Making good progress........

I spent quite a bit of time on the office at Montessori again today.  I feel really good about what I got done, and I'm trying not to get bogged down and overwhelmed about how much is left to do.  Like my cousin says, "If you're going to eat an elephant, take it one bite at a time" (or something like that).  My WAY COOL project is completed and I have to say it really turned out great.  I am posting the pictures here with a description of what I did or used.

Yesterday, I purchased a Cubicals organizer by Closetmaid from Target.  Several teachers at my school have them and I have been scheming about this since I found out I was hired for the Montessori position.  The fabric drawers were purchased separately (also at Target).  Since there are about 9 months of the school year and 9 drawers, I have labeled one drawer for each month.  That way, I will have a place to put all the activities for that month ahead of time and I can just grab the drawer when that month comes around.  I debated about using all natural colored drawers and sprucing each one up with seasonal ribbons.  However, they were out of the natural drawers last night, and I thought the different colors would give the office some pizzazz.  I picked the drawer colors by what colors kind of go with each season.  I had to really stretch for a few months (i.e. I used green for October) because I only had limited colors to choose from.  But I really love the way it looks.

Here is a closer-up photo of the drawers. 

Here is a close-up of the September drawer.  I used tags labelled with Creative Memories month stickers and tied them on with string.  Then I tied on seasonal ribbons to each drawer pull.  My oldest son helped cut the ribbon and really enjoyed working on this project with me. 

Here is the September drawer pulled out with some of the activities inside.  In addition to seasonal activities, I plan to place any science, geography, or cultural materials for that month in the drawer.  For example, we will be doing Living/Nonliving, Plant/Animal work in science in September and continent study for geography; so those materials will end up getting filed in the September drawer.  Additionally, I may put the birthday certificates and crowns for each month in the drawer ahead of time so they will be ready for the year.

Above are photos of a few more drawer handles.  If you would like to see more close-ups of the other months, post a comment.

And finally, I wanted to post this photo of the office looking a lot more organized than yesterday.  It is coming along.  I have a little left to do in here, then on to the classroom! 

Comments

[jordan retro 1]

Oh, How much I miss you! If the passionate refreshing breeze knows my heart, it can tell you that I miss you and care you for my life’s time. If graceful white cloud knows my heart, it can tell you I love you and would be together with you forever. Do you like it?

[Azy]

Thanks for posting your ideas. I am a new teacher and have lots of idea unorganized in my head, this helps me to kind of organize my thought.
I sent you an e,mail earlier about lesson plan and some ideas if you can give me for the months of th eyear, but I did not get any answers. I hope you keep posting your plans for each month because I am starting to love your blog and I recomended to my graduate freinds, they all found job and are new to their classroom and no clue how to deal with all the upcoming surprises and events. Thanks

[Ginnette Serrano-Correa]

This is such a grat idea! I love this and the notebooks by month. I teach Spanish and this is such a great way to keep all of my activities organized!

[Laura]

I am really loving the cube storage. I am thinking of getting another to store geography and science units.

[thimbleina]

You have made it look so nice, I think I could do with one of these storage things as I come across things and think I will need that in a couple of months time. If I could find one with 12 spaces I could put bits in each month.

[Laura]

Thanks, Lisa and Ashley, for commenting! It is very reinforcing to have comments posted! I am going to take a close-up photo of the print over the cubbies and post it tomorrow. I can't remember the exact wording of the quote on it. I found that print when going through everything and thought the colors worked perfectly in the office.

[Ashley Lundvall]

I love it!! I think I want to get a cubicle set for the girls and label the drawers with what toys, etc. It added so much color and I love how you tied the ribbons around the handles. Very creative!! The office looks so much better now :)

[Lisa]

This is so nice! What does the cute little picture over the cubbies say? (I'm a Montessori teacher too.) :)