Organization Project Wk 7: The Teacher Bag

So, as some of you might have noticed, I fell off the Clutter-Free Classroom Organization Project bus. Truthfully, I didn't fall off, I just put it on pause and I am ready to get it rolling again. I am skipping a few weeks, but will go back to them as I get those areas organized.

This post is linking up to Week 7: The Teacher Bag

My teacher bag...

 was not a mess, cluttered, or disorganized. I keep it pretty simple when it comes to my bags. I have one for my MacBook and all of it paraphernalia and another bag to carry my agenda, lunch bag, cardigans, etc... You know, all that stuff we cart back and fourth daily. I post about them previously and you can read about them by clicking on this link. However, I don't like carrying around 2 bags, and am in the process of consolidating these two bags into one. There is this dark purple sleeve I am waiting for and when I get it, my laptop will go in my large bag. When I work it out I'll let you know.

What I really struggled with this year was my weekend bag. The bag I use to cart around all my planning and assessment "tools" home for the weekend. At the start of this year I got a pretty nice, personalized, canvas bag. It is nice, but there is no real structure it. Everything flops around. Truth be told it became a catch all. I got tired of carting around items I would not use just because. 

One day my brain just combined two great ideas I found online and created a fabulous idea. Now I am sure I am not the first person to do this. I know that many of you bright people out there have done this before me, but I was proud of my self when it came to fruition.

I would us A bowl full of lemons "Command Center"/ Hadar's teacher table top organizer and combine it with a 31 bag. An idea I saw on I Heart Organizing.

I got the 31 Utility Tote from the fabulous Donna, of Kinderglynn. I go to her for all my 31 handbag needs. 

I found this plastic file box at Target.
I added Hanging file for:
1. To Copy/ Scan
2.  To File/ Grade
3. First Grade
4. Kindergarden
5. Miscellaneous

Because I teach multiple classes of First and Kinder, I added file folders to the First Grade and Kindergarten file folders. I labeled them:
First Grade: School A,
First Grade: School B,
Kindergarten: School A: K1,
Kindergarten: School A: K2,
and Kindergarten: School B.
Now I can neatly file writing samples, anecdotal notes, worksheets, etc... 

The file box fits perfectly in the utility bag. As you can see my teachers manuals and resource books fit beautifully in this bag too. I also added my handy dandy zebra clipboard that was a fab x-mass gift from a fellow teacher.

I also proceeded to make a table top organization station like Hadar's. It took me a year to find this organizer at Target. When I finally found it I snapped it up.
I did not need a place to keep my weekly work, I already have that, but I did want a place to store other papers that usually clutter my desk.

 I used the same files as my bag, and added a monthly calendar to the front and my triage copies, emergency procedures, label packet and conferencing notebook to the back.

 I also attached some "POP", Positive Office Passes with a binder clip to the back and added some ribbon to add some style.

what I am not happy about is that it takes up some desk space. HOWEVER, I do like having everything at my fingertips. So far it has been a hit.

 As for my bag...

I adore it and has been a dream to cart home on Fridays. It has been so easy to find what I want/ need to plan and grade.

What do you think?