Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Work Boxes

Work Boxes: As mentioned multiple times in the past, I have a TON of work boxes.  Here are a few more:



 

Reading office supply sort: Random items from around the classroom are put into the container. Students read the label at the bottom of the sorting system and place the correct number of items!  So easy to setup, and FREE!


Filling Medicine Box:  I used small candies as the "pills".  Students got instructions on what "pills" were needed in AM/PM.  Have to fill out weekly medicine storage.

 
Item sort (similar shape edition):  In this task, students sort random items, but many have very similar shape, (rounded vs square edges).  Students sort accordingly.

 
Another shape sorter - this came as a math kit, I just dumped it into a work box!

Fine motor activity:  Students take the small pegs and push them into a piece of foam.



More to come in a few days!!!






Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Work Box Update!
Here are a few work boxes. . . hope you see some you like!

Pencil Case Pack - students follow the template to put items into pencil tins


Eraser Pack - Students place two erasers into containers accordint to template.  For this particular task, students have two different shape containers, so they must make sure to get matching tops for container.


Spelling Pack - Students much choose an item from box, then find the letters to spell that word and place it all into a tied bag.  Items are all mastered spelling words for that particular student.

Rubber Band Sort - Students sort the rubber bands by size.  I must admit, this one is HARD!  The rubber bands are very close in size, so they have to pay close attention.  


Money Sort - Students place coins into a money sorter according to denomination.  For lower functioning students who do not yet know the amount of each coin, one example can be velcroed into the container to provide a cue.


Number Package - Students place the correct number of lady bugs into the bag according to the numeral.  For this specific task, the number card also has dots that students can use to ensure correct number of items.


There are a few. . . I'll be placing more each few days!!!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Work Boxes - Organizational Nightmare Solved

Ok, if you've read any of my previous posts, you know I have a problem.  I am addicted to work boxes.  It is an addiction, a true addiction.  I cannot go more than a few weeks at a time without a trip to the dollar store to purchase materials for my newest work box idea.  I love that these can be teaching tools, independent practice, and can encompass so many skills at one time.
When you are as addicted to creating these as I am, you end up with so many boxes that it can become an organizational nightmare.  How do you know what's in each box?  How do you know what to assign each student?  Here is how I do it!

First, I created a color coded system for the types of boxes I have.



This helps me put boxes that are similar together on a shelf.  Each shelf has a strip of tape on it so that I know where that color/type box goes for easy finding and easy returning.


Each box is then given a label.  I try to make these 1-2 words, but slightly descriptive so that I can quickly figure out what the task inside is.  This label also gets a color coded dot so we can tell what shelf it will belong on.


I then make a second label that I laminate and add velcro to.  This one goes on their job chart.

And there you have it.  This is the way that I organize my work boxes.  It works for me.  It can still be a little overwhelming, but my kids have always been able to find their assigned boxes independently and are able to return boxes when necessary!

How do you organize and assign work boxes to your kiddos?



Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Summertime!!!

We made it, we made it!!!  It's summertime!!!

I, like many of you, will not be taking the summer off, but will continue to work with my kiddos in ESY (extended school year).  Despite the fact I'll be working, I LOVE SUMMER!  ESY is only 4 hours a day and we don't have to follow the same strict regimen of the school year.  I am so excited to get to spend some time having fun with my kiddos!  All of my students only have behavior goals for the summer, so I get to incorporate lots of social skills, games, and art projects. 

This summer, our schedule will be the following:
Student 1 Student 2 Student 3 Student 4 Student 5 Student 6
8:00 - 8:30                          Group / Calendar / Binder
8:30 - 9:00 Ipad File Folders File Folders Work Box Work Box Ipad
9:00 - 9:30 Work Box Ipad Ipad File Folder File Folder Work Box
9:30 - 10:00 File Folders Work Box Work Box Ipad Ipad File Folder
10:00 - 10:50                                   Art / Cooking
10:50 - 11:20                                      Lunch
11:20 - 11:30                            Break / Dismiss

Group / Calendar / Binder, I will be using the following resources, as well as others:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Daily-Warm-Ups-for-May-1228177

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Math-Warm-Up-2nd-Grade-Freebies-221653

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Special-Ed-Variety-Worksheets-506071

Work Boxes will include the work boxes we use throughout the year, and I plan to create some new ones. . . 

Ipads = educational activities on the Ipad.  Some favorites we will use:
(I can't figure out how to get pictures of these Apps, so here are links to some favorites)
  • Splash Math (grades K-3)  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/studypad-inc./id432105528
  • Monkey Lunchbox (and other THUP games)  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/thup-games/id328205878
  • My First App (match it up 1,2, and 3; opposites; Sort it out; What's the difference)  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/myfirstapp-ltd./id421655195
  • Kindergarten.com apps
And many more.  If I figure out how to do pictures, I'll post some other favorites soon!

File Folders = I will use adapted books, file folder activities, and Reading A-Z books during this time

Art and Cooking - Can you believe we have a designated art and cooking teacher for the summer!  She will plan activities for this time period.  I could not be more thrilled, especially since I have NO creative bones in my body!  

So, that's a run down of my ESY. . . what do you do during your summer programs??