There is so much going on in the library media center that it can feel overwhelming to stay organized.
I am not an organized person by nature. It is something that I have had to, and continue to, work on. Because I hate feeling like a scattered brain hot mess!
BUT organization is critical. Especially if:
I check off about 5 of those criteria. Which means I need to be organized!
I have some standard things that I bet a lot of us use. Things like my reminders app, storage containers and shelving, color coding, and folders.
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Not all librarians are fortunate enough to have an office, and need a way to organize all that librarian stuff. I lost my office the same year I had foot surgery. Which is the same school year COVID hit. Limited mobility means that it took me a minute to get everything organized that was in my office.
But can I be honest?
It was then that I realized that the more space I have, the more stuff I’ll find to fill it. Not to mention that I’m spreader. I’ll spread stuff out around the room in organized piles if I have the room.
So losing an office was a good way to get me to limit all that stuff.
I tossed the stuff that I knew I’d never use again. And then I bought some storage carts for the stuff I wanted and needed to keep.
I use the wide storage cart to keep things like borders, pocket charts, all of those bookmarks, etc.
The hardware storage is perfect for batteries, post-its, paper and binder clips, binder rings, etc.
All of this was key because when I lost my office I also lost my desk. Because quite honestly where in the library would I even put it?
So my circulation desk became my desk. On the top and underneath! It works really well, too. Because everything that I use on the daily is handy in that toolbox. Then everything else that I need but don’t use as regularly is under the circ desk.
And alas, it seems like a Library Media Specialist’s job is never done. With teaching classes, shelving books, purchasing books, staying up – to – date with pedagogy and technology. It can frequently feel like an overload.
If you are an elementary educator then it goes without saying that you’re BUSY.
All of that creates a never ending to-do list. Once upon a time I used post-its to keep all of those reminders handy. With a number of students and staff walking through the library media center every day, and having two floors, this is just unrealistic.
Instead, I use the reminders app on my phone.
I use that app to create a list of things that I need to do, are in progress, and I want to check out or buy.
When someone shares a cool app, tool, or book I add it to my reminders. If I need to check in with a students, I add it to the app. As I get in the middle of a project like weeding, looking for lost books, or inventory, I keep track where I am in my app.
Because then POOF! Once I finish looking into it, buying it, or doing it I just check it off my list.
There is just something incredibly satisfying about ticking an item on a to-do list.
Most elementary Librarians and Library Media Specialists are on a fixed or semi flex schedule. This means they are teaching an array of library media content to a number of classes across a number of grade levels.
There needs to be systems for keeping both students and curriculum organized!
To keep students and their materials organized, I use a color coding system.
Sit spots are used with all students. With the younger students, sit spots are placed in a circle. They sit in a spot until everyone has a spot. Then once we transition to work time, they move to the coordinating work table.
This is where the colored utility baskets come in. Each table has a colored basket on it. It has crayons, pencils, etc. When it is time to transition, I’ll call students on a yellow sit spot to sit at a yellow table.
Those craft boxes are perfect for keeping smaller crayons and moveable pieces for activities. So a red box goes with the red table, the white box with the orange table (because there is not an orange box).
These are quick and easy ways that require practically no prep. After the initial set up, you never have to think about it again!
I used to use a seating chart that was color coded, but have since switched to this sit spot system to keep coding alive throughout the school year.
Curriculum can become a beast to organize! One that I have come to learn to tame!
A lot of Librarians and Library Media Specialists have to create their own lessons, units, and curriculum. I am no different.
But to be honest, I really enjoy doing it! I enjoy developing a Scope and Sequence that outlines what I’m going to teach each grade, when I’m going to teach it, and deciding how it will scaffold over the years.
To keep all of that organized, I use these poly pocket folders.
I have everything for all grade levels related to coding in one 8 pocket folder.
All of the digital citizenship curriculum for all grades in another 8 pocket folder and so on.
It makes it super easy to find all the things in one spot when it’s time to teach that stuff.
The waterproof snap folders come in handy when it’s time to use that curriculum.
Each folder is assigned to a table. So the purple folder goes at the purple table, the yellow folder at the yellow table and so on.
Inside of each folder I place any directions, handouts, worksheets, or activities that we’ll be working on.
The way that I do it is with sheet protectors. Each sheet protector is labeled with the grade level. At the front of the sheet protector is the directions or student handout. Behind those directions are the materials students will use.
This makes it easy to swap out materials in those few fleeting minutes between classes. If first grade is leaving, I put it back in the envelope. If Kindergarten is coming in, I take out those activities and pop them into the utility basket.
Believe it or not, this saves so much time that I even have time to use the bathroom and refill my water bottle!
I love this wall organizer! I just bought a super duty 3M hook to hang it on and it has been a life saver!
I label each pocket with a grade.
Then I can place any upcoming activities in the pocket along with any student work in progress. Although, I try to make sure all activities can be finished in one class period!
I love these materials so much that I have bought doubles of them all! I have set for the first and second floor. That way, no matter where we are learning, we’ve got what we need!
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