Staying organized is the #1 way I have found to save time! Finding the right systems can take time, but once you have it, say hello to all of the hours you didn’t know you had! Below is the math area of my classroom. Today, I’m going to break down 10 of my favorite math center organization tips that really work!
One way that I have really cut down on my math center prep is by organizing my manipulatives in a way that my students can access them independently. I find that having all of the items they at their fingertips helps them build responsibility while saving me hours of prep time every week. You can find these math bin labels [HERE] or newly as part of my CLASSROOM LABEL BUNDLE [HERE]!
Math Manipulative Bin Labels
As you can see, they are clearly labeled with pictures, and are on a low shelf that they can easily reach. In some cases, I have organization built in to each bin. For example, each bin of unified cubes is pre-sorted into two different colors. This means that students can just take a bin to their table and already have that part taken care of (and no additional colors to distract them!) We use these to help visually represent composing and decomposing numbers, so two colors are essential!
I don’t know about you, but I am OBSESSED with dice! I have more than I probably should, but my students love them too! After years of outgrowing my storage systems, I have finally found a system that works for me. I give you, the Dice Box!
You can use any storage toolbox from Lowes, Home Depot, or the Container Store. Now if my centers require dice beyond the standard 1-6 doled dice, my students can get them independently, eliminating one more thing I have to prep! After some requests, I have posted the labels over at my TpT Store. Find them [HERE]
Second only to dice, I have a serious weakness for Target’s Dollar Spot Erasers. I needed a way to let my students access and choose their erasers independently, so another organization system was born.I use the small square toolboxes (similar to the Dice Organizer). I do this because I have them sorted by season. For example, the Fall/Halloween erasers are in one box, while the Winter/Holiday erasers are in another. This means that I can switch them out throughout the year to keep them new and exciting for students.
I have hot-glued one eraser to the front of each drawer so students can visually see them at a glance! The only problem with this system is that I have to keep buying more storage because I just can’t say no to Target!I used to cringe at how much time we lost while students got the correct amount of counters/chips they need for a game or center. To solve this problem, I decided I’d just have them pre-sorted! I used small Dollar Store containers, and filled them with counters and chips. For the translucent chips, I include two different colors so that they can be used for partner games.
Now, I just use empty Crystal Light powder containers. I don’t personally drink it, but my family is very good about supporting their teacher niece/daughter/cousin/sister. I just place a piece of construction inside to cover the bottom half of the container, and it’s all ready to go! Instant center!
Math Word Wall (Grade 3)
Do the dice have a plastic top? if so how do they see what they rolled?
So where did you get the hanging tool + bags? Everything looks great!
The metal dice container has a clear top. In my classroom the kids shake it once and then they can see what it lands on. This helps with the overly excessive rolling and the dice being flung around. The containers are also magnetic so they can sit anywhere that's metal. I found my containers at Michael's for $1
Do you know what those metal containers are called? So that i know what i am looking for in the store
Kelli, I got them on sale at Bed Bath & Beyond. They are intended to store herbs and spices, but they are so much more fun as dice holders 🙂
I got them on ReallyGoodStuff.org. They are typically used for Listening Centers, but I repurposed them for my math centers.
Love, love, love how organized you are! I’m the same way, but there are still many things I’d love to tackle!
Where did you get the plastic containers for the money banks?
I got them from The Container Store!!!
I really love all the organization. What type of activities do you put in the math centers?
I am in love with your dice box! Where did you find 10 frame dice??
Can you please tell me what the containers are called.
Thanks
What are the money containers called at the Container Store? TIA
I looked on The Container Store website. Can you tell me the name of the boxes that you used for the coin storage??
Thank you!
Hi Lisa! Here is the information 🙂
Small 5-Compartment Box Translucent
SKU#: 10051810
Hi Cindy! Here is the information ?
Small 5-Compartment Box Translucent
SKU#: 10051810
Hi Lisa! Here is the information ?
Small 5-Compartment Box Translucent
SKU#: 10051810
Hi Melissa! I got them from Lakeshore Learning 🙂 I’m obsessed with them!
Thank you! I LOVE your ideas!!
Where do you find the word family dice? Thanks for sharing your ideas. Going to implement.
Where did you get the all clear bins from?
Pics of your classroom, please!
Hi Jillian!
Where did you get all of your different kinds of dice?? I love the different kinds that you have and those would work great in my classroom for differentiation.
Thank you!!
Kelsey Nordsieck
Where did you get all of the different types of dice? I would love to have different kinds in my room for differentiation. Thank you!
I am OBSESSED with your math rotation bins/storage shelf. Where did you find the shelf/bins? Do you use math activities you create? Or do you recommend a bundle to purchase?
Thank you!
Can you give more info on how you do your rotations? I see that each color group has 6 activities/journals/seatwork/etc. Do the students get through all 6 in one day? I’m trying to rework my center rotations for next year!
Where are the work bins from for center work?
How do you organize your math games/centers that are not being currently used? I’m struggling with a way to keep everything in the same place so that I remember I have it!
I love your organization! I hope to be this organized some day! 🙂
Baby steps!!!!!
Hello! Love your organization. We are getting a new math curriculum that uses a lot of the manipulatives that you have pictured, but I don’t see them in the labels that you linked to. Where did you find the graphics for the counters, spinners, etc? Thanks!
Quick question, where did you buy the individual Coin Organizer: Individual Student Banks?
Thank’s for great idea!!!!
Good afternoon,
I purchased the labels you mentioned in the blog post above from “Teach, Create Modivate.” I purchased it specifically for the math manipulative labels that you have pictured on the blog post, but many that you show on the picture above are not included in the pack. I still need labels for spinners, red/yellow counters, dominoes, and playing cards. I have tried to use the editable document that came with the purchase but there are no pictures to go with these additional labels I need and it will not let me move the text box around even after I copy and paste. Might you be able to send me these additional labels? I would greatly appreciate it!
Warmly,
Dana
Hi,
I love your organization ideas! I am wondering if you have a post about how you organize/run your math centers/guided math groups?
Thanks!
I too purchased the labels from “Teach, Create, Motivate” and am in need of the same additional labels as Dana. Would you be willing to share your additional labels? I would gladly purchase them as I am wanting my math organization to look as beautiful as yours! Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful tips!
Amber
What do the students use the erasers for???
Oh my goodness. Absolutely LOVE your organisation!! How can teachers cope without a bit of this?!?! I thought I was organised but this is another level!
Hi Jillian,
I love your organization and this post is #goals for my classroom. I was wondering what kind / where you got the containers for the majority of the manipulatives. I can see from the wide shot that there are taller ones towards the bottom which is awesome! I would love to get some containers like this and you have some amazing containers.
Absolutely love the bank idea. Now to just find a container store near me.
The containers look like the containers baby food comes in! The bottom and the lids of them are clear making it easy to read the dice!
Your Math organization is wonderful!! Thank you for all the ideas!!!
You’re so welcome, Robin!
Hello Jillian!
I wanted to ask where you got your plastic storage bins for the math manipulatives? I’ve been looking all over for clear plastic bins that size.
Thank you for these great ideas!! 🙂
Me too! I can’t find the flatter clear bins anywhere!
These are such amazing ideas! Thanks so much for taking the time to share them!!
What a BEAUTIFUL Classroom! Thanks for sharing your ideas. 🙂 We are homeschooling this year and getting lot’s of great ideas from your site.
Hi Victoria! I get most of my math manipulative bins from The Container Store or Sterilite via Amazon 🙂 I believe the taller ones you are referring to are from The Container Store (They’re the same base as the shorter ones, which make them stack nicely!)
Hi Cassidy! The majority of my math manipulative containers are from The Container Store, or from Sterilite via Amazon 🙂
I believe those were either from Didax or Lakeshore Learning 🙂
You are so welcome! Thank you for taking a moment to leave such a kind comment!
I’m so glad you are finding them helpful 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a nice note!
Oh Goodness! My answer to this could be my next 30 blog posts 🙂 Most of my centers are actually available in my TPT store, or you can search the “Math” tab on my website to see some of them organized by topic. I hope that helps!
Hi Kelsey!
If you search multi-sided dice on Amazon, you can actually get whole sets of dice for differentiating your centers. I also purchase a lot of blank dice (many will come with stickers) and make my own to meet the needs of individual centers!
Hi Jennifer!
I am so glad you found this post helpful! I actually don’t know where the shelf came from. My classroom used to be a Pre-K room before it became my second grade classroom. When I moved in the shelf was there, but with some old, cracked bins. Thankfully my Sterilite bins fit PERFECTLY. I searched for any markings to tell me a brand or SKU# but I came up with nothing 🙁
As for the activities, I create all of the resources that I use in my classroom. Many are available in my TpT shop. If there are specific resources you are looking for, but can’t find there, please let me know. I often have lots of “pieces” that haven’t been put together for TpT yet, but am happy to share.
Hi Amber!
I used Ashley’s editable file to create my labels, so I cannot re-sell them, as they are her original resource. Thank you for understanding 🙂 I am so glad you found these tips helpful! Happy Teaching!
Warmly,
Jillian
Hi Ashley!
I have 2 rotations every day (every once in a while, we have 3). I leave the centers up for more than a week, often switching out one game and one activity so they have something familiar and something new. I wouldn’t have my students do more than 2-3 centers in a day. I aim for more meaningful interaction with the content than trying to get through a set number of centers. Does that make sense?
Wow! I will have to make a whole blog post about that one 🙂 I have a mix between sterility bins with ready-to-go centers, binders with protector sheets filled with game boards and activities, and file-filer games in my file cabinet. I am reworking this though, and will try and blog about it this fall when I’m back in my classroom.
Hi Dana!
I used Ashley’s editable file to create my labels, so I cannot re-sell them or share them per her Terms of Use. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, and thank you for understanding 🙂 Happy Teaching!
Warmly,
Jillian
Haha! I have always said that my room is super organized because my brain is not 🙂
They are our favorite math manipulatives! We use them in place of bingo chips, non-standard forms of measurement, graphing, counting, creating story problems… you name it!
Coming soon 🙂
The resource that I linked to has an editable file with it. I used clip art that I already had to serve as the image 🙂
Hi Kimberly,
They are Sterilite bins via Amazon. I have also seen them at Target, Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes 🙂
Hi! If you’re talking about the bins with the manipulative labels, they’re from The Container Store. I believe they’re $1.49 each during BTS season 🙂
Yes, that’s exactly what they are. I mentioned above that we have a surplus of them in my house at the moment, so it’s a great way to repurpose them!
Can you please, please tell me where you got the little drawers with the dice and the erasers. I cannot find white and clear ones like that anywhere. They are all black frame. Could you please tell me the specific name or a link? I would so appreciate it. Thanks! Great looking setup!
Can you tell me where you got your complete set of dice drawers from? I would like to get some 🙂
where did you get the individual cash registers?
Where did you get the individual banks storage container and what is the name of them?
Hello
Thank you for sharing it all looks amazing. I was just wondering where can I get the number line you have on the bottom of the board? I was looking for a printable like that for my board.
Thank you
Awesome storage ideas! I’m late 🙁 and started collecting mini erasers late last year, but I have quite a nice collection. I need this storage idea you posted as well as the other ideas. I’m a family child care provider (23 years) and I am constantly reorganizing my basement to store my stockpi…er…learning materials in a neat and compact way. Thanks a bunch!
Can you explain what your board for the rotations looks like? I feel like I am changing them daily and the students are constantly asking which center to go to. From your explanation above I feel like the organization is similar to yours. We do 2 a day and only do them once before I add or change activities. Thanks!
Also wondering this!
Hi! I just love this post so much! LOTS of fabulous ideas! Do you happen to know the sizes of the storage bins you use for most the manipulatives? Also the size of the Glad plastic containers? I’ve been looking on Amazon/Target/Wal Mart but there are just so many options and it’s hard for me to guess without seeing it in person. Hard to do right now with safer at home orders. Would love any help you can give for those. I did find the money container!
Thanks so much!!
Hi There! They’re from The Container Store! https://www.containerstore.com/s/small-compartment-boxes/d?productId=10029793&q=5%20compartment%20transluscent
I admit, I have a very unhealthy addiction to collecting dice…haha. I got way too excited at a Goodwill the other day when I found a tin full of over a hundred different dice (mostly all matching my classroom color scheme even) for only $2.50. I can’t stop buying dice…or even cubes for choice board type activities. I liked seeing some of your ideas and how you made them effective for the classroom. Thank You
Hi there! Can you tell me where you got your word family dice? I need those in my life!
I believe that I got them from Lakeshore Learning, but I know you can get them on Amazon or from Hand to Mind as well!
Hi! I was looking through the comments. I was curious to know which bins you used from The Container Store to store the individual math manipulatives? Thank you!
Hi Britini! They’re actually “Women’s Shoe Boxes” from The Container Store. If you search, they should pop right up.