File Folder Pocket Chart

My goal this year is to be super organized and keep my desk clear of clutter (a girl can hope right?)!  After creating labels for magazine files to organize some of the materials I use often in my classroom, I wanted to create my own pocket chart to store class lists and things I need to file away for future use.  Who needs to spend way too much money on buying a pocket chart when you could make one in about an hour?!

For this project, I used 3 file folders, cardstock, zebra scrapbook paper (I purchased a single sheet for $.50), puffy letters and jungle stickers from JoAnn Fabrics, and zebra stripe duct tape.  I didn't have colored file folders and didn't want to spend $20 on 100 of them just to use 3, so I glued colored cardstock to the front of the folders to make them a little more colorful.  You could use scrapbook paper or duct tape (they have superhero duct tape!) to create just about any design to match your classroom theme, and this project was so easy to do once I could figure out how to glue the folders together.

The directions on how to complete this project can be found on The Silver Lining.  My tip: flip the folders around backwards and nest the folders inside of one another so the back of the folders will be the front of your pocket chart when you are finished.  It was easier for me to visualize how to put the folders together this way!  Now I can finally say I made something from Pinterest that I have been pinning for the past year!

Organizing Materials

For my first post, I wanted to write about a DIY project I made because I love, love, LOVE doing craft projects.  This summer has been dedicated to getting ready for my new classroom this since this is the first year in four years of teaching I know I have a job in the fall more than two weeks before school starts! YIKES!!!

With all of the time I have this summer (yeah, right) I decided to spend more time organizing my classroom so I can start the year off right!  The first DIY project I did was inspired by the Clutter Free Classroom, which I altered by making my own labels for magazine files that I bought from Target for approximately $2.39 each.  She bought the magazine files from Ikea for cheaper, which were made from cardboard, but I wanted something I could use from year to year and easily change out the labels if I moved to a different grade level.

Teaching preschool this year, I don't need labels for each day of the week, so I created labels to easily access materials I use often.  The labels are from 3AM Teacher on TpT and are FREE.

After creating the labels, I printed and laminated them, and glued them on with hot glue.  The labels can be easily removed and changed out if necessary.  Not bad for my first DIY project!