Comments on: Using Multi-Drawer Cabinets to Organize Materials

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 22:10:24 +0000

Hi, Tara! Rather than break them up by grade (since children move at different paces), I just put all of Set 1 cards in one cabinet, Set 2 in the next, and so on. Once children complete Set 1 of whatever it is (Animal Names, Homophones), they move to Set 2. Most Montessori companies, including mine, break up the Word Study cards into sets automatically. You don't have to do it yourself. For instance, Compound Matching Cards come divided into Set 1, Set 2, Set 3, etc. Check out the free Elementary Workplans to see how that plays out month by month.

By: Tara

Tara — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 20:04:38 +0000

You mentioned this was a word study cabinet in the Second photo. Are your word study cards broken up by grades? How do you know which words to study in first, second and third grade? Curious b/c my son is going to be in 1st grade next year and trying to figure out all that I need in Language arts.
Thanks

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:20:15 +0000

Hi, Leslie! I love the idea of using a picture or symbol if they are materials for pre-readers. Very nice. And for older kids, the having a label on the drawer helps them know the name of the work so they can check it off their workplans.

By: Leslie Harman

Leslie Harman — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:26:20 +0000

Rubbermaid sold drawers (5″) across that you can snap apart to stack required number. The best ones were blue frames, clear drawers, colored pulls so you could color-code the pulls. Later I could only find them in black or white in office supply section. Lowe’s has woderful clear drawers in three-stacks by “inter-design” that are (5 or 6″) wide. They are beautiful because you can put objects in them and they are visible, but a bit pricey. It helps a lot if you use a symbol, picture, or color for your label. Makes it much more appealing and more accessible to pre-readers. Drawers are a lifesaver for us in dusty West Texas.

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:15:11 +0000

Thank you so much – and I hope everything works out for you and your family

By: Superfunmama

Superfunmama — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:26:03 +0000

Love this! I commented back to you on my blog and really appreciate your comment. You have fabulous ideas.

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:20:02 +0000

You wouldn’t believe what I have tried over the years – accordion files, coupon holders, index card boxes. With shoeboxes, I have achieved 3-part card nirvana

By: PSMontessori

PSMontessori — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:16:59 +0000

Shoeboxes. Duh!!

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Mon, 18 May 2009 23:47:55 +0000

You know, I find these cabinets great for smaller cards, but not for 3-part cards. They can be pricey and take up lots of room – and it’s hard to find them with larger drawers.

My “perfect” 3-part card solution (after trying lots of things) is a plastic shoebox for each curricular area (with labels on the front) and 3-part cards, matching cards, flashcards, etc. in individual Ziploc bags (also labeled) inside them.

I can store tons of card sets this way, and it’s very easy to find each set.

By: PSMontessori

PSMontessori — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:47:19 +0000

Lori, it is so funny that you posted about this. I spent a good deal of time this weekend looking at drawers in Target and Jo-Ann. I’m actually looking for some drawers to help organize behind the scenes – in my scary teacher closet. I’m trying to find the perfect drawers to help organize my language cards – vocabulary and 3 parts cards. In my head these are towers and I will separate the cards in to “social” and “scientific” categories. These drawers could be a bit bigger if necessary because a) the boxes will be in a closet and b)the cards are bigger than the smaller labels. Any suggestions?