School Supplies Taking Over

Each week it seems I discover something new about "full-time" tutoring. This week's discovery was how the STUFF takes over. I would say in general if you looked at the house as a whole, the only major clutter we've accumulated in 2 years is my tutoring stuff. However, it's always been relatively hidden... until, this week.

The kitchen table:

My desk:

The dining room table:

As you can see, basically every inch of table space in my house was covered with books, games and folders. Though it doesn't look like it, it is all very organized. Each kid has their own folder which has their notebook, strategy bookmarks, word lists and other papers I want them to use or do. Each kid also has their own zip lock bag filled with games. The books are more all over the place but that's because I tend to use the same books for kids who are at the same level.

Since I tutor at each child's house, their is really no where else to store my materials except at my own house. Yesterday though, things got even more crazy. I had to go by my school to collect materials for the summer school I will start working at on Tuesday. It's in my district but not at my school so I had to figure out what I'm going to do with the kids at least next week and bring all the stuff with me: binders, papers, pencils, colored pencils, whiteboards, sound cards, dot paints, scissors, glue and all the other materials it will require to teach struggling kindergartners to meet their IEP goals in six hours a week while also making it fun. Guess where this stuff went? My car.

I didn't take a picture, but let's just say both my house and car are being taken over by school supplies right now. Obviously a trip to Target was in order. Does anyone else have a serious obsession with storage containers? Because I do. My first two years teaching I bought SO many. Today, I kept it in control. One 3 drawer stand and a big plastic container.

The 3 door stand is currently in the dining room but will probably move to the office. Now it's REALLY organized- books in the bottom drawer, folders in the middle drawer and games in the top. Yay! Clean table space!!!

The big container will hold all my summer school supplies. I've been told I'll have to move classrooms a couple of times during the summer because the custodians will be cleaning each room. I figured the best bet was to have everything in a real big container. But to be honest, I haven't put it their yet. That's on Monday's agenda :)

What kind of clutter takes over your house or apartment? Do you like to get rid of it or are you a cluttered person?

It's almost 4th of July weekend! What are your plans!?