Organization Week: Chore Charts and More

Here are a few more organizational ideas:

I share how I made our chore chart for this year over at Motherhood on a Dime.

We used this "Helping Hands" chore chart last year.

We still use this spice rack for our tiny craft items!

You can also find a whole board of organization ideas I pinned over at Pinterest!

Feel free to leave your organization ideas (and links if you have any) in the comments below!  I love to find new ideas!

Idea and Activity Organization: Index Cards to the Rescue!

I have a confession. 

I struggle with brain clutter!

I have too many ideas.  I write them on pieces of paper.  I lose the paper (and I can't find it when I want it).  It drives me insane!

So, I came up with this simple idea.  Whenever I have an idea for an activity for the girls, I write it on a colored index card.  I place it in an index card holder, and when I'm planning or looking for something to do, I can pull out the cards with all my ideas on them!

I've also listed every learning activity we have on white index cards.  When I want to plan which ones to use, I just pull out eight to ten activities and get them ready for the next week.  Then, I move those cards to the back, and we have a fresh rotation the next week!

I can't say my mind is completely uncluttered, but it's helping!!  And I remember to utilize the activities we have that I sometimes forget about! 

*On a side note, I've also found Pinterest helpful in organizing ideas, but sometimes I just need a break from the computer!!

Organization Week: Our School Room Bookshelves

For those of you interested in our homeschool classroom, here are our slightly messy bookshelves!



I have a *slight* obsession with bookshelves!  Over the past five years, I've asked for bookshelves for my birthday presents and Christmas presents....and I now have quite a few!  Two of these bookcases are right by our school table -- making it very easy to keep everything we need close-at-hand.

Like the craft supply closet, I use a few different storage options.  Chocolate milk mix containers are fabulous for storing scissors.  They are also the perfect size for markers, dry erase markers, or colored pencils.

I load up a shower caddy with pencils, erasers, glue, and scissors to make a portable school supply box!  Then, we can take it upstairs or outside (or wherever we want to do school that day)!

In the other bookcase, I store curriculum we use every day, so I have easy access to it.  Curriculum worksheets and paper are stored in stacking trays.  You can see our craft supply holder made from an old spice rack -- perfect for tiny items like beads!  I also keep a shelf of thematic books.  Of course, each of the girls has books in her room, but these are some of my favorites to go with certain themes!

We use learning baskets during our school time, so I have a small box filled with ideas for activities, and there is a box of file folder games from my teaching days!

What are your favorite ways to store school books and supplies?!!

Organization Week: My Craft Storage Closet

Welcome to Organization Week at The Amazing Mess!

I have to admit...I was planning to take you on a little video tour this afternoon, but my plans were changed! My friend, Donna, very generously gave me two big boxes of craft supplies, so I'm sorting and rearranging. And it is terribly unorganized at this point! NO VIDEO ALLOWED!! :)

So, I'm just going to show you my craft closet today. We inherited this wardrobe at our previous house (the owners didn't want to move it, so they just left it). Though nothing fancy, it has worked well for us. I'm currently using it for storage and also as a room divider to separate our family room and school room!

Inside Our Craft Closet

My very favorite way to organize our craft supplies is with plastic shoeboxes. I have acquired these over the years, but they are perfect for so many items! They also stack neatly and you can store them in a variety of places.

We use them for:

• Markers
• Crayons
• Glue
• Stickers
• Ballooning
• Math games
• Flashcards/notecards
• Stamping
• Misc.
• Pipe cleaners/pom-poms
• Fun foam/felt
• Paint
• Modeling clay
• Glitter and glitter glue
• Play-doh
• Cookie Cutters
• Books on tape (yes, we still have some cassette tapes!!)

There are a few other storage containers I use, too:

• Popcorn tins
• Wipes containers
• School supply boxes
• Random packaging (plastic jars, strawberry containers, etc)
• Shower caddy
• Plastic bags (I hang them with a skirt hanger)

You can see, I also have my trusty laminator (yes, I'm crazy about it), tons of games, our favorite cardboard blocks, learning baskets (well, boxes and bags!), and random craft supplies!

How do you store your craft supplies?!!

Help for My Bookshelves!

This is a simple idea I used in my classroom.  I really should've started this with my girls a long time ago, but I just forgot about it!

You need:
Paint stir stick
Markers or crayons

1)  Using markers or crayons, write your child's name (or they can write their own) on the paint stick.  Allow the child to decorate the stick.

2)  When your child gets a book off the shelf, they slide in the stick to mark the place where the book belongs.  Once your child replaces the book, they can move the stick and pick out another book.

I am hoping this transforms our bookshelves!  If we (myself included) can get in the habit of doing this every time, I foresee fewer piles of books around the house!

This post is linked to ABC and 123:  Let's Get Organized

Learning Baskets

Learning Baskets (or Bags or Boxes) are something I started when my oldest was a toddler!  Just recently, I've discovered a whole system called the Workbox System by Sue Patrick.  I still mainly use my Learning Baskets the way I originally did, but I've added some aspects of the Workbox approach. *Update:  I tried this for a while, but this approach didn't work for me -- so I just do learning baskets the way I've always done them!

A Learning Basket is simply a basket (or box or bag) with a learning activity in it!  I have acquired many various activities appropriate for preschoolers, so I rotate those through the baskets.  I generally have 4-6 different baskets available during the morning.  I let each girl pick whatever baskets she would like to do!

I also have a Book Basket on top of the bookshelves for each girl.  I usually put books about our weekly theme in the basket, and I also include easy readers (for my older daughter) or alphabet books (for my youngest daughters).

Some ideas for Learning Baskets include:

Puzzles

Melissa and Doug "See and Spell"

Shape Sorter

Coloring Books

Stacking cups

Cotton Balls in an Ice Cube Tray

Magformers

Clothespin Basket

Rice Bin

Craft Stick Puzzles

Lacing cards

Learning Pallette

Magnet Books

Sticker Books

Jigsaw Books

Pattern Blocks

Name Activities

This approach really works well for me, because it forces me to have activities planned for my preschoolers!  I try to sit down the weekend before, look through my master list of activities and ideas, and plan the baskets for each day of the next week. 

Here is a sample planning sheet for the learning baskets, but I'm just using a teacher's planner I found at Target for $1!!

Let me know if this is helpful for you and/or if you would like more details.  Please, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me!

Preschool Curriculum

Several people have asked what preschool curriculum we use!  I don't actually use one specific curriculum, but I just pick and choose ideas to go along with my weekly theme.  With that said, I do know that often it is easier to have something already planned and laid out for you.  While I don't believe preschoolers need a formal curriculum (gasp!), direction is sometimes helpful. 

Here are several of my favorite preschool curriculum options:

Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler has a complete "Letter of the Week" curriculum available for download for just $10!  You can also search her site and find the links for free (if you want to take the time to do that), but it's easily worth $10 to have the complete set (over 1500 pages) on your computer!  Even if you aren't looking for curriculum, check out her site!  It is beautiful, well-designed, and full of great ideas!

Laura at Heavenly Homemakers has just recently released a complete curriculum entitled "Learn Your Letters...and Learn to Serve."  I LOVE her idea of a service project for your family every week!  The curriculum includes:  Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve Book of ideas, instructions, recipes, tutorials and service planners - Alphabet Practice Packet - Alphabet Project Packet - Memory Verse Packet - Parent Planning Packet.  Laura also blogs about menu planning, recipes, gardening, and more!

Now is a great time to buy the "Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve" curriculum.  Click this link and put the code BACK2SCHOOL in your shopping cart to receive 20% off (offer good through Thursday, August 12th at 11:59 PM CST)

Carisa at 1+1+1=1 has a wonderful free preschool curriculum called Raising Rock Stars.  The curriculum is a journey through the Bible.  Carissa offers tons of free printables and activities (and I love her posts about photography) on her website!  Take some time to check it out, it is well worth it!

I have used ideas from Hubbard's Cupboard since my oldest was two!  It is a free curriculum with printable lesson plans for 2-5 year olds!  The 2-year-old curriculum is thematic (I have used it with my 3 & 4 year olds as well).  There is also Bible and Rhyme for 3-year-olds and Joyful Heart Character for 4-year-olds. 

Whew!  There are so many resources out there, it can be a little overwhelming!  No matter what you choose to do, remember to take time to play together, read together, and have fun making memories together!

Craft Supply Holder (from a Carousel Spice Rack)

Does anyone else have an unused spice rack setting on the counter (or is it just me)?!! 


I've had one for quite a while.  Sadly, I've used very few spices out of it, and the rest aren't very good!  I figured it was about time to repurpose it!


Supplies:
Old spice rack
Small craft supplies

1)  Clean out the spice containers.  Fill with small craft items!


The pom-poms, beads, brads, wiggly-eyes, and more finally have a home!


This post is linked to ABC and 123:  Let's Get Organized

Magnetic Menu Planner II (Simplified Version)

I love the first magnetic menu planner I made, but it took quite a bit of time.  I came up with a simplified version (and a VERY frugal version)!

You need:

Paint samples (I had a file of old ones from repainting last year)

Scissors or paper cutter

Permanent marker

Magnets (junk mail or old business magnets work well)

Refrigerator or other magnetic surface

1)  Pick out a handful of coordinating paint samples (approximately 5-8 cards).  I had both wide and narrow samples, so I chose to use the wider ones.

2)  Cut each individual color apart.  Make them approximately the same height.

3)  Make 30-40 cards.

4)  Write individual dinner ideas on each color using a permanent marker.

5)  Glue a magnet on the back of each card.  Hang on your refrigerator or other magnetic surface! 

I printed my main heading and days of the week from my computer and laminated them, but you could write them out as well.  I love how this is so easy, inexpensive, and quick!  It will also be easy to add and change menu ideas! 

Like the other menu planner, you can also plan for a week or a month at a time.  Your dinner ideas are right in front of you, so you'll have plenty of options.  You can also pick the best meals for what you have in your pantry or what you find on sale!  Finally, you can easily change plans if necessary.

Magnetic Menu Planner

I am so excited about this!!  But first, I need to give credit to Robin Sampson from the Heart of Wisdom blog.  She shared a similar idea on her blog, and I loved the idea of it.  I wanted to make it as frugally as possible, so I searched for other magnetic menu planners and found this one from Amy at The Red Chair Blog.  I tweaked it a little bit, but I love how it turned out!

You need:
Copy paper
Computer and printer
Scrapbook paper
Scissors (or paper-cutter)
Laminator (or contact paper or packing tape)
Magnets (from advertisements or phonebooks or a roll of magnet strip)
Glue
Refrigerator or other magnetic surface

1)  Make a list of favorite dinners.  I would suggest about 30-35.  You may also want to include some for the days you eat out and some blank ones for new recipes (if you laminate them, you'll be able to use a dry erase marker and reuse the blank ones).  Type them up in a simple program and print them out.  You will also need to print out the days of the week and a title for your menu.  (I'm not giving you precise measurements, because they will vary according to how large or small you want the menu to be on your refrigerator!)

2)  Cut the dinner ideas apart.  Then, pick a couple of coordinating pieces of scrapbook or other decorative paper for your menu.

3)  Cut the scrapbook paper a little bit larger than the dinner ideas.

4)  Center and glue the pieces together.

5)  Laminate and cut out each piece.  If you do not have a laminator, contact paper or even packing tape will work.

6)  Glue a magnet (you can reuse junk magnets from phone books or other advertising) to the back of each part.

7)  Arrange on your refrigerator!  Extra pieces are easily stored in a small basket or on the refrigerator for easy access.

So far, I love having my magnetic menu!  I love that I can plan a whole month or just a week's worth of dinners!  I love that my dinner ideas are right in front of me (so I don't get stuck in a rut)!  I love how easy it is to swap out one meal for another (no pen marks all over the calendar when I need to make a change)!

The only thing I didn't like about making this magnetic menu planner was that it was a little time-intensive.  In my next post, I am going to share a simplified version with you!  Also, keep your eyes open!  I'm going to have a giveaway soon.  If you win, I'll make you a magnetic menu planner (personalized with your favorite dinners and desired colors)!

Our Preschool Daily Schedule

Several months ago, someone asked me about our daily schedule.  We do have one!  We don't always follow it exactly, and we are definitely not rigid about it!  Things got a little crazy during the summer, so I'm ready to get back into a routine.  I thought we'd start off our organizing week with a new schedule!

Here is our schedule for my preschoolers.  Please realize this is just what works for our family during this season of our life (back when I had three little ones under the age of four, this schedule would not have worked for us -- it was quite a feat just to have everyone dressed and fed by noon)!  My days are also more structured now that we homeschool our oldest daughter.

7:00-8:45 AM - Arise, television time, breakfast, and chores.


8:45-9:30 AM - Bible time


9:30-9:45 AM - Morning Circle


9:45-10:30 AM - Preschool Learning Baskets/Book Basket (I'll post more on these later this week)


10:30-11:00 AM - Snack, Music and Movement


11:00-11:30 AM - Preschool Time


11:30-12:00 PM - Free Play


12:00-1:00 PM - Lunch/Clean-Up/Time with dad/


1:00-3:30 PM - Read Aloud/Naptime


3:30-5:30 PM - Errands, Classes through the Rec. or Art Centers, Free time, Dinner prep


5:30-6:30 PM - Dinner/Clean-up


6:30-7:15 PM - Family time


7:15-7:45 PM - Bedtime routine


8:00 PM - Good Night!

Even as I write this, I'm laughing to myself!  If we follow our schedule half the time, we are doing pretty well!  As an idealist, I often plan and schedule with great intentions.  It just doesn't always get done (the way I think it should)!

If you don't have a schedule, my advice is to start small!  Don't overwhelm yourself with a rigid routine.  Pick one or two intentional things you would like to do every day and start with those.  Preschoolers need (and thrive) with some structure, but they also need time to just play and explore the world.  Depending on your personality, you probably lean towards one extreme (rigid schedule) or the other (no schedule).  At least in my experience, finding a balance will make your days a little smoother!

I'm linked up with Not a Back-to-School Blog Hop:  A Day in the Life Week

Back to School: Time to Organize!!

During the next week, I want to share a few things we're doing to get organized for the upcoming school year (I can just imagine my mom reading this and laughing right about now -- because she sees on a regular basis how messy things can really get around my house)!  I'm actually pretty good at coming up with ideas and getting things organized.  The problem is that it just doesn't stay that way.  I'm still working on that!

Here is a picture of our school/play area BEFORE we begin our organizing week.  It is seriously a mess, and there is absolutely nothing amazing about this mess! 

I try to remind myself that my house is "clean enough to be healthy and messy enough to be happy!"  I just hope this doesn't scare you away from my blog.  :)

Ideas for Your Craft Box

I like to think of a craft box as a creative opportunity!  If you allow it to be available to your little ones at all times, you'll be amazed at what they create!

If you're needing some ideas for what to stock in your box, here are a few ideas: 

Items to save and reuse

• paper bags
• rubberbands from newspapers
• paper clips
• plastic spoons and forks
• toothpicks
• string
• packaging material
• egg cartons
• newspapers
• magazines
• drink carriers
• buttons
• cans
• plastic jars
• milk jugs
• picture frames
• socks
• pantyhose
• drinking straws
• lids
• cereal boxes
• junk magnets (like from the telephone book)
• scrap paper
• scrap fabric
• coat hangers
• pebbles
• pinecones
• leaves

Things to Purchase:

• Chalk
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Tape
• Gluesticks
• Paint
• Markers
• Crayons
• Construction paper