You
know you’re a teacher if you get really excited to talk about BOOK BOXES. Ha! I
love book boxes and I just can’t hide it.
No shame in my game!
know you’re a teacher if you get really excited to talk about BOOK BOXES. Ha! I
love book boxes and I just can’t hide it.
No shame in my game!
 |
| We keep them stored on the counter. These are our plastic Storex ones. |
I’ve
used book boxes for many years because my students don’t use traditional
desks. Granted, I have some typical
school desks in our room but I actually turn them so they can’t access the desk
part.
used book boxes for many years because my students don’t use traditional
desks. Granted, I have some typical
school desks in our room but I actually turn them so they can’t access the desk
part.
That’s
not meant to be vengeful or anything.
Promise! By not shoving every
paper and scrap known to man inside a desk (and you KNOW kids do), they are a)
able to move freely to work the room and b) not tied down to a specific spot.
not meant to be vengeful or anything.
Promise! By not shoving every
paper and scrap known to man inside a desk (and you KNOW kids do), they are a)
able to move freely to work the room and b) not tied down to a specific spot.
Wait. Those are basically the same but so
important.
important.
Which
is well and good but leaves an issue of STUFF.
Spirals, novels, folders. Our
friends tend to come with a few necessities and they need a place for them that
is easily accessible.
is well and good but leaves an issue of STUFF.
Spirals, novels, folders. Our
friends tend to come with a few necessities and they need a place for them that
is easily accessible.
 |
| When they need more supplies, they can come and grab from these black baskets. |
Timeout:
I’ve tried to store things communally and if you do and it works for you, hats
off and cheers! It has simply never
worked for me. The traffic jams, the
instructional minutes spent passing things out, the “this one can’t be mine
because the cover is bent” just sent me into a real dark hole of teaching. I climbed out and am not afraid to say it’s
just not my jam.
I’ve tried to store things communally and if you do and it works for you, hats
off and cheers! It has simply never
worked for me. The traffic jams, the
instructional minutes spent passing things out, the “this one can’t be mine
because the cover is bent” just sent me into a real dark hole of teaching. I climbed out and am not afraid to say it’s
just not my jam.
But,
book boxes are! Originally, I was buying
the cardboard magazine holders from Ikea to solve the problem of stuff
storage. In recent years, I bit the
bullet and bought plastic ones (THESE) and have never looked back. They hold up so well, whereas the Ikea ones
lasted about one calendar year before they couldn’t take another breath.
book boxes are! Originally, I was buying
the cardboard magazine holders from Ikea to solve the problem of stuff
storage. In recent years, I bit the
bullet and bought plastic ones (THESE) and have never looked back. They hold up so well, whereas the Ikea ones
lasted about one calendar year before they couldn’t take another breath.
So
what goes inside? I consider book boxes
to be the pulse of our instruction.
These are the things that must be easily accessible pretty much
throughout our day. For us, that’s our
independent novels, our writers notebooks, our ELA spirals, and our unfinished
work folders.
what goes inside? I consider book boxes
to be the pulse of our instruction.
These are the things that must be easily accessible pretty much
throughout our day. For us, that’s our
independent novels, our writers notebooks, our ELA spirals, and our unfinished
work folders.
 |
| This was taken one random afternoon. With guidance and practice and discussion, they do a FABULOUS job keeping them tidy and organized. |
When
a student wants to work around the room, 99% of the time, they grab their book
box (or at least something FROM their book box) before setting out. It almost acts as an “X marks the spot”
around the room.
a student wants to work around the room, 99% of the time, they grab their book
box (or at least something FROM their book box) before setting out. It almost acts as an “X marks the spot”
around the room.
Now,
it should be noted that we also have cubbies in our class and we call those
“long term storage.” We don’t typically
use every textbook everyday so they sit in the cubbies. These COULD be communally stored but I already
mentioned (in too many words) that I’m a big old failure in that area so we keep
in cubbies.
it should be noted that we also have cubbies in our class and we call those
“long term storage.” We don’t typically
use every textbook everyday so they sit in the cubbies. These COULD be communally stored but I already
mentioned (in too many words) that I’m a big old failure in that area so we keep
in cubbies.
 |
| You can see the cubbies here. We are VERY lucky to have this storage! |
Students
are responsible for keeping their book boxes neat and tidy. When they leave each day, ours must be lined
up on the counter. The public display
aspect will, I promise, encourage a little more thought and organization than a
traditional desk. In fact, I frequently
hide class cash in book boxes that are neat and tidy. I wait until they leave for the day and act
like a giant tooth fairy, shoving paper bills into ones that make the cut. You could also do citations (which can be a class
job) but I try real hard to focus on the positive.
are responsible for keeping their book boxes neat and tidy. When they leave each day, ours must be lined
up on the counter. The public display
aspect will, I promise, encourage a little more thought and organization than a
traditional desk. In fact, I frequently
hide class cash in book boxes that are neat and tidy. I wait until they leave for the day and act
like a giant tooth fairy, shoving paper bills into ones that make the cut. You could also do citations (which can be a class
job) but I try real hard to focus on the positive.
When
students come in each day, they grab their book box, move it to their spot, and
join us for morning meeting. Before they
leave each day, they move their book box back to the counter, always placed
back in numerical order. I label mine
with their student number, which expedites both the arrival and departure
process.
students come in each day, they grab their book box, move it to their spot, and
join us for morning meeting. Before they
leave each day, they move their book box back to the counter, always placed
back in numerical order. I label mine
with their student number, which expedites both the arrival and departure
process.
 |
| These are the cardboard ones from Ikea. I used the duct tape to reinforce it. |
Do
you use book boxes? Paper? Plastic?
Metal? Is it weird that I like to
online “window shop” book box options?
you use book boxes? Paper? Plastic?
Metal? Is it weird that I like to
online “window shop” book box options?
Don’t
answer that.
answer that.
I am loving all of your new blog posts! The link for the book bins you use doesn't seem to be working for me. Are they the large or small storex bins? I am moving to fourth grade next year and would love to invest in a similar set for myself. Thanks!
Hi Brenna! I'm sorry the link isn't working. I wonder if they stopped carrying them. If you're willing to make the investment, Lakeshore has AWESOME ones!
Hi! Th boxes can be found at school specialty. Stores large magazine… BTW do you have the numbers that you used?