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CandaceC
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Posted: Jan 07 2009 at 10:04am | IP Logged Quote CandaceC

Ladies,

I came to this board because I think that probably several of you are using some of the same materials I am using...and I need help! LOL!

What do you do with all the little "sets" of things...like I just printed off and laminated the Snow Type cards from Lori's montessori site.

I also printed off a Snowflake memory game that another gal posted on her blog, laminated that.

I have the nomenclature cards for lots of different things - plants, etc.

Little alphabet flashcards and games...I have different alphabet cards that go with different thinggs. (and actually I HAVE gotten rid of alot already, so most of these I actually do use at some point, well at least while I still have a preschooler in the house!)

Just little CARDS everywhere!!

I do not really prefer to have 25 ziplock bags on a shelf. Ugggg....

Now, most of these cards I will not be using year round. For instance, right now we are using the snow cards, but probably just for the next few weeks while we are doing a big winter nature study.

Any thoughts of suggestions? Thanks ladies!

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JodieLyn
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Posted: Jan 07 2009 at 10:55am | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn

you said you don't like ziplock bags on a shelf.. do you not want the ziplock bags at all? a file folder that's stapled up the sides can hold cards in it and be filed.. or you could get the inexpensive school boxes (for pencils or crayons or the like) and keep them in those. Or you could use ziplocks and put all the bags into some container so they weren't just sitting on a shelf.

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CandaceC
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Posted: Jan 07 2009 at 11:38am | IP Logged Quote CandaceC

Jodie, thanks for helping me brainstorm. I am not opposed to ziplock baggies...and I could put all the ziplock baggies into a basket or something...

I guess another part of my problem is that if I have 25 sets of "things" in 25 ziplock baggies in one basket, i won't really see them, out of sight out of mind. I'll forget about them and not end up using them?!?!

I don't know...I'm kind of just thinking outloud...trying to figure out something and hear what others use too. :)

The school box is a good option, a little bit smaller so that would help. I maybe put 'like' sets together in a school box and organize them that way??



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JodieLyn
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Posted: Jan 07 2009 at 11:55am | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn

yes! that way you can get out all your snowflakes.. or all fall leaves.. you could label the edge of the box that way and be able to easily find something or just puruse for something to strike your fancy.

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Mackfam
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Posted: Jan 07 2009 at 11:58am | IP Logged Quote Mackfam

Candace - I have a lot of 3part cards and we use them in several subjects. I'm challenged when it comes to storing them neatly and effectively. I'll tell you what I did last year (which worked for a little while) and what I'm doing this year (which remains to be seen if it is the best solution).

Last year...
I used large 3 inch binders with sheet protectors. I tabbed the binders to further divide up a group. So, one binder would be dedicated to Science with tabs for Botany, Zoology, Astronomy and so on. Then, I would store all my Botany cards, one set per sheet protector in the appropriate section. I folded the sheet protector over and used a paper clip to keep the cards in place.

The problem with this solution was that I had too many binders, they were unwieldy and I just wasn't pleased with the way they were stored in general.

This year...
I bought a large box of the golden/orange mailing envelopes from an office supply store. It is a medium size envelope - not large. It contains the cards much better than the sheet protector. I organize the same way - by subject and then further by classification in that subject. The envelopes are all labeled in the top right corner with their subject, classification, and topic of the cards. The envelopes stand up in a bin which I keep on my shelf. I keep a master list of all of my 3 part cards in my Notebook which contains all of my plans and stays on my desk so that I can refer to this list as I plan. It's working better, but it's not perfect. I like that I can store some objects that might go with the 3 part cards in the envelopes now.

I would love to hear if others have any other ideas for 3-part card storage!!

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montessori_lori
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Posted: Jan 07 2009 at 1:21pm | IP Logged Quote montessori_lori

I've struggled with this for years, tried all sorts of things (baggies, accordion files, etc.)

Here's what I do:

On the shelf (where the kids see it) I keep a few small baskets or plastic bins. I put a set of cards in each (without the baggies). I rotate these as needed.

In the closet where I keep my Montessori stuff, I have about 10 plastic shoe boxes. Each one has a HUGE label on the front (Botany 6-9 or Language 3-6, etc.) In each are all my card sets, in ziplocs, each with a label on them also (even though I can see through the ziploc, I find it helpful to label them too).

It's taken some time to do this, and I still go through them from time to time and re-arrange, etc.

If you don't have as many card sets as I do (!), you can use one or two plastic shoeboxes, buy a set of mini file folders to use as dividers, and divide one shoebox into sections: Geography, Botany, Zoology, etc. with the ziplock'd bags organized by category.

In a classroom, most of these cards would be on the shelf at all times. At home I can't do that. But I find it really, really easy to rotate cards on the shelf when they're organized in my closet.
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Marcia
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Posted: Jan 07 2009 at 4:46pm | IP Logged Quote Marcia

ah. this sounds so nice. Any one willing to come over and organize my cards? I like the idea of using see through show boxes....right now my shoe boxes are a mess.
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Willa
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Posted: Jan 07 2009 at 4:51pm | IP Logged Quote Willa

I have a couple of file boxes that I use for cards that are not presently being used.   I collect little flat boxes that I can label and store things in.   It's certainly a work in progress because too often, I forget to check and update the file boxes, or the cards get scattered by the kids, if they are out on the shelves and in active use. I am not a very organized person by nature, but my special needs little one learns LOTS from this approach so I keep trying to figure out things that will work.

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Erin
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Posted: Jan 07 2009 at 6:00pm | IP Logged Quote Erin

Candace

Not all your cards will fit with this idea but some may, I bought a nail/screw organizer from the hardware store and have them sitting in different compartments.

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Lori
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Posted: Jan 08 2009 at 9:51am | IP Logged Quote Lori

Candace,

I don't know what size your cards are, but if you use 3x5 index card size, you can buy the index card file boxes and label them...some come with alpha/index tabs which you can reverse and put your own subdivisions on the other side. These are smaller and could fit more on a shelf if you didn't want to combine too many in a shoe box...or just for storing the ones you have out at specific times.
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CandaceC
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Posted: Jan 08 2009 at 11:43am | IP Logged Quote CandaceC

Thank you so much ladies!! I think I need to head to the store and buy some containers! I do appreciate all the suggestions, I'm going to keep working on getting these organized.

I also need to figure out, like Lori mentioned, a good rotation system...which to leave out, etc.

I have lots of their toys in a closet that I used to rotate...I'm thinking that maybe 1x each month I should mark it on my calendar to ROATE. That would include my manipulatives, cards and toys!

Thanks so much! I'm getting there, slowly by surely.

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Posted: Jan 10 2009 at 10:01am | IP Logged Quote happymama

I like the idea of having a "master list" of all the cards we do have. I need to do that.

I made about a dozen 3-part-card holders for the cards we currently have out. here
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