Station Storage…How I Organize the Chaos :)

Hey y’all!  I’m BACK!!!  As of late last night, we are finally moved in!  Can I tell you how THRILLED I am?!?!  I think it’s safe to say we’ve been busier these last two weeks than we are during the school year.  In addition to moving, we decided to *finally* potty train our three-year-old.  {Well…in all honesty, he potty trained himself…PTL!} We spent several days at my parent’s house with all 4 of us sleeping in a king size bed.  We unloaded WAY too much junk and moved it all into the house…let’s see, about 3 UHauls worth of *stuff*?!?!?!  I’ve seen WAY too many frogs.  AND…we finished filming House Hunters!  Whew!  I need a nap!  HA!!

Okay…so the most frequent question I am asked/emailed has got to be, “HOW do you organize and store all of your station work?!”  Well…I thought I’d take a second to share that with you!  I know everyone has GREAT ideas.  We all have our own method to the madness.  This is just what has worked for me through the years!  I’ve tried different storage solutions, but I keep coming back to this!

SO…when my kids are at their literacy/math tubs, this is what the set up looks like…

 

Inside of each tub is a smaller little storage piece to hold the small parts of my station work.  And, of course, an assessment sheet is included in each tub also.  I typically copy 5 extra assessment sheets for each activity because inevitably someone will need it, AND I like to have an extra copy for myself for organizing purposes :)

Every Friday, I file away all of my station work and set out the following week’s tubs.  Here’s how it looks when I file it away...

I use the 9x12 tabbed envelopes to store EVERYTHING!!!!  And everything gets labeled, too.  I’ll indicate whether it’s a literacy or math activity because I have separate filing cabinets for each.  The title of the activity goes in the middle, the date/theme/month goes on top, and then I also like to write the name of the packet from which it came on the bottom…that way, if I happen to lose a piece of the activity or the recording sheet, I can go right to the packet and print new copies without having to search through everything I own :)  If it’s a packet I didn’t create, I like to write the name of the author as well :)

In each tabbed envelope, I’ll keep a copy of the directions {if they’re included with the activity}, one copy of the assessment/recording sheet, and I’ll place the activity in a little baggie and shove that inside the envelope, too.

And when I run out of tabbed envelopes…which happens quite frequently…I use gallon sized ziplock baggies :)  This works just as great!  I usually print out a label to stick on the baggie that includes all the info I’d put on the front of an envelope.

I know there are a MILLION different ways to organize, so this might now be the best system for you!  But it works like a charm for me :) 

Now tell me…how do YOU organize your station work?!