Today I’m going to show you our center storage system and explain how it helps with changing out our centers and workstations! This system saves time and makes changing centers easy! What could be better!?
One of the most asked questions here at TKS is:
How do you store all of your centers and stuff?
So today I am answering the question about center storage!
Tip #1: Use the right containers!
I use RubberMaid containers and Zip-Lock bags!
These boxes make great center storage solutions for a few reasons:
I can see through them.
The lids snap on and they stack nicely. (Mine used to be stacked on top of the cabinets in our old classroom!)
I can put even bulky centers in them!
Tip 2: Ziploc Bags are great for individual centers!
Each individual center activity is stored in Zip-Loc bags. I use the gallon size bags with the red slider on top. The gallon size is perfect for holding the pieces AND recording sheets. Everything it zipped up nice and neat so when I pull a center from the box, it’s ready to go. I keep all of the extra recording sheets in the bags when I put the center away so when I pull it out next year, it’s ready to go.
For centers with no recording sheet, I use the quart size bags!
The slider is the trick. They ‘staches can easily zip them open and closed. And yes, this is a procedure we practice. At the beginning of the year, I model how to zip and unzip. I model what happens if we do it too hard. And we practice. We pass the bags around and practice zipping it open and close!
Tip 3: Sort by SKILL!
I sort my centers by SKILL and not theme or holiday. Why skill you ask?? Well, when I need a center for a certain skill, I can just go to the box for that skill and pull something. For me, it’s a lot easier than digging through December/Christmas stuff looking for addition centers.
The storage tubs or boxes are labeled by SKILL so I know exactly where to go to put away a center and get a new center for each skill!
So, Mr. Greg what are the categories for your center organization?
Letters
Sounds
CVC Words
Vowels and CVC-E words
Sight Words
QR Codes
Writing and Sentences
Addition
Subtraction
Numbers
Counting
Place Value
Graphing
Ten Frames
Shapes/Measurement
Word Families
For some categories, there are multiple boxes. What I do then is to try to keep it somewhat organized by theme/month. So one CVC word box contains CVC centers for the first semester. The other CVC box will contain centers for the second semester of the year. Does that make sense?
BAM! Easy…manageable….teacher friendly center storage!
Get your FREE labels by clicking on the image!
PS I do have overflow storage at home. It’s where I store extra center supplies like extra holiday boxes/bags, eggs, containers etc. I use the large containers with the flip open lids and stack them in the garage!
For more information on centers, check out this post:
To see how I change centers and see our center organization in action, check out this video:
If you’re looking for centers, check out these center creations:
