Organizing handwriting

At my school we do Handwriting Without Tears, http://www.hwtears.com/hwt .  The school adopted it last year but myself and another teacher piloted the program the year before.  I have really liked it and I think it has been a big help and improvement over years past handwriting.  In the program the students have books they write in but they also have chalk boards and wood peices to make the letters.  The wood peices come in boxes and there are enough wood peices in each box for about 3-4 kids, depending on the letter you are doing.  I had the boxes labeled with a number and the pieces in them with the same number, but it still took a lot of time for the kids to get out pieces.  It was the same for the chalk boards, once you got out the boards, chalk, sponges, and rags it took time.  This year is different.  I go the ideas for organizing my handwriting from one of my fellow teachers and it is working wonderfully.  The wood pieces are out of the boxes; they are still labeled but now there are bags for each student with enough wood pieces for any letter.  The bags are in tubs for each table.  The boards are in containers with the chalk and rags for each table. I did the same for the workbooks.   Each tub and container are labeled for each table.  So far it has cut down on pass out time considerably and is much more organized.  Here are some pictures:

Here is the shelf with all the tubs for the books, wood pieces, and chalk boards.

These are the containers for the chalk boards

Inside look

The bags with the wood pieces

New year, new folders: My World Folders

I decided this year to do an organizational folder with my students.  One of my fellow kindergarten teachers did MOOSE folders last year and they worked so well in her class.  She showed us her book and some links of what a MOOSE book was.  I spent some time this summer finding out about the books and what I would like to do. 

I decided to do WORLD folders since I am not really into MOOSE, STAR, OR BEE stuff.   On the site http://www.jbonzer.com/WorldNotebookbyjudybonzer.JPEG I found an organizational notebook cover for WORLD, or Workers Organized & Ready for Learning Daily.  I thought the World one was perfect for me since I do an around the world study with my kids all year, so the world one fit perfectly.  (Though I was tempted to do fairy tales, but it seemed too long.) 

I decided for my first year of this to do instead of binder to do the plastic folders for my WORLD folders.  One for cost (I  thought of doing this after we submitted classroom supplies for the next year so all of this was out of pocket cost) and if they would hold up.  Looking at some sites some teachers used notebooks and some used binders, both had pros and cons and which would hold up best.  I decided this year to do folders; in August I found out two of my other Kindergarten teachers are doing organizational notebooks; one is doing 1/2 inch binders and the other is doing 1& 1/2 inch binders.  We decided this could be an experiment of all of us to see which will hold up the best for the year.  For my class I went to my local store and bought the plastic folders that have the three metal prongs in them to hold papers.  I got different colors so that it would be easier for the kids to recognize their folder.  I couldn't use the cute WORLD cover on the outside of the folder so I put that in the folder and on the outside  I put these around the world kid stickers I bought from Oriental Trading: http://www.orientaltrading.com/kids-around-the-world-foam-shapes-a2-48_9088-12-1.fltr?Ntt=around+the+world . I put four of the kids across the top and the world sticker in the middle.  I wrote My WORLD folder in the middle and the child's name at the bottom.  They came out pretty cute:

The inside of the folder goes in this order:
1. Front pocket- bring back to school.  This pocket is for homework and papers that need to be brought back.
2. Class newsletter and lunch menu.  I update my newsletter every week, sometimes every two weeks.  These are in a sheet protector since I take them out every week.
3. Class handbook.  I have always had a mini handbook that I gave my parents at the beginning of the year but this year I also put one in these folders.  It contains a class schedule, dismissal plan, behavior chart explanation, and other class information.
4. Behavior chart.  I have done the color behavior chart with my kindergartners for years and it has worked well for them.  They and their parents understand it.  For their behavior the students color in a calender that I printed out with the color they are in that day.  The charts are in these binder pockets I found at the store:  http://www.walmart.com/ip/14926496?adid=22222222227000548399&wmlspartner=wlpa&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=13689420310&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem
So far they are working well, though some of the kids have a hard time getting the paper back in.
5. Communication log.  I have some notebook paper put in the back of each folder where I and the parents can write notes to each other.  In the binder version it would be a notebook, but that would be too big for the folders so I just put in notebook paper.
6. Back pocket of folder- keep at home pocket.  This is where the kids put the class papers and school note that need to go and stay home. 

So far the folders have been very successful, the kids are bringing them every day and they are not getting torn up.  The parents seem to like them as well, they have been good about using the log and looking for the folder.  Before school started our school had a back to school night and I was able to speak to my parents about my classroom  and the folders.  I feel this was very helpful in the success as I was able the show the parents what they were and their importance before they were sent home.  I also have the parents and students sign a compact for the folders. 

Links about the organizational folders (most commonly called MOOSE folders)
http://www.jbonzer.com/miscprintables2.html
http://www.jbonzer.com/miscprintables.htm
http://www.cape.k12.mo.us/blanchard/hicks/Parents%20Pages/Tiger%20Notebook.htm
http://www.smithsroom.com/moose.htm
http://jmeacham.com/bee.book.htm
http://www.mrsnelsonsclass.com/teacherresources/classmanagement/classmanagement.aspx#organizationfolders
http://www.mrsdryzal.com/moosenotebook
http://www.msvines.com/beebook.htm
http://teachingheart.net/moosebooks.html