Monday Made It - Worse before its better?

Hey all, 
I am finallllly allowed in my classroom! Thank you!!!!!! I am only able to work at max an hour or two (if I am pushing it) With a toddler making sure I get nothing done, it is a challenge, so I have been making a lot during naps, and then running it all into school. 

Please tell me that I am not the only one that walked into an empty clean room, and started working, and now my room looks worse than when I started?  




This is what my big storage closet looked like at the end of the school year. OMG - What a nightmare. I couldn't find anything and have random stuff thrown everywhere!!!
Here is the AFTER. Did you hear my heart stop beating? Did your heart stop beating?! 

Can you believe how nice it looks?!  The bins to the very left are from top to bottom, from walmart 3 drawer, I then got two 1 drawer bins from Target and the three drawer cart is from Walmart as well. 
I use an old mailbox system I was going to throw away as my workbook sorter. I use these books for parents that want extra practice, or if I need a poem on something. I also house all my student folders and notebooks over the summer. I got the little blue bins in the middle from dollar tree. The next row up  - the ones with no label (yes that is bothering me, but those two will go away because those items go on student desks soon) are from big lots. The top row is from Dollar Tree. I swear I cleaned them out of their bins!!! Wait until you see my library!!! 

I think this is pretty smart of me. I have a bathroom in my room, and this storage closet is in my bathroom. I VERY close to the school bathrooms, and so my bathroom is off limits to students. I have so many adults that come in to use my clean bathroom. I use that three drawer bin for all of my lady stuff and tylenol etc. It is nice to have it in the bathroom and not stuffed into a makeup bag. Since so many women teachers use my bathroom, they know I have things they may need. 




I am so pleased with how well all of the bins fit, and of course, I LOVE my new labels that I made! They are so pretty and simple!!!

Yes, I have a TON of coffee mugs, and cups. I use them for my science bunches and for my Keurig! 

This was my teacher toolbox last year- it was bright and happy , but we are all done with yellow this year! :)
Here is the after!!! Home Depot has new blue Rustoleum Paint, and I am in heaven!
These are my favorite! They match perfectly with my colors in my room! 
I glued them outside of the bins because I really wanted them to pop and kids won't be using them. 

Aren't they so cute!?

Sorry for all of the pictures but I can't help myself! 

I made a rainbow version of my labels for those that don't have a purple and blue color scheme. 
They are going to be on sale for the TPT sale! 

Here is my closet for art supplies again...before...
After...
What's that? What is that paper on the door? Well, I will tell you, as organized as all of this is, I wanted to make sure I didn't waste time looking through all these bins if what I wanted wasn't in there. 
So, I took all my labels and put them into this document and listed them in alphabetical order so I can very quickly see what I have in my closet. 


It turned out awesome, and I know this is going to help me so much! If you are organizing this way, I hope this is helpful for you! 
I had several drawers last year that held my pens, pencils, and all my different colored crayons. I liked them last year, but wanted something different. 
Here is the pen and pencil holders that I use behind my table. I love how they POP


I love everything about these. The font, the background, and the colors!!!


Now HERE is my favorite of all the bins!!! Yea buddy! 
My writing utensil station. These are the crayon bins and my pencil, lead and eraser bins. My students come here to get real wood pencils or lead pencils and lead or erasers. I have two of each drawer because they are small, and once one not sharp fills up, my kids tell me, and I sent it home to my pencil patrol parent (yep they sharpen at home for me)


I posted a picture about washing these. I pop them into hot water, and scrub them with a magic eraser and they look new again. I used these bins every year since 09 and not one has broken. I should seriously take stock in sterilite. I got these at walmart years ago. They are stacks of three, but I disconnect and stack them to the height that I want. 


This bottom one is for random writing things the kids may find. Sometimes a colored pencil or marker will pop up .They go here. 

Click on the picture below if you are interested in these bin labels!! :)



Are you shopping on TPT tomorrow?
here are a few of the items that I have that are perfect for back to school!!!













I'm also working on a new set of centers. They will be based on the first grade envision topics!! 
Each topic in envision is color coded. For example topic one is number and operations. It's blue in your manual. So any color version will have a blue banner to easily organize. It will list that topic name as well. Under the banner is the objective of the lesson. This one is read and recognize numbers 9-12. It is written on both color and black and white of all center materials.


Each center comes with a supplies and directions card for your students. Also color coded and properly titled.
There will also be a response card if there is a partner game to ensure your students stay on task!!
Each center will go in its own tub. All materials needed will go into the pencil pouch.

I am hoping to have topic 1 finished and posted today! I've already got topic 2 started!! 

When do you go back to school? Aug 20 for me. Whaaaaaa!!!!

I hope you will follow my store for my upcoming freebie that will be mailed through my TPT email. 
Thank you so much for joining me! 

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18 comments

  1. Wow - your closets are looking amazing now - I am very impressed. I completely understand the looking worse that when you started feeling - it happened to me too but it has to get worse before it gets better when tidying!
    Growing Little Learners

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    1. Thank you for your comment. I'm glad it's not just me!!! :)

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  2. I am so impressed with your closets! They are gorgeous! I have closet envy - re-organizing my closet is on my to-do list as of now!

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  3. You took some of my stress away just looking at your organization:) Looks GREAT!
    -Kayla
    Kayla in the Classroom

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  4. Wow! Your organization is beautiful :) I love the black labels - they really pop!

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  5. Love it ALL! I thought I was the only one who got that happy just by organizing! Great job!!!!

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  6. Very impressive organization!! I am a little jealous!!! :) I LOVE your pencil patrol parent idea...brilliant!!!

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  7. Oh my goodness! I am in organizational heaven in your room!! I love that you have EVERYTHING in bins with labels. I have not moved in to my room yet, but that is exactly what my plans are. I cannot mentally handle "organized chaos!" I also LOVE the new look you gave your Teacher Toolbox - that blue is gorgeous! Happy new school year!!

    ~Nadya
    New Adventures in Elementary

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! This has been six years in the making. I finally had a little extra money!!!!

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  8. I love it! We don't start school until after Labor Day, so I won't be in my room for a couple weeks. This is getting me eager to get in and organized! Are those labels that you have in your closet and for your teacher pens on TPT?

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    1. Hi there is a rainbow version on my tpt! Thanks for stopping!!!

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  9. Wow! Your organization is so inspiring! I need to get the cabinets in my room organized better! I tried at the end of the year, but it didn't get finished! Now I am ready to do it!!!

    Rissa
    Keep Calm and Hoot On

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  10. I've seen so many people have the "teacher's toolbox." Where do y'all find them? amyrhine17@gmail.com I would LOVE to make one myself. Although my theme is western....not sure where to find "tags" for that theme.

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