Organizing Your Pinterest for Teachers

Today's post is inspired by my co-worker who suggested that I write a post about my Pinterest. I had never really thought about it before. I am on Pinterest all the time, but I don't just use it for teaching, I also use it to find new recipes, for sewing tips, and keeping a fashion board. I also used it a lot when I was planning my wedding.

When I first started substitute teaching, I made a TEACHER TEACHER board and kept everything on it. It was loaded with art teaching ideas, management tips, and all kinds of things. It was a little hard to keep up with and find the posts that inspired me when I needed them. 

When I found out that I was going to be teaching third grade, I started pinning all this third grade stuff...but then when I went back to it, again, everything was all together on one huge board! It was too much to sort through, even with searching, so I decided to make boards for each 'topic' I taught. Math was one the biggest things I pinned, so I split it up into standards. Here are some examples - Multiplication, Rounding & Place Value, and Fractions.

I don't have any fancy covers for my boards or anything. I think that is just too much work and I like the way their are...so why change it? I feel like I can still find what I want way more easily than before and that's what really matters to me.

Even though I started with everything on one board, it was easy to move everything into it's own category. Click the little pencil button on the top right of the pin to edit it, then either create the new board or select one you have already created. Even if it takes you some time, at least you only have to do it once and then it's easier forever!

I hope this helps anyone thinking about organizing their Pinterest boards! If you know of any good teacher boards or planner boards - I'd love to follow!

Love & Sparkles,

Miss Jones

How to Move to a New Classroom in the Middle of the Year

In my last post I shared my first room...and I mentioned how I had to move out right before spring break! My school was going through a renovation when I started working there and my pod was a part of Phase 2! For us, that meant we were the second pod to move out and we did it over spring break. This was a very exciting time, but I definitely put in a lot of long hours packing up all of our stuff and making sure it was ready for my new classroom. Ah...my new classroom - a door! a bathroom! a sink! a door! (Yes, a door was super exciting). 

I wanted to share some tips I learned from moving that will make it easier for anyone else who has to move classrooms in the middle of the year. We weren't able to move any of our stuff ourselves, so we just had to walk in on Monday hoping everything we had was there. Here are 5 things I learned from my big move.

1. LABEL EVERYTHING!!!

Anything that you want to keep, put your name on it! I used a Microsoft Word document and made a 'label' in large print with my last name and new room number on it. I taped it to every box, every piece of furniture, even on my globe and teacher chair. This way, in case anything goes to the wrong place, the person who finds it will know where it belongs. Also be sure to label what is in the box - I did this with a big Sharpie marker. Don't use tiny labels, use something people can see as soon as they look at it.     

                                   

2. FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN BRING & IF YOU WILL BE GETTING ANYTHING NEW

When we moved, the administration told us that most of the old furniture would not be coming with us. We got new student desks, student chairs, and teacher desks. Only certain approved pieces of furniture were allowed to come with us. Talk to your admin so you know what you need to clean out and what you can keep in it's place.

3. USE SMALL TRASH BAGS TO STORE STUDENT DESK CONTENTS

My students all had their own desk with their own supplies in it. I gave each student a small white bathroom trash bag. I had them put all of their stuff in it, then I used the Sharpie marker again to label each bag with the students name. I put these into 2 large boxes. Don't let the students take all their supplies home with them...who knows if you will see it again.

4. USE A SPECIAL LABEL ON THE BOXES YOU WILL NEED ON DAY #1

On my boxes, I used big, flat, foam hearts that were left over from Valentine's Day to label the boxes that I would need ASAP the day we got back from spring break. I also put them on the boxes of the students desk supplies. When I got back from spring break, I really walked in to a room of stacked boxes. Having those essentials (Expo markers, erasers, pencils, pens, post its) were essential (heh) for the first morning! I also got there early to put out students supplies on their new desks.

                                     

5. ASK FOR HELP & ENJOY THE RIDE

Moving classrooms is a BIG task! Ask custodians for more boxes if you need more, ask someone to make sure you are putting the boxes together correctly (this happened to me...I'd never moved before anywhere), ask someone for help lifting heavy boxes (ever tried to lift boxes of classroom library books SO HEAVY!). If possible, find a friend who is available to come in with you on the first day you're back. They can be putting stuff up or away for you as you teach.

All ready to go!

Don't stress - it will all get done! Re-organizing and getting everything put away in my new room took me at least a week, if not more! For things like the classroom library, you can even get the kids to help you unpack. 

While this is a super exciting/just a little stressful time for you - this is also a super exciting time for the kids! Look how fancy and clean your new space is! Don't forget to just enjoy your first day in your new classroom together!!!

Love & Sparkles,

Miss Jones