Back to School Organization! 

Thematic Unit Binders

School is right around the corner... and can you believe that summer is almost gone? Have you been thinking of how your going to organize and set up your classroom? I have and I cannot WAIT to get started! One part of organization that I'd like to share with you today is about how I set up my Thematic Unit Binders. I have  a shelf in my classroom that I store my binders, typically behind my teacher desk for easy accessibility. I have them labeled on the binding what each unit is. I have about 30 of these binders. I know it sounds like a lot, but they have really saved me time and energy trying to track down assignments, craftivities, or photos of my classroom from the year before. Here are my binders that I had set up last year: 

Thematic Unit Binders

Inside each binder, I try and put photos of my classroom and how it looked during that unit. For example, if my theme was Owls, then I would put a photo of my owl theme center so I can remember how I organized it. I have theme centers for EVERY theme! But that's a whole other blog for another day!

Owl Theme Center

For the tabs inside the binder, I organize them by subject: Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Craftivities, Vocabulary Cards, and Lesson Plans. This is a quick and easy way for me to find something during a team meeting, or if a teacher comes and asks me about an activity or copy from last week, I can easily find it.

Binder Tabs

I might also put some books that I read to the students inside the binder, if I used a specific book for a specific lesson, to remind me for the next year.

Inside the binder...

I decided to create some really cute Thematic Cover Pages for each unit. And, I took pictures of all of them to show off! They are really cute and I can't wait to use them this year.

Title Page of Packet

August and September Units: 

Back to School/All About Me

Weather/Apples

October Units: 

Bats/Columbus

Owls/Pumpkins

November Units:

Native Americans/Thanksgiving

December and January Units:

Christmas and Celebrations/Winter and Snowman

Arctic and Eskimos/Antarctica and Penguins

February Units: 

Valentine's Day/Heart and Body

Groundhog Day/Presidents and America

Objects in the Sky/Texas


March and April Units: 

St. Patrick's Day/Easter

Insects/Rainforests

Earth Day/Spring

Plants/Fairy Tales

May Units:

Mother's Day/ Oceans and Sea Life

Rocks and Volcanoes/Summer and End of Year!

And that's the whole year of thematic units!
I hope you got some organizational tips and tricks for the new school year!  Have a wonderful and smooth first day of school!
If you are interested in checking out my thematic unit cover pages, click here:

Thematic Unit Cover Pages for Every Month and Holiday

Love, Kara

Graphics Courtesy Of: