Thinking About Getting Ready... Notebook Dividers

After blogging for three years, I am finally figuring out how everything fits together! All in the same day, I blogged about something and put a photo on Instagram and added a post on facebook. I opened a Twitter account as well, but anyone who knows me is aware that being succinct is NOT my best skill! Twitter will just have to wait.

I can't convince myself to do any "big planning" yet--although I feel like I have been thinking about those plans for weeks. However, I do love all those "little tasks" that are necessary before the start of a new school year. Scissors, paper cutter, printer, cardstock... check!

I make binders for my students each year. Some of my students have binders of their own, but many do not, so we have an "official" Sixth Grade Binder with everything they need to stay organized. I'll post about the binders in a week or two, but today's task was making the little divider tabs that separate the subjects in the notebook.

I have gotten pretty efficient at the process over the years. First I print the tabs.

Then I cut them out.

Then I score and fold the tabs so they fit nicely into the dividers. I've tried a lot of different tools, but the one that works best for me is still a "t-pin." Oddly, I've had the same t-pin for years and years. Funny, I can't always find two shoes that match, but I can find an ages-old t-pin in minutes when it is time to complete this project!

After I score the tabs, I fold them and stack them into little tents, so everything is in reach and in order.

Last, I put the tabs into the dividers so that I can add each group into a binder.

Having a set of class binders really helps keep everything organized in my classroom. I'll admit: It is as much for me as it is for my students. Papers stay organized and the responsibility for keeping track of things is shifted from my shoulders to theirs. It just works for us.

There is a lot going on in the week ahead! Cue shark music... (You're singing it aren't you? DaaaaaDuh....)

Starting Monday, Jenny from Luckeyfrogs Lilypad has organized a group of bloggers for a bloggy link up filled with shark-infested freebies! I hope you'll come back and check it out!

And even though I posted this yesterday (a Sunday), I am linking up with my Dearly-Loved Friend, Tara at 4th Grade Frolics.

Last time I posted my Monday Made It on a Tuesday. This time it was on a Sunday. In my little brain, +1 + -1 + 0... I'm sort of even (Which sounds a whole lot better than being sort of zero!) Click on the button above to take you back there if that's where you started!