I am a happy boy! My observations for the year are over! Had my last observation yesterday and got my scores today!!! WOOHOO!
I get asked a lot of questions about my classroom and teaching and everything under the sun and I LOVE IT! I love questions and love answering questions. One of the most frequently asked questions I get is how I store all of my centers. Well, here it is. The Kindergarten Smorgasboard Center Storage System.
Are ya ready?! Get ready. OK…here’s the thing. It ain’t pretty. It ain’t fancy. It is simple, cheap and it works for me. You might be disappointed…but here it is.
You need some Zip-Loc bags, banker boxes and somewhere to put the boxes.
I told you it ain’t pretty or fancy or glittery!
All of my centers are in Zip-Loc bags. I use the gallon and quart size with the slider on top. I put the centers in the bags when I prep them. The ‘staches use the centers from the bags and when we’re finished they get put in the apporpriate box. Everything stays in one bag. Simple. Low maintenance.
The centers in the bags go into a box. I use bankers boxes that I got at Wal-Mart for maybe $12-$15 for 3. Each box is labeled for a specific skill. Addition, subtraction, Word Work (cvc words, vowels, blends), sounds, letters, numbers/counting, sight words, and number order/number writing. I think that covers all of them.
The boxes are stored on shelves in my very spacious classroom bathroom. I also have baskets for my ten frame cards to keep those organized.
When I need new centers for a skill I grab the box and dig through to find something holiday related, theme related or something appropriate for where we are in our practice with a particular skill.
So that’s it. I am thinking of replacing the boxes with some plastic containers this summer…but otherwise, I like my ratty looking system!