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A Teeny Tiny Teacher

Extra Cubbies

I just completed my nineteenth first day of school yesterday.

Which I cannot believe.

But I did it.  And then I took a bow and went to bed early.

I showed you all my classroom library the other day which I said was the only major overhaul that I did to my room this year.  But today I’m here to show you something else I updated to make my life a little easier.

I got the bright idea last year that I needed more cubbies.  You would think 32 cubbies would be enough, but it’s not even close to enough when you have 32 kiddos.  The kids get the cubbies and I get nothing.  And that just doesn’t seem fair considering I’m the teacher.  And I have needs.

When I mentioned that I wanted more cubbies, my teammate, Heather, said her husband would probably be able to make some for us (or his men or his crew could because whatever it is he does has something to do with houses and wood and tools and what-not, and when I told Steve her husband would do it for us, he was thrilled because I usually make him do these types of things) and, sure enough, Heather brought us all more cubby shelves over the summer.

So thanks to Heather’s hubby (and my hubby for going to Lowe’s and getting more peg-like-shelf-thingamajigs and then putting all the new shelves in for me), I went from having 32 cubbies to having 48!

That’s 16 more cubbies for storage if you’re not up to doing the math (and I don’t actually know how I’m up to it seeing as how it’s the second day of school) but the bottom line is, 16 more cubbies is called AMAZING.  I made the student cubbies smaller because we only use student cubbies for paperwork.

 The cubbies on the left side are for storage and
the cubbies on the right are for the kids.

 Before I laminated the liners, I made a pencil “template” 
so that the kids would put everything back where it goes.
Last year, my kids made pyramids with the crayon cans.
Or they would line them up as if they were 
cue balls on a pool table.
Both are definitely a type of organization.
But it’s not my type of organization.
 Scissors and Glue . . . I made a template for these baskets, too.
I can’t take all the little trinkets that the kids give me
that no one claims.   I cannot take it, I said. 
So they can put them in this cubby and I will donate it all
to goodwill every Friday.
And by goodwill, I mean the trashcan.

This is my cubby because I get a lot of love notes and
pictures from the kids.  I am very popular, don’t ya know.

The Turn It In Bin.
But now it’s a cubby.
It’s as far away from the kids’ cubbies as I could get it.
I don’t want anyone accidentally taking home all the
work that I’m supposed to look through.

Box Tops?  Put it in the Office cubby, I’ll say.
You have Spirit Wear money?  Put it in the Office cubby.
If I need to remember to copy a file . . . I’ll put it
in the Office cubby.
Right now . . . I have signed Progress Reports 
in the Office cubby.
Progress Reports from LAST YEAR.
From Second Trimester of Last Year.
I need to file them in the cumulative folders in the office.
And I need to do it incognito style.
Or I might get into some trouble.
This little mishap will not happen this year because 
I have an Office cubby.  Lah-di-dah!
You can also see that I have a Sight Words cubby 
and a Math Facts cubby so that when kids 
return their lists, they don’t give them to me.  🙂  
  
Last, I have a band-aids cubby because, let’s be real, band-aids 
make everything better.  Even if a student doesn’t need a
band-aid and it’s more that they have hurt feelings, a band-aid will
make it all better.  Really.  Try it.  
“She said I was bossy!” the little girl cries.  Boohoo.  Sniff Sniff.
“Oh no!  I don’t think you’re bossy!  Will you be okay?” I ask, incredulous.
“No!  I’m sad!” she cries.  Still.
“How about a band-aid?” I ask.
“Okay!” she says, as she skips away.
Works like a charm every time.
The cubbies that say Group 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for Parent Helpers.
More on that later . . . 
So there you have it.
I love that all of this extra storage is in one place, rather than in different spots around my room.
I already love it!
Okay, that’s all I’ve got.  I’m off to take another bow and go to bed.

Comments

  1. ~Christina says

    Such a great idea!!! I miss those pretty cubbies. Did you get the backpack hooks? Are you in love??

  2. ~Christina says

    Such a great idea!!! I miss those pretty cubbies. Did you get the backpack hooks? Are you in love??

  3. Carolyn Kisloski says

    WOW. That is just plain awesome! I love that organization more than I can tell you. I'm going to buy lots more Band-aids, too, because you're so right. They just do make everything better. Have a great rest of the week- and year! 🙂

  4. Liz says

    It's the night before my first day of school and now I want extra cubbies. Or at least time to rearrange the cubbies I do have. 😉

  6. Jennifer K. says

    How do you deal with band-aid control? In my experience, first graders love band aids more than just about anything. Maybe Frozen. They may love Frozen more than band aids. It's close, though.

  7. Melissa Reed says

    I love that you traced where the cans and baskets go! Genius! I'm jealous of those cubbies- gorgeous!

  9. Miss Kindergarten says

    Standing ovation!!! You are a genius! Love the "go back" templates and love the band aide cubby! I officially want to do this {but watch, I won't have extra cubbies this year!#

  10. ithappenedin3rd says

    Template idea…genius! No more pleading to put things back the way we found them!

  11. Cheryl Kulp says

    These are GREAT! And your story about the reports that need to be stealthily filed in the office is SO like me. And I love your donation to "goodwill" policy. Ha!

    Also, I THOUGHT my firsties loved band-aids until I tried using them in a lesson for the ow/ou sound. They all (well, ALMOST all) started complaining and asking, "Do I HAVE to put them on? I don't want to put them on! It hurts to take them off!" WHAT??? WHAT??? WHAT??? I guess the moral of the story is that kids only love band-aids for non-educational purposes and primarily if they initiated the band-aid request. Silly kiddos.

  12. Carol Polston says

    I LOVE this! I need one just like it (with all you labels already there)- hehe. I'm drooling over your new cubbies now.

  13. Just A Primary Girl says

    I would just love more cubbies, but I don't have an open wall in my room. It makes me sad. I love that yours go to the floor! They fit together perfectly. Fantastic. Don't feel badly, I bow out and go to sleep at 7-730 nightly. 🙂 Congrats on your 19th year!

  15. Catherine N. says

    Did you add more shelves to make the kiddo cubbies smaller, or did you add new cubbies to an empty wall space?

  17. Lauren Shirk says

    Oh my word you are a genius!!!!! I am going to send this to my mom so she can do this in her room and I can live through her. HAHAHA!!!!!

    I agree, the "office cubby" is a MUST!!!!

  18. 1st grade tcr says

    These are great – so colorful and organized! You have given me new inspiration.

  21. Merry Sunshine says

    I love your cubbies! 🙂 By chance will you be adding the labels to your teachers pay teachers store? Thanks! Karyn

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