of an article, or show them a picture related to the topic. Ask them what they already know about this subject. Then, prompt them to make a prediction about what they think the text will be about. This isn’t a wild guess; it’s a hypothesis formed from initial clues.

“What do you see hints of?”

Instead of just asking “What’s it about?”, try “Based on this cover image and title, what kind of story do you think this will be? What clues are on the cover that make you think that?” This encourages them to point to specific elements and explain their reasoning.

Connecting to Prior Knowledge

“What do you already know about [topic]? How might that knowledge help you understand what we’re about to read or listen to?” This direct link between familiar information and new content is a powerful prediction tool.

During Reading and Listening

The prediction process doesn’t stop once you’ve started. It’s a continuous loop. Pause regularly and ask students to predict what might happen next. Crucially, guide them to explain why they think that.

“What makes you say that?”

This is the golden question. After a student offers a prediction, follow up with “What in the text/what you’ve heard makes you think that?” This forces them to cite evidence from the material.

Identifying Clues and Patterns

Help students recognize common literary devices or recurring themes. If a character suddenly becomes very quiet and thoughtful, what might be a reasonable prediction about their next action? If a scientific experiment involves mixing two specific liquids, what are common outcomes when those substances interact?

Post-reading and Post-listening

The conclusion of an activity is a perfect time to revisit predictions. Did they happen? Why or why not? This reflection is vital for refining their prediction abilities.

“Were your predictions accurate? Why or why not?”

This isn’t about being right or wrong, but about learning from the outcome. If a prediction was off, explore why the actual outcome differed.

Revising and Adjusting

Encourage students to adjust their understanding of the plot, concept, or event based on what actually happened. This revisitation is key to building more sophisticated prediction skills for the future.

Tech Tools to Boost Prediction Skills

Technology offers some fantastic ways to amplify prediction practice, making it more interactive, immediate, and even fun. These tools can provide visual cues and instant feedback that traditional methods might not.

Interactive Whiteboards and Collaborative Platforms

Many digital platforms allow students to make predictions directly on shared documents or interactive displays. This can be done anonymously or with their names attached, fostering a sense of shared inquiry.

Digital Annotation

Students can highlight text or images that they believe are clues for their predictions. This makes their thinking visible and shareable.

Quick Polls and Quizzes

Tools like Kahoot! or Mentimeter can be used for quick prediction checks. Present students with a scenario and ask them to predict the outcome, then reveal the answer.

Educational Videos and Simulations

Many educational videos are designed with hooks that encourage prediction. Teachers can pause these videos at key moments and ask students to predict what will happen next, using the visual information on screen. Science simulations are even better, allowing students to manipulate variables and then predict outcomes.

“Stop-and-Predict” Moments

When watching a video, deliberately pause at suspenseful or informative points. Ask students to predict the next event, and then have them explain their reasoning by pointing to visual cues from the video.

Digital Storytelling Tools

Tools that allow students to create their own stories or sequences can also be used for prediction practice. They can create a story up to a certain point and then ask their classmates to predict the ending.

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

LMS platforms often have built-in tools for discussions, polls, and assignments that can be tailored for prediction activities. You can create prompts for prediction, collect responses, and then provide feedback.

Online Discussion Forums

Set up forums where students can post their predictions about a reading or a topic, and then engage in discussions with peers about their reasoning.

Free Teacher Idea eBook

Ask the fans at Organized Classroom’s Facebook Page a question, and they always come through with an answer! 

This week’s Collaboration Wednesday question had to do with ideas for how to teach making predictions and inferences. 

This one was always hard for me as a teacher, especially with 2nd and 3rd graders who are transitioning from concrete to abstract learning.

It is so hard to make inferring be concrete.

Of course, fellow teachers never fail to come through with flying colors! 

Grab yours right now and please stop by the Fan Page and make sure to thank the contributors!

Click here to email your freebie

Enjoy!

~Charity

The post Teaching Making Predictions/Inferences eBook! appeared first on Organized Classroom.

If you are one of those that have decided to go the digital route – what will you do with your now empty filing cabinet? 

I actually store construction paper and cardstock in mine!  I first organize the colors (and if you look closely, I don’t get too particular about which shade of green is next to another shade of green. 

I am pretty flexible about it as long as it is in the same file). 

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Then, I place each color in a separate file folder, then set the file folder in to a hanging folder in the filing cabinet. 

It makes it soooo easy to to grab a piece or 50 when needed – just grab the whole file folder out and return when finished!

Well, after I organized all the paper and cardstock, I took a good look at this fancy piece of furniture.  Yuck! 

We actually inherited this fling cabinet from a hospital that was going to toss it because it has a big dent in one side. 

Of course, I couldn’t allow a perfectly good (and expensive if new) filing cabinet go to the landfill, so I snatched it up for my home office.  The dent now rests nicely along a wall where no one can see.

But, I knew it needed a little facelift of some sort, so I grabbed my washi tape and decided to take matters in to my own hands – literally. 

I used 2 different tapes to decorate the front panel and then added a fun label.

Last, I added a border around the edges.

I am sure many of you are asking about time and budget.  Here is the skinny:

Time:  Doing the one drawer pictured above took me about 15 minutes total.

Budget:  I used about a half a roll of the blue tape which was the majority of the drawer.  At $1.99 for one roll of tape, it should cost less than $5 probably to do a whole cabinet depending on how much tape you use.

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The best part?  if I get tired of this color combo or change my office colors completely, the tape can be removed and I can start over!  Yay!

Since I was making the flower labels for the drawers anyway, I threw together a freebie for you to enjoy if they will match whatever project you might be working on as well.  They do include a blank template that you can write onto as well to customize for your needs.

Click here to email your freebie

Enjoy and happy organizing!

~Charity

The post Repurpose That Old Filing Cabinet! appeared first on Organized Classroom.

The Importance of Read Aloud Lessons in Building Literacy Skills

Think about it: when you read aloud, you’re doing much more than just reciting words. You’re modeling fluent reading, exposing students to new vocabulary, and helping them understand how stories are structured. It’s a dynamic, interactive learning experience that lays down a strong foundation for future reading success.

Modeling Fluent and Expressive Reading

One of the big benefits here is students get to hear what good reading sounds like. They witness proper pacing, intonation, and expression – skills that are often tricky to teach directly. When a teacher reads with enthusiasm and clarity, it shows students how to make the text come alive, which is key for comprehension. This isn’t something they always pick up when reading silently, especially if they’re still working on decoding.

Expanding Vocabulary and Background Knowledge

Reading aloud is a fantastic way to introduce new words in context. Unlike a dictionary definition, hearing a word used naturally in a story helps it stick. When a teacher pauses to briefly explain a word or concept, students connect it to the narrative, making the learning more meaningful. This also builds their bank of background knowledge, which is essential for understanding more complex texts later on. The more they know about the world, the easier it is to comprehend new information.

Developing Listening Comprehension

Before students can read complex texts independently, they need to be able to understand complex ideas when they hear them. Read alouds significantly boost listening comprehension. Students learn to follow a narrative, identify main characters, understand plot points, and even infer meanings. This skill set is a direct precursor to reading comprehension, essentially practicing the mental processes needed for understanding written text.

Introducing Different Genres and Authors

It’s easy for young readers to get stuck on one type of book. Read alouds open up their world. You can expose them to poetry, historical fiction, biographies, science fiction, and non-fiction texts that they might not pick up on their own. This broadens their literary horizons and helps them discover new interests, which can lead to more diverse independent reading choices later.

Strategies for Incorporating Read Aloud Lessons into Your Lesson Plans

Integrating read alouds effectively doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about being intentional and making it a regular part of your routine. You don’t need a huge block of time; even 10-15 minutes daily can make a big difference.

Choosing the Right Books

The book selection is crucial. Pick books that are engaging, age-appropriate, and perhaps a bit above your students’ independent reading level. This “stretch” allows them to access more complex ideas and vocabulary through your support. Think about diversity in characters, settings, and themes. Don’t be afraid to reread favorites – repetition can be comforting and deepen understanding.

Interactive Reading Techniques

Reading aloud isn’t a passive activity for the students. Make it interactive. Ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think the character said that?” Encourage predictions and connections to their own lives. You can also pause to briefly define a challenging word or show an illustration. Think-alouds, where you verbalize your own thought process as you read, also show students how good readers make sense of text.

Pre-Reading and Post-Reading Activities

Before you even open the book, a quick chat about the cover or title can pique interest. You might preview some vocabulary or discuss a related topic. After reading, don’t just close the book. Engage in a brief discussion, ask students to summarize, or even quickly jot down their favorite part. These activities reinforce comprehension and make the experience more memorable.

Cross-Curricular Connections

Read alouds aren’t just for reading class. They can be incredibly effective in science, social studies, or even math. Use a non-fiction book to introduce a new science concept, or a historical fiction novel to provide context for a historical event. This shows students that reading is relevant across all subjects and helps deepen their understanding of other content areas.

Free Read Aloud Lesson Example

I finally had a few minutes to break and create some new files to match a read aloud book and am just now getting time to sit down and share them with you!

I was sorting through some of my books on my bookshelves at home to look for something I might use for a back to school read aloud that hasn’t been completely overdone, and I came across one of my faves:  Never Ride Your Elephant to School by Doug Johnson. 

It is fun and goofy, and a great read for the beginning of the year!

Highly recommended if you are looking for something different.

I have also created a packet of 5 activities that include 5 reading strategies, but I have one free sample activity that can certainly be used on its own without the others. 

Reading and Language Arts Power Pack

11 reading and language arts resource sets that pack a punch!

This power pack includes the following 11 files:

• Beach Activities Pack (K-6)
• Chapter Book Reading Strategies Activities  (grades 3-8)
• Chrysanthemum Reading Packet (grades 2-4)
• Contraction Packet (grades 1-3)
• DI Spelling Menus Packet (grade 2+)
• Never Ride Your Elephant to School Activities (grades 2-4)
• Reading Bingo (grades 2-8)
• Space Theme Reading Logs (grades 2-5)
• Fiction and Nonfiction Story Maps (grades 2-6)
• Vocabulary Bingo (grades 3+)
• Writing Menu (grades 3+)

See more details HERE.

I would say grades 2-4 would benefit most from the activity, but I love short picture books as read alouds for ANY grade level. 

Feel free to click grab your complimentary file tonight and remember to leave those elephants at home tomorrow.

What stories are in your reading series?

Leave me a comment and let me know!

~Charity

The post Elephants in School? appeared first on Organized Classroom.

Assessment is part of being a good teacher and while many think the only way to assess is through a paper and pencil test, I am here to gently remind those few that there are lots of ways to assess student learning. 

And running records are great not only for seeing growth, but also for having a paper trail to monitor individual student strengths and needs.

You might want to check out:

Need some new ideas for your assessment and parent conference routine?  This 82 page digital book has you covered!

Includes 14 articles from Organized Classroom, including topics such as:

• Saving Grading Time
• How to Set Up Student Data Folders
• Self-Assessment for Students
• Quick Informal Assessment Hacks

…and even more!

Now available in our Shop!  And the second copy to share with a friend is half price!

See it HERE.

The video below shows you a quick and easy way to set up running records that can be as formal or as informal as you choose!  Use different colored cards for different reasons:

• Reading workshop
• Writing workshop
• Math fluency
• Vocabulary Mastery
• Reading Fluency
• Behavior, and more!

Watch the video below to see the tutorial for making your own flippable running record assessment:

Prefer to read the transcript? I’ve got you covered!

“Hi guys, Charity Preston here from the Organized Classroom Blog.

Great to see you back!

Today, we’re going to do a fun little tip for assessment.

If you like to do running records and keep track of some things, these are fantastic for parent conferences. If you need to make a phone call it’s documentation right at your fingertips.

Now, if you’re a veteran teacher, you probably already know about this. But if you’re a new teacher, you may or may not have seen this before. And I want to make sure that all teachers have seen this idea.

This is my handy little clipboard that you could then hang on your wall somewhere. Obviously this says, do not touch. That is because it is going to contain some assessment information.

You don’t want students getting their googly eyes all over it. This is for your eyes only.

Another quick little tip: I was kind of disgruntled because I only had an ugly old clipboard that I didn’t really want to use for this video so I was going to go to the store and buy new one.

My daughter actually suggested to use packing tape to cover it up. So I did. Check this out. And it’s like a new clipboard. I’m so excited. So anyway, that’s a fun little way to spruce up a clipboard if you didn’t know that.

Alright – back to the assessment idea.

This is what it looks like under the Do Not Disturb sign.

You’re going to have notecards taped onto your clipboard.

Now I have two columns because I have 30 students in my class. So if you have many less than that, you could probably just do one column down the middle, but I wanted to go back and forth with them so that I would have enough on one side of the clipboard for all of my students.

Now, this is how it works. Basically you take regular note cards lined or unlined, that already have holes punched in them.

I didn’t have note cards with holes punched already, so I just grabbed a stack of them, threw them into my hole puncher and punched the tops of them on either side.

Begin by grabbing one note card and add a student name at the bottom of the card someplace.

Make sure each one of your students has a card.

Once you have a card created for each child, you are going to begin placing the cards on your clipboard.

You will be starting from the bottom, so if you’re doing it alphabetically (up to you the order), go ahead and start with your last student in the alphabet.

You’re going to add that card first right on the bottom edge and use a little piece of clear tape along the top edge of the card to secure it in place.

And then you’re going to repeat the process with the next student by adding the next notecard over top of the first, while still being able to see both students’ names. Add your little piece of clear tape to the second card.

Keep repeating that process until you add all student cards to your clipboard. Now you have an accordion that can flip and you can write on any single card.

So when I was talking to student #30 during their writing conference time for example, I wrote the date and that we discussed the rough draft of their current assignment.

You can add more details if you want to, such as something to focus on before the next conference.

Each student has their own individual set of notes and individualized instructional goals that you always have access to right at your fingertips simply by grabbing the clipboard for that topic. It even works for behavior management!

The great part of this is whenever your card is filled up on the front, you can even write on the back too.

When one particular card is full, just peel the card off, fold the tape over (don’t pull off as it may rip some of the documentation off the card), and you can file any way you like.

One option is to grab some binder rings. This would be an example. I’ve got two holes. So I have two O-rings.

Each student would have their own fancy little assessment card file here that you could then place into their student file, which would be fantastic.

You might also be interested in:

This program is 62 pages, and includes 26 templates that are completely editable so you can personalize your conferences to your liking! Also includes forms for having ongoing Data Folders – recommended for grades 2-12! Parent Conference Night has never been so easy! Discover for yourself!

See more pages here.

You can pull it out for a parent conferences, report cards, midterms, or whatever you want to do.

Another fun tip would be to use several clipboards with different colored notecards for different subjects. That way on the individual student document on their ring in their file would be easy to locate specific information for individual subjects or topics in which you had private conferencing.

The times when you would normally conference with a student one-on-one is when you’re going to want a clipboard, because then you can walk around with your assessment tool or have it handy for private conferences at your desk.

You’ll have this in front of you, you can sit and chat with the student, and write down your notes. And you always have record of that.

So then you can go back to the parents later and say, “On 8-22, we did talk about this. And yet he’s still having problems with this. And look, we talked about it five more times after that and we still don’t see anything different. So let’s do some kind of intervention.”

This is super handy for you to remember those individual student needs, especially when you’ve got anywhere from 15 to 30 students or more in a classroom.

Then whenever you are finished with it for the day, you can pop your little “Do Not Disturb” sheet on there and go hang your clipboard up someplace where students cannot easily gain access to it – or lock it up in a filing cabinet until it needs used again.

That is out fun little tip for today. Really easy assessment documentation flip cards.

I know that many veteran teachers have used this as it’s not a new concept, but it’s one that is important (plus it’s easy to implement and it’s super cheap). So I thought I would pass it on.

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s tip!

If you have any tips to share with our readers, feel free to contact me at Organized Classroom. If you’re loving the videos, make sure that you click on the subscribe button on my YouTube channel.

Thanks so much and I’ll chat with you again soon. Bye.”

How would you utilize this simple setup in your classroom?  Please leave me a comment below to share – I love even more great ideas.

Need a clipboard cover? Download the one below and edit the name in either Microsoft Power Point or Google Slides.

Click here to email your freebie

Enjoy!

~Charity

The post Flipping for Assessment appeared first on Organized Classroom.

I explain how I keep track of all my files, and never miss an opportunity to teach that great lesson because I couldn’t locate it in time.

Supplies needed will include file folders, hanging files, labels, and filing cabinet, file crate, or jump drive.

You can check out the video below or read the transcript under the video – make sure to check out the added notes I thought of after I recorded the video.

Transcript:

“Hi, everyone! Charity Preston here from The Organized Classroom Blog. I hope everyone is having a fantastic week so far. It seems like forever since I’ve created a video.

So we’re here today because this is the video that you requested to see based on our poll results from last week.

File organization for teachers is what we’re up to today. I’m going to try to make it short, but I tend to ramble on and of course YouTube limits me at 10 minutes. So let’s get it in.

You’re going to need a few basic supplies when you go to set up your filing system. You will need basic file folders and hanging files.

You will also need labels, of course.

And you we’ll need a filing cabinet. If you don’t have a filing cabinet, another great alternative that I have tons and tons of are filing crates. You can find them very cheap even at the dollar store.

They are open at the top, but they stack very nicely especially underneath tables that have tablecloths so you can’t really see them.

Or you can put a curtain in front of them if they are on a bookshelf.

It has been pretty simple for me to make sure that I have all of my supplies in one place.

So when I sit down to plan my lessons for the week it is great if you have everything right in front of you.

There is nothing that I personally hate worse than two weeks after I’ve taught a great unit about rocks and minerals, and then I find something later that I had set aside to use specifically this for that unit and now the unit’s over with, and it makes me sad I overlooked a wonderful resource I had ready to go but didn’t have it accessible.

I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to make sure that everything ends up in that file so nothing gets overlooked the next time I teach that unit.

I like to first sit down and figure out how I plan. I personally planned by the week, so I always sit down on the Wednesday before and plan out my lessons for the entire next week. I also know I plan by chapter or stories.

Maybe you plan by units or by a specific standard. Maybe you work in themes. However you plan is how you need to create the labels and the files.

So being that I plan by story for my reading stories. I will sit down and type up all labels of all the story titles.

I have an entire sheet of labels that have all the story titles, I pull them off and then I stick them right here on the regular file folders. Then I place that file folder right into my hanging file.

Now I have a file with one story’s name on it, and I drop it right into my filing cabinet. Continue until all your subcategories have their own file in the filing cabinet.

If I sit down and plan for an entire week, I’ll pull my reading chapter, whatever math chapter I’m doing, and then either a science or a social studies chapter as well. That makes it super easy to do my lesson plans even when I’m not at school.

After you have created all your files, it’s time to start placing materials into those files that go with that specific story chapter or unit theme.

I will begin by placing the pre-test and the post-test for the story of the week.

Then I add any specific worksheets that perhaps I need the students to do. If there is a specific activity you like to do that goes with just that one story of the week, I would place that in there as well.

It gets a little bit more tricky whenever you have professional development books or maybe an activity guide or specific projects that can be used in a different bunch of different places. What I like to do in those cases is drop everything on the copier and I make enough copies to place that item everywhere that you might need it for that year.

If you have something that you do every other week or once a month, make that many copies and put it into that correct file.

If it is a trade book that you’re only going to use for that one story or that one chapter, if it’s small enough, drop it in the file is already there. If it’s one that you want the students to be able to utilize as well throughout the year, what I like to do is make a copy of the front cover and put that right in your file as well. That way you won’t forget that you are going to use it.

If there are larger manipulatives or a game in your supply cabinet that you don’t ever remember to go in there and look for, take a picture of it, print it off, drop the picture right onto a plain document, and print it off to add to your file.

You will never forget what materials and what items that you have to use. If you have a book that has lots of different ideas in it that you can use all over the place, just make a copy of that specific activity for whatever chapter unit lesson it is that you want to put it in.

Make copies of everything and just make a little note to yourself on the copy like, “Hey, make sure to go check out pages 56 to 58 in this activity guide.” That way you can go grab it when it’s time to do your lessons.

I have everything sitting in front of me. This makes planning a snap.

Now, the important thing to remember is whenever you are finished with that file for the week, don’t forget to drop it back into the filing cabinet so that way it doesn’t get lost. And you don’t have a huge stack of filing that you have to go back through again. Bonus that it’s already there for you to be used for the next year.

I hope you have enjoyed this idea and we’ll see you in the next video. Bye!”

Additional Classroom Filing Cabinet Thoughts…

After finishing the video I thought of a couple more points I wanted to add (I am always so concerned with going over the 10 minute YouTube time limit.)

1. If you have websites, SmartBoard files, or other electronic resources you want to be included in a certain chapter or unit file, just print off a quick copy of one of the pages or grab a quick screen shot to add to the file so that it is not forgotten in your saved favorites file on your computer or on a jump drive.

2. After thinking about how much paper will be used in these files, and knowing there are some teachers out there who are trying to cut back on paper consumption, another option would be to scan or take a picture of the same things you would have placed into the hard copy of the file.

Then, save your items into separate folders labeled the same way they would be labeled in the filing cabinet, but save them on a jump drive instead. For those with limited space, this would be a perfect solution. You may even want to check out LiveBinders.

Or use a sqworl or Pinterest to save them all in one place as well!

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Download the FREE Classroom Systems Starter Kit now!

3. As you find new ideas, even if you have already covered that topic, add them to the file for next year. All you are doing is compiling lots of ideas. It does not mean you need to teach everything within your file. It is nice to change it up from year to year and try new (and old) ideas. Your file will never go out of style!

If you decide to use old-fashioned file folders and labels, but do not know how to create labels on a computer, make sure to check out these two posts to see it in action!
How To Create Labels – Mac Version
How To Create Labels – PC Version

Need just some basic file folder labels to print and go? I’ve got you covered! This file includes both a page with the lines to cut on, or if you prefer to use labels, use the page without the lines.

Good luck and join us back at the Facebook fan page to add your ideas and solutions – or sound off if you have ever used LiveBinders – I would be interested to know more myself! Enjoy!

~Charity

The post File Organization for Teachers appeared first on Organized Classroom.

Some weeks coming up with new and novel classroom learning centers is extra hard.  Trying to find an activity that students will be interested in completing – and making it relevant to the curriculum – can be a challenge when you’re tired from everything else going on that week.

But there are other times when I see something as I’m out shopping and think to myself how easy it would be to turn a seemingly simple item into a new learning resource that children would love.

Even better when it doesn’t involve a ton of prep work or fancy color graphics or a bunch of cutting out little pieces of paper.

For me, simple and effective is the best combination.

Setting up a Simple Comprehension Center

I was at the Target Dollar Spot the other day (big surprise) and I just couldn’t walk away from this adorable chalkboard “laptop” without it jumping into my cart.  Seriously.  It jumped into my cart.

I swear I had nothing to do with it.  So now that it was home, I needed to come up with a fun idea for how to use it in the classroom.

Would you like to know step-by-step routines that put teachers back in control in just 4 weeks?

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First up:  washi tape for the decorating win.  Anyone that knows me well also knows I am not crafty.  Washi tape is a medium I can get behind because it’s easy to change it up if I mess it up.  Haha.

For this project, I picked some pretty yellows for spring, but you could choose tape that matches your classroom theme or school colors.  The choice is up to you.

I placed the tape on the “laptop” cover and even inside.  Just to dress up the plain wood a little.  If you have students that are “pickers” you may want to use some Modge Podge to lock your tape in so they cannot pull it back up.

Next, I tossed together a few short comprehension ideas onto a PowerPoint slide, printed, and cut them out.  {I didn’t fire up the laminator as the image posted here would have had a nasty glare, but obviously for longer use, you would print on cardstock and laminate.}

The ideas could be differentiated depending on the reading level of your students.

Ideally, there are enough small descriptive words that requires students to read the passage carefully.

Reading and Language Arts Power Pack

11 reading and language arts resource sets that pack a punch!

This power pack includes the following 11 files:

• Beach Activities Pack (K-6)
• Chapter Book Reading Strategies Activities  (grades 3-8)
• Chrysanthemum Reading Packet (grades 2-4)
• Contraction Packet (grades 1-3)
• DI Spelling Menus Packet (grade 2+)
• Never Ride Your Elephant to School Activities (grades 2-4)
• Reading Bingo (grades 2-8)
• Space Theme Reading Logs (grades 2-5)
• Fiction and Nonfiction Story Maps (grades 2-6)
• Vocabulary Bingo (grades 3+)
• Writing Menu (grades 3+)

See more details HERE.

Last up – the fun begins!  I would probably grab about 5 “laptops” and line them up on a long desk for the comprehension center.

Tape the comprehension passages on the top chalkboard section.

Students read it, then draw a corresponding picture to match.

They could even write their names on the image, close the lid, which would then give you an accountability piece.  Or snap an image with a digital camera.

Higher functioning students could even come up with the comprehension pieces for you!

Super fun, easy, and students will love drawing with chalk!

Need the PowerPoint template I used to make your passages?  Easy peasy.  Click below to download it.  I used the font KG Be Still and Know, so if you don’t have that font, just pick another in your files instead.

What else could you use these cute laptops for in the classroom?  We love sharing ideas here at Organized Classroom, so leave us a comment below!

~Charity

The post Chalkboard Comprehension Centers appeared first on Organized Classroom.