Math Crayon Tins Save Time!

Hi Friends,
The countdown has begun.  I have 16 days before I go back to school.  YIKES!  My classroom is ready and I'm currently working on curriculum planning and a few other things that save learning time once school begins. 

I'd like to share how I use math crayon tins to save learning time during math.  My school district uses Saxon Math.  If you are familiar with Saxon Math, then you know that the kids need one or more of the 8 basic colors of crayons to complete some parts of their math worksheets on a daily basis.  Well, when kids need a red crayon, for example, there are always kids that can't find their red.  Sometimes they need two or three different colors and they may have two of them and not the other.  I don't like wasting class time having kids look through their desks for a particular color of a crayon.  So, what's a teacher to do?

 

Here's what I have been using for many years and it works great!  I put the 8 basic colors in an Altoid tin and put a name label on the lid.  Names will be added once I get my class list.



 These are stored in a plastic basket labeled "Math Crayons." 

 



The tins are passed out only during math time.  The kids always have the 8 basic colors they need in their tin.  There's no need to look in their desk.   Occasionally someone will say, "My green crayon is missing!"  Well, I planned for that too.  I have two caddies that hold the 8 basic colors, so kids know where to go if one of their crayons turns up missing.  When we are done with math, I always ask the kids to check their tins and make sure they have all 8 of their crayons. 

 



Here are some materials I used to prepare the math tins.





Where do I get the Altoid tins?  I have a friend's Dad that saves them for me? (Thanks Karen Uzzell!!!) 

I Can Use That in My Classroom!

Hi Friends!  Do you ever see something and say, "I can use that in my classroom for ***."  I do it all the time.  It doesn't matter where I am, I always find things to use in my classroom.  I think there should be a medical term for this type of behavior.  Maybe "Classroomuseitus" would be be a good term.  Well, whatever it is, I have it BAD!  I find uses for things that are actually meant to be used for something else.  For example, I found one of those new Cottonelle decorative toilet paper roll holders in the package with my toilet paper the other day.  Right away my Classroomuseitus kicked in and I started thinking of ways I could use it in my classroom.  It's a very sturdy plastic container and the lid stays on tightly.  Maybe I could store a center game or activity in it.  Here are some other storage items I picked up when my Classroomuseitus was flaring up! 

Here's the Cottonelle toilet paper holder.

I use this SpongeBob metal lunchbox to store my huge

 collection of little erasers that I use for counters.

I saw a large coffee can at my mom's and covered it with

scrapbooking paper and use it to hold my pointers.

I saw this utensil holder at Target and knew right away how I could use it.

I saw this in a Pampered Chef catalog and knew I needed it right away!  It revolves!

Okay, I admit that I didn't need these, but they are so darn cute!

Lock & Locks are great for storing Playdough because they are airtight and easy to open & close.

We all need tubs for crayons, right?

Altoid tins are perfect for storing crayons.  I have the 8 basic colors

that my kids need for math stored in here.  No time is wasted looking for the

right color.

I found this old wooden tray at the Goodwill and knew it would

be perfect for holding extra supplies.

This is from IKEA.  Perfect for holding the puppies my kids

read to during self-selected reading.

I can never pass up a cute basket big enough to hold holiday or seasonal

books.  This one holds Valentine books.

Recently I purchased this little plastic Easter basket

from Walgreens.  I didn't really need it, but it was 50% off.

Finally, I saw this cute wooden box at Gordmans and knew right away

that I could find some use for it in my classroom.  I was so sure that

I bought 4 of them!

Still thinking on this one.

Do you suffer from Classroomuseitus?  Maybe we could start a therapy goup!