Time to be honest. We deal with a lot of paperwork.
Yep, I said it. I let our secret out.
IEPs, FIEs, BIPs, progress monitoring, data collection on IEP goals and objectives… it all requires paperwork, and that’s just on a slow day.
Supplies that will be helpful in implementing a color-coded classroom:
- Color Coded Bins
- Astrobrights Paper
- 1 inch white binders
- Sharpies
- Binder Rings (100-pack)
- Storage bins for IEP work
- Lakeshore Supply Caddy
So now that I have shared with you my favorite classroom supplies for color-coding my classroom (which is a great beginner list and where I started), I want to take you inside of my classroom to show you how I organize things.
Let’s start with this video I did on how to stay organized and sane as a special education teacher, with tips on how to utilize a color coded classroom:
I’m not sure what made it *click* in my mind, but once I went color-coded… well I have yet to go back actually.
It was one of the biggest game changers in my classroom over the last year… if not the absolute biggest, most positive game changer.
Each of my students has a colored bin inside of their desk. It helps keep the insides of student desks organized.
We use our desks in the morning for calendar and for iPad time.
Inside of this bin, students house their headphones, iPad tray, and possibly a chewy. Inside of their desk, each student also has a pencil box of icons for their specials schedule.
On top of their desk is the schedule and on the front board we flip a chart that tells the student what day it is. Every morning, students change out their special and tell us where they are going.
Not only does it help students take control of their learning, but it helps us (teachers and paras) remember who goes where on what day and when.
While I do not use these often, each of my students has their own absent work folder.
If a student is absent for more than one day, I will put important skill work they are missing inside of this folder for us to complete together when they come back.
Each of my students also has a shelf bin. Inside of this are their IEP Progress Monitoring Rings, a First Then board, sight word pockets, and other random supplies.
You can find the “Monday” sequence spelling (Days of the Week) activity in the Resource Library. There is also one for months of the year too.
Not only do my students have their own color-coded desk boxes, shelf bins, work spaces, IEP goal boxes, and iPad backgrounds… I keep each student’s progress data and information in a color-coded binder by my desk.
Not only does it help me visually (I mean, I can just grab a color and know it’s the correct student), but having these binders readily available helps me with impromptu, and even scheduled, meetings with parents or admin.
I wanted to show you a sneak peak inside of my [FREE] Parent Contact Binder too.
To create color-coded sections inside of my PCL, I simply laminated pieces of cardstock… which you can laminate construction paper or Astrobrights paper too.
Every time I talk to a parent, I log the information inside of this binder – or at least I try to remember to. Mostly for parent phone calls and parent meetings (since there is a record of email and ARD meetings).
This video shares a deeper look inside the Parent Contact Log and how I use it.
I know it seems super easy and like all you need to do is go buy colored bins… which is half the battle.
On the other hand, you have to implement the use of them in your classroom and teach your students their color.
I also have a specific name for each “bin,” which students need to learn for following directions (i.e., “go put that in your bin” versus “go put that in your box”).
How do organize “the mess” in your classroom?
Love this! What are those white sticks in the student shelf bins?
Sarah
Years That Ask Questions
They are pointers from the Target Dollar Spot.
How do you use them pointers
Please tell more about your IEP progress monitoring rings. 🙂
Thank you!
Send me an email, I'd love to tell you more 🙂 MrsDsCorner(at)outlook(dot)com
Great info for me es first year teacher.
I would love to hear about your progress monitoring rings as well. I teach middle school life skills..and also like to be crazy organized with colors. I don't have the space currently to be so organized but hopefully in years to come I will have more space.
Hey Nicole, here is a link to my blog post about the Progress Rings: https://www.mrsdscorner.com/2015/07/ProgressMonitoringMadeQuickEasy.html
I would love to try out your parent log but the link doesn't seem to work. Is there somewhere else I can download that?
Hey Breanna, Here is a link for the parent log: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Parent-Contact-Log-Melonheadz-Version–1407040
Where did you get the different colored binders?
I bought a few at random places (like Target, WalMart, and office supply stores), and then finished my set off using Amazon. It took me forever to find the orange one!
I LOVE this idea..however I have 10-13 kids regularly so I think finding colors for each kid would be hard. Any suggestions?
ReallyGoodStuff.com has bins in 12 different colors, and then they have special sets with more colors. You could always use that option. For me, I double up on colors and then label bins with students’ names, that way there is never any confusion 🙂
You are a genius!! I love your ideas. I’m going to use your progress monitoring rings. I’m so glad teachers like you take the time to make these blogs haha Is there a certain way you organize student work for the week?
What are the specific name you use for the bins ?
Which bins?
Where can I find the IEP binder?
You can find it here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Ds-Corner/Category/SPED-IEP-Binders-140688
Thank you so much for this! I really appreciated your examples.
I am trying to be more organized this year (and yes my desk is a total disaster too!) and color coding is the route I am trying.
The video and explanations are really helpful!
Thank you so much!!!
Thanks so much for sharing your God-given gifts. I made my first purchase today. I’m sure it won’t be the last lol. So I’m wondering if each student has everything in the same color (ex. orange binder, folders, notebooks etc.?). Please advise. Thanks.
Yes, they all have the same items.
Love the idea of your parent contact binders. Do you have a link to those (PCL and parent contact binder), it appears to be broken. Thanks
You can find this resource in the Resource Library here: http://www.mrsdscorner.com/resource-library
Great stuff! Be prepared, not scared, right?!
Where did you get the different binders. My classroom is color-coded too. Each student has their own color. Their binder, water bottle, cubbie, chromebook etc.. is all color coded. But I really like the the binders in your picture.
Target, Walmart, and Amazon.
hi link for progress rings says not available I am also interested in these I have just been keeping a sheet of paper with each studnets names their golas nad carrying it around with me when I work with them
Here’s the link: https://www.mrsdscorner.com/progressmonitoringmadequickeasy/
I like the progress monitoring rings. If you use those to record student data, how to you use the data collection pages you showed in the big student IEP binder? Thanks for the videos!
Larger data sheets are used for student specific behaviors or skills, and are often kept on clipboards. If a student has a goal related to that specific data sheet (like behavior), I transfer data results to the binder ring.
Do your kids get upset if they don’t have a particular color, or have kids fight over a color? It sounds dumb but that’s the biggest obstacle to this in my head.
It’s a non-negotiable thing 🙂 Kids don’t have the option to choose a color.