Here is my next series of blog posts for you! This series will focus on math. The first blog post in this series is Math Material Storage Ideas. We all know it can get out of hand quickly!
Many math programs have started to move away from pencil and paper. They are encouraging students to use different hands-on methods to help them. Long gone are the times of just learning math “tricks” to get to the solution. Teachers want students to dive deeper into the questions. They want them to show how and why their answer is correct or figure out where they went wrong. With these changes and new math manipulatives and supplies, classrooms have become very crowded. Here are some easy math material storage ideas for your classroom.
Easy Math Material Storage Ideas
You may be thinking, “WOW, I have so many math materials! I need to figure out how to organize math manipulatives easily!” Here are some easy storage ideas to organize math materials. These storage ideas will make your math classroom organization a little easier and kid-friendly!
#1 Hanging File Folders
If you have math games or math centers you want students to be able to access easily, I suggest using hanging folders to hold the pieces. They can easily be labeled, and Baggies can be stapled on for cards/game pieces/etc. You do not need to worry about them becoming folded or sliding down in the container you keep them in.
#2 Snap Closed Storage Boxes
Suppose you use the math workshop model or have a math program with many different hands-on components like linking cubes, dice, fraction strips, etc. Grabbing these storage boxes will save you a lot of time and headaches. You can also use them to store dice, spinners, and game pieces for different math games or centers. The plastic containers fit really nicely under the hanging folders too!
#3 Rolling Cart
This is my favorite rolling cart because it has hanging containers and hooks! I love using the hanging containers for dry erase marker storage and other little odds and ends the students may need during math time. I also put bigger supplies like whiteboards, math center games, and early finishers on the different parts of the shelves where students can access them easily.
#4 Removable Labels
Some years you will teach guided math one way, and the next, you may switch it up depending on the class of students you have in front of you. It is always a great idea to have labels you can easily remove from bins or folders without leaving the white backing. Groups/ materials are very fluid in math; you may have to change the materials inside an individual’s container or a game bin. Having removable labels makes this 10x easier!
#5 Colored Trays
I love having students work in groups during my math block. It helps students see others’ thinking and problem-solving, and often they can easily fix each other mistakes and walk through challenging problems together. I use these trays to put any math supplies, games, or manipulatives my class may need during class. I love how they come with 8 different colors because I can easily assign a group a specific color to grab without two kids going after the same tray!
This helps keep transitions and classroom management under control too! Plus, they can be easily stacked on top of one another and stored when not used.
#6 Card Storage
Task cards are often popular in the classroom. They make perfect finishers, review, intervention, and more. Grabbing this photo organizer is a great way to store them all in one place. They fit pretty perfectly inside, and you can label them or organize the different cards by topic, depending on the color!
#7 Headphone/ Calculator Storage
Many math programs have an online component now, or you may use programs like Prodigy or ReflexMath with your students. Grabbing a safe hanging storage option for headphones is always a great way to keep them from getting lost or broken.
Math Material Storage Ideas
Organizing math supplies is always challenging. But when you have the correct storage systems, you will stay organized and ready for anything!
Looking for help with science material storage? This blog post should help!
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