Organization at its best!

I'm not quite sure when my obsession with organization began, but I do know it kicked into high gear during college. I was the student with notebooks and folders that were labeled and matching for each subject. I had various organizers at home and in my car to help store these materials, and lived by my daily planner (which had highlights and sticky notes throughout).

My obsession for organization can be seen in my apartment, in my classroom, and pretty much wherever I go. Although some people think I'm crazy because of this habit, I believe it's one of the best habits to have! As a result of this obsession, I've successfully passed it on to my students at school (whether they like it or not!).

I teach sixth grade, which is a huge year in understanding organization. As students are switching classes and flying around the school, it becomes a learning process on how to stay on top of their materials. It surprises me that so many students struggle with this, but it confirms how society is changing and how some of these skills are lost in our growing digital age. Thanks to technology, with a few clicks, many things are completed. However, teaching kids to stay organized without any help is so important and at the top of my list. There are many things that technology can't fix, like cleaning up your mess after you make it, putting a paper in a folder, and learning how to find places to store important materials.

A few weeks ago, I chuckled to myself as I stepped into the elevator inside my apartment building. There was an advertisement for hiring a "professional organizer." At first, I was jealous because I hadn't thought of the idea. But then it dawned on me that people really struggle with this and need this help! This ad, a woman, was offering to either organize your life or to teach you how to do so. I wonder if people have taken advantage of the deal?

In the picture below, I took a snapshot of my life this evening. Back to school tomorrow after my 2 week holiday break. I had a knot in my stomach as I gathered my school bag and placed it by the kitchen table. I hadn't looked at a crumb of school work over my break. This is so not like me, but this break screamed for down time without school interruptions. Isn't that what these breaks are for anyway? My nerves were put to rest as I opened up my Manila folder filled with weekly plans for the year. I created this upcoming week's plans before I left. I {heart} organization!!

According to my weekly plan template, tomorrow we'll dive back into The Lightning Thief and The Hero's Journey. Each student has a Ziploc bag with their novel, notebook, pencil and post it's inside. (Also pictured below, if you look closely.) Organization at its best! :)