Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Guest Blogger ~ Mitten Friend, Christina Bainbridge!

Yoo hoo!  It's me- Christina from *Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge*!  My pal Holly is out enjoying the last few weeks before we Michiganders head back to school next month... I'm sure she's having a great time with the fam!

Bunting Books and Bainbridge

If you are anything like me, then help us all... there are two of us!... but seriously... you have a HUGE collection of books that are no-nos for your students.  Not that we don't love to share, but these are special books, just perfect for teaching, that we have set aside for that perfect lesson or unit.

Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Well, I used to keep mine organized like this:

All shoved and stuffed and crammed and jammed into a crate.  I had three other crates looking just as unorganized as this one too!

But then I got a new job and I had to pack which led to unpacking which led to an overhaul in my organization.

I found these amazing little baskets at Target... where else but in the Dollar Spot (they were actually $2.50) so then I broke my books down into the comprehension skill I thought they worked best for...

And this is what happened.

That mess up there became this...

Eight of those baskets, each one containing the books that I will use to teach one (or two) different comprehension skills and strategies.

If a basket is featuring two types of skills, there is a divider between the two sets of books... like so:

 Inside each book, I have written the skill I plan to teach using that book.  And I have one basket labeled "Just for fun" which contains my books like Bear in Underwear and Bear in Pink Underwear... both of which you must find and buy immediately if you don't own them!

Then there is the matter of my personal books that I like to bring out only during certain times of the year...

When I taught 1st/2nd, they lived on a little bookshelf and I would do my best to remember to pull out the books and share them... but I think this will work *so* much better!  I got these bins at the Dollar Tree last summer.  I had been using them for my math workstations, but they are now my seasonal/holiday book holders!  And I think it will be *so* easy just to pull out the basket and then put it away at the end of the time/holiday/etc...



Wouldn't you know it... for some reason I didn't save either of those files.  Either.  None.  Zero.  NOT SAVED!  But I love you all so much that when I guest blog for the famous Holly from Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade I don't leave her followers with nothing... so, I have re-made the holiday/seasonal circles just a little differently and a little more "generic" for you... just in case you'd like to use them!

Click HERE or the pic below to download them... and leave a little comment love for me and my girl Holly too!


I hope ya'll will pop over to my blog and say hi too!

Thanks for having me Holly!!!

Thanks for stopping by, Christina, and for the awesome organizational tips! {And a freebie to boot!} Head on over to Christina's blog for more awesome ideas!!!!

17 comments:

  1. Yes! I have a collection of books that I keep on a shelf too high for my little ones to reach. I love them so much I want to read them with my owlets. I love your organizational tips and I plan to use them! Thank you!!
    A Michigan Friend,
    Jenny
    Owl Things First

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  2. Thank you for Christina forsharing the labels and orginizational tips!

    Holly, I am your newest follower! Love your blog. If you get a chance, hop over to my blog http://funinsecondgrade.blogspot.com/ . I am having a giveaway.

    Diane

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  3. These are super cute! You have now just added to my before-kids-come To Do list :) Being organized is hard work, but so worth it! Thank you for your labels!!

    Wishful Teaching

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  4. I love these labels! Thank you for sharing!

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  5. Thank you for the cute labels. I'm going to laminate them right now. Thanks for sharing!!

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  6. Any chance you could share some of the books you use for the different comprehension skills?

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  7. Love the labels! Thanks for sharing.. :) I'd love to know some of books you use as well

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  8. The labels are super cute! Thank you! Also, thanks for sharing another blogger that I get to stalk now! Yay!
    Corinna :)
    Teaching Fabulous Firsties!

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  9. Thanks for the freebies! Perfect motivation for getting those teacher books organized ! :)

    Kelly
    First Grade Fairytales

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  10. This is just what I needed! Thanks a bunch!

    Jeannine
    Creative Lesson Cafe

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  11. Your organization looks awesome! Thanks for the freebies...so cute!

    Barbara
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers

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  12. These are so cute! I have my go-to books in a box now but the dividers are a great idea!

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  13. Thank you so much sharing your awesome labels.

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  14. Two of my favorite people in one place today . . . what a treat! Great post today Christina! Thanks for sharing!

    Kelley Dolling
    Teacher Idea Factory

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  15. Super cute!! I have similar baskets, but I love the idea of premaking the labels!! Genius.

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