Organizational Tools for Your Lesson Materials
I am really good at buying “learning tools” and then struggling to organize them. Social media can make it look fun and easy. That is not always the case. I am not officially diagnosed, but feel if I pursued it I would find that I have OCD and ADHD occurring at the same time. I can be really, really, really organized, and I can also be paralyzed by too many tasks and not know where to start. So, I look for resources that save time and keep me from having to remake an activity or reprint a page over and over again! Here are a few of the tools that I have found work really well for me in staying organized. Click the section headers to find the products online.
Menu Holders
These aren’t just for your neighborhood pizza joint. I use these for visuals, games, and activities that I want my students to be able to reuse. A dry-erase marker wipes right off of these, and using them saves paper, time, and makes reuse a cinch. In the image above, you can see one of my own games as well as my lesson organization visuals. When I use the lesson visuals, it limits verbal feedback that can be distracting, thus keeping us on track!
Photo Albums
I am a big fan of using cards for my lessons. Using cards provides variety and gives me options for activities. One way I store the cards is in 4 x 6 photo albums. I have had the best luck finding these at the Dollar Tree. I can pull out a set for review, partner work, homework assignments, or a literacy center. Looking for my card sets? You can find these in my Resource Center.
I like to have notebooks I can pull for quick review exercises. I store my cards in these sleeves so that students can use a dry erase marker to practice coding and reading for a review task.
Pencil Pouches
When I make a game, card set, or have a manipulative that works with a certain concept, I store them in a pencil pouch and keep them in my notebooks.
The Old Faithful: Binders and Sheet Protectors
I like to have a lot of blank space and large, clear fonts on my products. I do this because I know it is beneficial for my students with learning differences, attentional challenges, and visual challenges. A lot of times my materials are full-page, so a binder and sheet protector are just the right fit!
Here are a few of the items if you would like to grab them for your own work:
Organizational Tools can be found in my Amazon Storefront. Click here (affiliate link).
All teaching products featured can be found in my Resource Center. You can also check out my social media posts, to see some of these in action.
A mentor of mine once reminded me to work smarter not harder. I try to keep this in mind when I make and store materials so that I can diagnostically and prescriptively adjust them to a new student with ease.
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I am an Amazon affiliate and do make a small commission off of some purchases.
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