We are using the Daily 5 this year and also have tables, not desks, for the first time, so I batted around several ideas this summer thinking about how to give my kids something personal (since they wouldn't have a desk), but also functional (since our room is only so big and can't support lots of extra "stuff").
The solution= Personalized Book Boxes!
I started with the Ikea FLYT Magazine Files:
$2 for 5 book boxes? Yes, please! I bought way too many and am actually using them to help keep me organized, so it's a win all around :) Plus, who doesn't love a trip to Ikea?!
I had read reviews that said these didn't hold up, so I thought that personalizing them would be the best way to help kids remember that these were their own personal boxes and to treat them accordingly. By decorating them they now have lots of color and kids showed a lot of pride when they were decorating them, so I'm now hoping they last past Winter Break :) :)
I then found lots of color Sharpies for super-duper cheap! I love Sharpies, so I know these will be well-used for many, many years. I bought 12 packs (2+ for each table) and I was pleasantly surprised to see that was enough for the group. That may also be that I have an incredibly sweet & kind group of kids, too :) Yay!
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| Keep you eyes peeled at Walmart for these- I think that's where I found them on sale. You can click the picture to get them from Amazon, but they aren't as cheap :( |
I then talked to them about their book bin and how these would live close to our class library and hold our books for the whole year. I had 2x4" labels with their names on the front and they could decorate the sides with their own designs, colors, favorite books, characters.... whatever! It was theirs and they were excited about the personalization piece.
Now, my students have their designs all over their bin and they have a fun way to show off a little bit of themselves and their personality in our room!
Head over to 4th Grade Frolics to see all of the other wonderful Monday Made Its! Have a great week :)
Great idea!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to have the kids decorate them. It's amazing what allowing them that ownership does to how they treat things. Do you keep any other items other than books in their book boxes? I am working with the teachers at my schools on setting these up and looking for different ideas.
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
Antoinette
Hi Antoinette,
DeleteFor now, my students only keep their books in there. They are definitely not as sturdy as our plastic bins from Really Good Stuff, so I'm afraid to put too much more in them :)
~Stephanie
Terrific idea! I ended up buying some black plastic magazine folders with my budget money and will hope they last a few years. Next time I'll look into IKEA.
ReplyDeleteCorrina
Mrs. Allen’s 5th Grade Files
Hi Corrina,
DeleteLots of my colleagues have the black bins, but I was out of money (spent too much already!). I was worried at first, but these turned out to be a fun solution :) :) I definitely need to budget better next year, though, lol ;)
~Stephanie
This is such a great idea. I love that they are making their own boxes personalized for them.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Fun in Room 4B
PS- gave you a shout out today on my blog about your WBT rules :)
Thanks so much, my friend :)
Delete~Stephanie
Love! I might just need to go to ikea to buy those!
ReplyDeleteI use those book boxes too. I let my kid decorate them too. Great minds think alike.
ReplyDeleteAdventures of a Third Grade Teacher