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A Teeny Tiny Teacher

Binder Organization

I left the house yesterday to get food.  I hadn’t exactly taken a shower, but I was wearing deodorant.  I’m pretty sure.  Needless to say, it was a very uneventful day around here.

Today I have already been to the store, picked up a sandwich, and I took Murphie on a long walk.   I also showered.  You’re welcome.  

Okay, here’s the I Purged My Files And Put Them Into Binders blog post I’ve been sort of promising you and/or talking about.

My teammate, Heather, started talking about this process a few months ago and I think I said something along the lines of You’re insane, there is no way, I like my system, I don’t have time for this because the OC Housewives AND the New York Housewives are on, and BIG FAT NO.


And then she mentioned it a few more times.

And then I happened upon Traci’s blog post all about eliminating filing cabinets and utilizing binders.

And the next thing I knew, I was emailing Heather and telling her to check out Traci’s post, as well as telling my whole team all about it.

Sometimes, you just have to hit me over the head with it before I actually get it.  Case in point:  my Revolutionized Centers.

So I tackled my version of Binder Organization at the very beginning of my summer before a million family members descended upon our house.

The first thing I did was empty all four drawers of my filing cabinet into tubs that will later be used in our garage by my husband.  So that purchase was multi-use.  

UGH.
Then I bought binders.
I bought two inch binders because anything else seemed too small or way too big for me to lift.  I bought one for each month (August – May) and then one for Math, one for Language Arts, and one for Centers.
Next, I made covers for the binders.  

I opted for a simple look that matches my room decor . . . I played around with clipart for awhile and then decided against having clipart on each cover.
If you’d like to use these for yourself, I have an editable file for you {HERE}. 
Then I think I took a nap because that was a lot.  I won’t tell you exactly how long I played around with clipart and digital papers.
But it was longer than necessary, I can tell you that.
Next, I set up my binders on our kitchen island.
Front of my island.

Back of my island.
I ran out of room and had to put the math, language arts, and center binders on the floor.  
Then I set out to purge my files.  I had my hubby bring in one tub at a time from the garage.  I’m delicate you know.  And I think they weighed about fourteen tons, but I’m not good at math, so they might have weighed fifty tons for all I know.
My filing cabinet had been organized in alphabetical order.  So for example, in the A section you would have found American Symbols, ABCs, Antelopes and Aardvarks.  In the B section would have been Back to School, Bears, Bugs, and Blah Blah Blah.  You get the picture.  (and yes, I realize those examples aren’t actually in alphabetical order, thankyouverymuch)
I threw a ton of crap stuff away.  Almost five trash bags full.
Gotcha!
This ugly thing went in the trash, obviously.  Reminder:  Do NOT pin this.
As I purged, I also pulled files out and put them into page protectors.  And then I put them next to the binder that I thought they belonged in.  For example, we always teach American Symbols in September because of September 11th (and we are not in school for the 4th of July).  So I made sure to put the page protectors with all of my American Symbols stuff next to the September binder that was set up on my kitchen island.
AND SO ON AND SO ON.
It took about three days total with lots of breaks.  I had to take a lot of breaks because I got overwhelmed and cried every once in awhile.
I kept apologizing to my husband for the big ole mess and he said, “What mess?”
True story.
Making Progress.
But look!  It’s nighttime.
Waaaaaaa.
I will confess and admit to you again and again that I COMPLETELY REGRETTED STARTING THIS PROJECT AND I WANTED TO KILL MY FRIENDS HEATHER AND TRACI.
Oh, I kid.
Tee hee hee.  Or maybe just tee hee.
I am pretty sure that Traci puts every single piece of paper in its own page protector in each binder. 
I did not.  Nor will I.
Number One:  I am cheap.
Number Two:  You know I’m lazy.
Number Three:  NOOOOOOOO.
So.  I used paper clips and shoved mini units into one page protector and bigger units were split up amongst three or four page protectors.  It’s however it worked out.  I figure I can adjust as the year goes by.  Cuz you know I’ll have time for adjusting DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.  And adjusting while on summer vacation was a waste of my time, obviously.
Once I had everything next to its binder, I realized I needed sixteen million Language Arts binders, three million math binders, and about 4700 Center binders.
That’s another True Story.
I had to go buy more binders.  I had to split up Language Arts into different categories, such as Phonics, Grammar, Comprehension, etc. because I have so much of it.
AND SO ON AND SO ON.  Who’s bored?
Me, that’s who.
Last, I typed up a Contents page for the front of each binder, knowing that those will probably change as I buy more stuff on TpT and make more things, too.  Again, you know I’ll have time DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR to edit these content pages.   Of course.  All the time in the world.
Finished.
Look how dark this picture is.
I think it was the middle of the night.
Most likely.
I’m sure I didn’t forget to put my flash on.
And that’s THE END.
I now have all of my files in binders.  And I plan on using my filing cabinet to house all of the endless amounts of curriculum workbook pages that I have for both Language Arts and Math.  That will free up space in my rolling cart for all of the binders that I now have.  Because I think I have 20.  Or so.
I am the happiest about my Language Arts binders because I am not going to tell you how many sets of rhyming cards I have made because I couldn’t find them under R.  Or L for Language Arts.  Or P for Phonics.  Or H for Houghton Mifflin Theme 6 Week 2.
Seriously.  I like to act like I’m organized but if you forget how you organized something, you are actually a HOT MESS.
Now I will know exactly where my rhyming cards are.
They are in my Phonics binder.
Or maybe my Picture Cards binder?
Hmmmm.

Comments

  1. Amy Kuti says

    Omg you must feel great! Thanks for the files!

  3. Tonia says

    Thanks for sharing! always trying ways to get organized.

  4. Linda says

    I'm in the middle of that project!

  5. Sarah says

    Looks great! I can't believe how many files you have…I've only been teaching for 3 years and my husband thinks I have a lot. Lol but everything looks awesome! Great job!

    Sarah
    Teachingiscolorful.blogspot.com

  6. Courtney Eimer says

    This is great! I was totally organizing binders today too! I didn't do nearly as well as you did though!

  8. Sailing into Second says

    BAHAHAHA! This post had me cracking up because A) I did something similar with my school supplies and STILL haven't fully organized them in my classroom and plastic tubs and B) I'm pretty sure those tubs weighed more like 100 tons. 😉

    Aris
    Sailing into Second

  9. Kristine White says

    I loved all of your humor in your post! I'm pretty sure I was smiling the entire time I was reading it. I'm not sure if it was because I can picture the ridiculousness step-by-step or maybe I have gas (or wait, that's just babies that smile when they have gas…carry on). I'm actually in the process of getting all of my things digital, so I feel your pain. Honestly, even in a "virtual file cabinet" I STILL can't seem to find things! It makes me SOOOO mad! So now I'm in the process of going into all of my old files and tagging them (and tagging the new ones when I upload them), which is NOT going quite as quickly as I'd like! But at least I can do it in front of the television 😉 And when it's all done, it'll be beautiful. Right? RIGHT?! Oh gosh, I hope so!

    Best of luck!
    Kristine

  10. Mrs. Yazzie's Classroom News says

    Great post. Thanks for the editable binder cover and spine! I've been organizing print outs of my TpT purchases and wondering what to use for the front covers. Now I have a plan! Thanks.

  11. Sherie says

    I love reading your posts. This one made me so glad that I really love my filing cabinet! It's funny how there are 2 distinct sides on this topic. Note: I did not love my filing cabinet until 2 years ago when I reorganized it by reading stories, novels, science chapters, and math concepts. The cute file folders I bought make me actually smile when I open it to file more stuff!

  12. Bex Mawn says

    This post is SO TIMELY! I brought 17 boxes of files to organize into binders this summer ! Haven't done anything yet but I have only been on vacay for 1 1/2 weeks – school goes late into June – and heading to Vegas on Thursday so I will have to address it when I get back ! I will follow your lead!
    Bex
    Reading and Writing Redhead

  13. Tara says

    So cute and organized but good golly that would have taken me weeks!!!! Oh my:/ You are motivated:) Love how they turned out and you crack me up as usual:)

    4th Grade Frolics

  14. Bridget S says

    That is awesome. I'm thinking about my file cabinet and want to cry now that I've seen your binders. It has been my goal for the last 2 years to get rid of my file cabinet. I'm bookmarking this blog post!!!

  15. Amanda D! says

    Love the binders! They look great. I, too, am not a filing cabinet person and have all my stuff in binders. However, my binders are 1-Not as cute as yours, and 2-probably needing to be split into a few more binders so that I can open them without stuff flying out.

    -Amanda
    Kindergarten Teacher at the Wheel

  16. Terry says

    I really should do this…I am guessing I would throw sooooo much away! My file cabinets….well they resemble more of a junk drawer.

  17. Melissa Baumgartel says

    I recently bought binders and am doing the same thing. I think it will be a great organizational strategy for me. I am still working on organizing my files, but have began the process. Good luck and thanks for sharing! Melissa (baumgartelblessings@blogspot.com

  18. susan says

    Congratulations on getting it done! Very inspiring. And thanks for sharing the covers.

  19. Kim Rogers says

    Ha! I bought 3, count 'em: 1,2,3 binders to do this with and now I know how incredibly crazy it was to only buy 3. And, now I'm pretty sure I'm back in love with my filing cabinet! 😉

  20. April Kreitzer Wolfe says

    Love your post!!! I moved some of my files a couple years ago into binders. I ended up hating the binders because I bought 4 inch ones and they were just too big! I would love to hear if you end up liking them better then your file cabinet. I am switching grades so it might be time to redo mine. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

    April
    Wolfelicious

  22. Stefanie Galvin says

    Wonderful post, and this would totally be my reaction to organising all of my files (which I have to attempt – sort of – in two days time!). Great job!

    Stef
    Miss Galvin Learns

  23. KarlaJ says

    I think we are long lost soul mates!!! My partner teacher has been showing off how organized she is becoming! Gag!! I love her dearly, but please!! Anyhoo, I'm thinking I really need to do this. School starts in a bit over a month and now my dilemma is… do I want to give up the rest of my summer to do this????? Hmmm…. "I like to act like I'm organized but if you forget how you organized something, you are actually a HOT MESS." Words to live by!!!

  24. Veronica Maurice says

    Hilarious…mostly because I would be thinking all of the same things you said. I love this idea but I don't think I have the patience to accomplish this just yet. (Maybe I will wait until you blog about how glad you are that you did this task.)

  25. graciegirl says

    oh how i love your sense of humour….
    that is quite an accomplishment eh?
    {and i know you are probably cringing at the fact that i am not punctuating properly….tee hee hee}
    WAY TO GO GIRL!

  26. Mrs D's Corner says

    This post is genius for every single reason I can think of. (1) you are hilarious. (2) it really is a genius idea and I may attempt to purge and do the whole binder thing… but it's summer… so maybe I'll just wait for all that time I have to "adjust during the school year" too 🙂

  27. Marisa-The Teacher says

    I might have to try this during my "nesting" and preparing for maternity leave. I feel like with file folders I was always purging and going through files for-EV-ER!!! I'm not sure I'm brave enough, but I might end up crying from pregnancy hormones if I attempt it. 😛

  28. A Peach for the Teach says

    Lol I love this post! You've inspired me to do this! I'm going to do it as I go throughout the year. Everything I use in Sept, I'll pull out of my filing cabinet and put on my binder. Then, at the end of this year, I'll spread the rest out over my kitchen and cry as I think of this post! Lol thank you, and kudos!!

  29. Lindalouhoo says

    FYI… they make sheet covers for HIGH CAPACITY – says it holds up to 70 pages. I couldn't work without them. I started with binders but am still adjusting them. Somehow the April-May-June stuff is still piled up in the same clear boxes you have. Such a busy time of year; then I am too exhausted to sort and store…I do have a few weeks left. Hmmm

  31. T Pahia says

    Love it…. Wanted to did it, but did not want to put individual pages wanted to put in groups like we use to send to get copied…. May give it a try now… May add a set of notebooks for what the projects look like when finished…. Will have to see

  32. MrFudge says

    I love this idea and those folders – what is the font you use?

  34. pammy says

    Thank you for the entertaining step by step process you used. My husband is like that too.

  36. Debra WHITE says

    I thought to start this project last summer, however….I never finished it! 🙁 Instead, I opted to go digital and signed up for "Drop Box." Then, I began scanning anything that I thought I would use or that I use regularly. Mine is a work i progress, as scanning takes a bit of time. 🙂 I can't tell you how organized I feel with my digital filing system, and everything is backed up onto USB/Flash Drives just in case. The MOST challenging task for me is deciding what to purge and what to scan. Happy Organizing to all!

  37. The Neat and Tidy Classroom says

    I did the same thing this year too, over spring break! I laughed while reading your post because I went through the same mental process of trying to figure out WHY I thought it was a good idea to get all my paperwork out! However, I had 2 months of school after reorganizing and it was so wonderful to have it done! I also made a table of contents on my binder covers and in just April and May found myself using a Sharpie to edit them-because I wasn't going to take the time to open the file and print! You'll be thrilled that this is done when school starts!

  38. Busy Mama and Her Boys says

    Haha I loved this post. I felt like you were in my head and could relate to everything you were saying!

    Jamie

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