PTA Perks

Now that I'm the PTA president, a decision that was based on necessity, I need to design an efficient organizational system.  I have TONS of papers to sort and classify.  I was certainly not prepared for the added responsibility. Thankfully, I have tons of help and support from the other officers.  

Our PTA was left without a president at the end of the last school year. There weren't any parents stepping up to take on the role. The guidelines of the NYS PTA state: no president = no funds! If a PTA dissolves, all of the money raised and utilized by the association, is turned over to the greater state-wide PTA. 

Our school relies on funds from the PTA for an assortment of activities and supplies.  Unfortunately, in these uncertain times in our education system, we need the PTA more than ever!

So, I decided that I had to step up for the good of the whole school.  It has been quite an experience. I have learned a lot of "what not to do" for next year...if I'm still active in the role of president.

The first thing I have learned is that you have to be REALLY organized to keep your head above water. I stared a folder that was quickly busting at the seams!  It was an unorganized pile of "stuff" that was difficult to weed through when I needed something quickly.  Look below and don't judge!

At least it's a nice, Vera Bradley folder! Lol. 

I knew this "system" had to go. It was a binder to the rescue!

It came out really cute! The best part is its functionality. It's really user-friendly.

Now there are tabbed sections and pockets to hold loose slips of paper.

The current tabs are labeled for agendas, fund-raisers, box-tops, PTA Perks, and special events.

PTA Perks is a section devoted to showing off all of the great things the PTA has done for our students, teachers, families, and the whole school. It has become my favorite section of the binder!

The sleeve inserts hold cards, invoices, and various scraps of paper that people hand me on a consistent basis. Keeping it all together is absolutely essential.

  

Although it has been a greater responsibility than I could have ever imagined, I'm really enjoying the experience...and of course the PTA Perks!

Cheers!

Back into the Swing

I'm getting back to the blog after a month hiatus. Starting a new school year, being diagnosed with pneumonia, and taking on some new roles has kept me very busy.  The blog had to take a back seat to some pretty important tasks.

First, I designed a new science curriculum for our grade level that included some shifting around of materials.  There is an SLO assessment attached to the curriculum, so I had to create that test as well. It was a little overwhelming at first, but I'm really enjoying teaching this curriculum.  The kids are happy to come to science class every day.

Next, I was asked to be PTA president. I don't even have any children attending my school anymore, but I felt it was the right thing to do.  I have been active with the PTA for the last couple of years, so I kind of know how things work.  There weren't any parents willing to take on the role and we would have lost all of our funds in reserve.  The PTA has since taken on 3 fund-raisers and we have become proactive in the Olweus (anti-bullying campaign) and The Reading Promise, which is our district reading initiative.  It's been quite busy and somewhat confusing in the beginning, but I think the efforts are really going to pay off this year.

I'm also involved in the Olweus and Reading Promise Programs as a member of those committees.  The committees promote the programs, design classroom lessons, and meet to brainstorm new ideas.

Lastly, I'm involved with NYSUT as a union representative for our district's APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review) negotiating team.  The team meets with district personnel to come to an agreement on a fair APPR plan to submit to state ed.  The president of our union has asked me to be the leader of an APPR committee.  As chairperson, I would design a handbook to assist teachers in their record keeping as it pertains to APPR.  I am looking forward to this task.  I think the teachers will really benefit from a checklist of sorts.

This all brings me to the point of this post.  How am I keeping it all together?  After much trial and error with various types of date books, plan books, and agendas, I have designed a fantastic master planner.

I keep the planner in my purse...my new Vera Bradley (LOVE!). It's light weight, but holds all of my essentials.

I decorated it with my letter stickers. The color coordinates perfectly with my new, fold and go organizer from Thirty-One. The brand name of this binder is Studio C, but it's a special pattern designed by Jacqueline Savage McFee.  I just love how it's so bright and cheery.  I picked it up at Staples for a very low cost (compared to the Martha Stewart Collections...which I love by the way!).  The Martha Stewart with Avery Collection is a great binder, but it's much heavier.  My love for Vera Bradley bags stems from the light weight and vibrant colors. I included some Martha Stewart items inside the binder, such as the calendar.

I add sticky notes and Washi tape to my calendar to draw my eye to important days and tasks.

This is a velcro pocket I also found right at Staples (everything was purchased at Staples) and it's a must have.  I need a place for pens, pencils (the best Paper-mate mechanical pencils!), sticky pads, etc.   

The dividers were also purchased right along side the binder. I used clear label maker tape to create the labels.  I added paper from the Martha Stewart Collection to take notes at all of my meetings.  I love how it's all together in one place.  No more dragging around a bunch of bulky folders and binders!

The last portion of my master planner is the clear pouches to hold a multitude of papers. I hold receipts, meeting agendas, business cards, etc. Again, everything is in one spot and it looks fabulous.  

Stay Organized and Enjoy Life!

Cheers!

My School Binder/Bible

My whole life (basically) lives inside a pretty little binder by Vera Bradley.  The binder color is Viva La Vera...one of my classic favorites!  It came with these wonderfully colorful tabbed inserts and coordinating labels (although I used my old faithful, DYMO label maker for the tabs).  

In the beginning of the school year I thought about what would be important to have at my fingertips throughout the entire year.  This binder, after all, would sit front and center on my desk all year and go home with me each afternoon.

I decided on the following tabs; to-do (which has turned into a calendar...more about that later), daily plans, common core standards/curriculum, grades, and a parent log.

The daily plans is where I outline what is being introduced that day.  These are not "full" lessons with objectives, etc.  I try and make this format user friendly since it often has to be modified or scrapped altogether.  Being a teacher means being super-flexible. Almost nothing works out how I plan it.  Ahhh... in a perfect world.  A girl can dream!

I scoured TpT (Teachers Pay Teachers) for a free, cute downloadable calendar template for 2013.  I found one on a site that is typically for primary grades.  Deanna Jump, I think now famous due to her remarkable income generated from TpT, had a great free calendar that has worked out beautifully for me this year.  I'm hoping to find another one over the summer...fingers crossed!

Next, I have a grade book (just a class list grid) where I can jot down grades or check off student names for whatever it is we are doing.  Right now...I am collecting permission slips for our field trip. Our district, like many, has been using Power School for grade input on the computer.  There is also an app, which makes it really convenient when I'm grading in bed or on the couch.  I've actually taken the iPad and some papers while waiting at the doctor's office.

Then, it was a must to include the standards and our current curriculum.  Our plan for the math included many changes and supplements to accommodate the common core learning standards.  I used this master list as a scope and sequence and as a check list.  I would highlight all standards covered by specific lessons and activities in my classroom.

Another added feature is a great zipper pouch by the Martha Stewart Collection at Staples.  It's clear so you can easily see what your reaching for.  I use this one for stickers, post-it notes, post-it tabs, and marking pens.  It comes in so handy when I'm grading a set of papers at home (or at the dentist's office as luck would have it today).

I'm continually tweaking and improving...or trying to improve...most of my organizational systems.   The binder has actually worked quite well this year and not required too much alteration.  Although, I think I will add one more tab next year for collected data.  We collect so much benchmark and diagnostic data that it gets difficult to keep track of it all.  

I already have a new binder ready for organizing next year.  It's another one of my classic favs from VB...Hello Dahlia!

If it has a home and it's easy to find...that's the key to keeping it all together.