Fixing My Community Supplies Area!

I cannot tell you how excited I am about this Before and After! My Community Supplies Area has been such a lifesaver with tables, but *wow*, was it ever a mess if every student needed the same color of marker-- duck and cover!

I am excited to share with you how I quickly (and cheaply!) solved that problem this afternoon:


With the help of Tracy from Creekside Teacher Tales, I was able to make this adorable marker station for around $20!

Here's what you'll need:
  • Sterlite Mini 3-drawers (x3)-- I got mine at Walmart (they had black and white) and they were around $7 a piece
  • Tracy's freebie HERE
  • Markers (leftover from last year)
  • Clear tape
I printed out her freebie and made one extra drawer of "white, black, brown" to make nine labels total. I'll just be telling the kids the "white" means "gray"... no biggie :)

I taped these to the inside of the drawer, then sorted my messy tubs of markers into these nine, color-coded drawers.

The results make me grin from ear to ear!

Don't be jealous of my drab-fab 1970's era countertop ;) ;)
Inside each drawer, you will find:


My heart sings :)

In the teal bins on either side that hold up the shelf, I have filled the drawers with extras of:
  • glue sticks
  • scissors
  • erasers
  • color pencils
  • sticky notes
  • hand pencil sharpeners

That way, if a glue stick from their Table Supply Bins is dried out, they can quickly get a new one from these drawers without too much interruption. Same goes for erasers and markers.

I also restrict the use of Table Bins so they can stay nice for when we need them for a class project, so this area does get a bit of traffic during Friday Free Choice Time if kiddos want to color, or during Ketchup & Pickle Time if a student needs to finish an assignment.

The top board is just a shelf from the hardware store that I spray painted and on top, we store tape dispensers, lined paper, and white paper.

To the left, you can see my Sharp & Dull Pencil Bins (a freebie you can find HERE) and my ruler holder (tutorial HERE).

I hope this gives you some good ideas for your own Community Supplies Area and be sure to head to Creekside Teacher Tales to pick up this adorably cute freebie!!

PS- Congratulations to Karin S.-- check your email because you are the winner of my Writing the Playbook Giveaway!! Be sure to check back next month for September's book :)

7 comments

  1. I just made spare crayon bins using this freebie today! I also beautified my room using many of your lovely chevron products, and am looking forward to launching both the Daily 5 and Math Rotations this year, thanks to your inspiration. Thanks!

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    1. Yay! Great minds think alike ;) So glad you like the chevron- you'll have to send me pics when you're finished (3rdgradethoughts@gmail.com)- I'd love to see it all in action!!

      Thanks so much for stopping by :) :)

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  2. Hi Stephanie! I just wanted to take a moment and say thanks for all of your posts! I am a newer follower, but you are quickly becoming one of my top blogs, a must visit each day! I am implementing math rotations this year with help from all your math posts and love all your organizational ideas. Thanks so much!

    Ashley
    ashley58926@hotmail.com

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  3. Hello Stephanie! I am loving your posts while I work on my own classroom. I have a question, though. Did your teal drawers come that way or did you paint them? If you painted them, how? If they came that way...where from? Thank you so much!

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  4. Great new storage area. I'm loving my new drawers by color by Creekside Teacher Tales, too :)

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  5. I like. I'm not 100% I have the room in my class, but that would be HOT! Great job.

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  6. I love the idea of leveled storage. It is a great way to add more space to store materials.

    Jennifer
    Darling Little Learners

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