Classroom Organization – Part 2

So earlier I posted about how I organize my math binders.  Today I am back to tell you how I organize my reading binders.  Like I had said in my earlier post, I may have taken this a little over the top – but hopefully it will give you some ideas that will help you organize your classroom!

I have two sets of reading binders.  The first set includes two binders – one for informational text standards and one for the literature standards (we use the Common Core standards in my district).  Here are the front of both of my binders:

The first page of each binder is a page listing the standards for that binder (i.e. the informational text binder has a list of the informational text standards).  That way, I have an easy reference to exactly what each standard says.

Then, I have dividers, one for each standard.  This allows me to easily flip to the standard that I need.

From there it is pretty basic.  The dividers that I use have a pocket in the front.  I use that pocket for anchor charts or little books that correspond with the standard.  Behind each tab are all of the worksheets that correspond with that standard.

So here is an example of how I would use these binders.  If I am teaching the RI.1.5 standard I would get out my informational text binder.  I would then use the tabs to flip to the tab that is labeled RI.1.5.  I could pull out the anchor charts in the front pocket of the tab and then flip through the worksheets behind the tab to find some that fit my needs for that week!

Okay, now for the second, more complicated, set of binders!  My second set of binders correspond with our reading series.  We use the Journeys reading series which has 6 reading units.  So I have 6 reading binders in this set.  On the front of each binder is a sheet listing the stories that we read within that unit.

The first page of each binder is the scope and sequence (that my district gives us) so that we know which skill to teach with each story.

Each binder has tabs to separate the stories.  If I flipped to the first tab (for the first story in the unit) here is what I would find:
The first page is a reference page for the story.  It lists the high frequency words, spelling words and skills that correspond with the story.  On the back of that page is a list of the independent work and centers that we use during that story.

The front, which lists the high frequency words, spelling words and skills for the story.

The back lists the independent work and centers that we use during this story.

This page is a quick reference for everything that I need for that story.

The next few pages are the homework sheets that we use for the story.  These are in order (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).

Here is Monday’s homework for this story.

After the homework pages I have the reading test that goes with that story.

Then, I have the independent work that I use during the reading rotations.  The independent work that I use is two sided.  One side is a skill that corresponds with that specific story (high frequency word use, phonics practice, story comprehension, retell, etc.).  This is what I keep in these binders because they will never change.  The other side corresponds with the Common Core standard that we are teaching for that week (I keep these in the other set of binders because the order that we teach the skills changes from year to year and it seems like we never teach the same skill with the same story).

Here is Monday’s independent work for this story

After the five days of independent work I have the centers that I use during this story.

Here is the Writing Center that corresponds with this story

Finally, the last page is the decodable reader that we use in small groups to help teach the phonics skill.

I know it may seem a little crazy to have all of these binders, but it truly does work for me.  Here is an example of how I would use the binders:

Let’s say that I am planning for the third story in unit four.  I would get out my unit four binder and look at the scope and sequence to see that I am also teaching comparing and contrasting characters, so I would also grab my literature binder.

I would start with my unit four binder, flipping to the third tab (for the third story).  I have the homework for the week, the reading test, the independent work and centers all right there.  Then, I would flip to the RL.1.9 tab in my literature binder and find worksheets and activities that I want to use to teach the skill.

Yay!  Organizational heaven if I do say so myself!

My next step this summer is to make ask my husband to make a shelving unit to store all of these binders!

Please email me if you have any questions or need me to clarify anything!

I would also love to hear about the different ways that you organize your worksheets in your classroom.

In my next ‘organizational’ post, I will show you how I organize everything on my computer!