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How the Lost Property Bucket Saved My Sanity

June 26, 2014 By Rachel 9 Comments

A quick and easy tip for keeping your student's area and classroom clean and not losing your sanity in the process! www.rachelatalldrinkofwater.com

Do your students find stuff and give it to you?

“Here Miss Vincent, I found a crayon.”
-Um…thanks?
“Miss Vincent, is this your glue sick?”
-No…my glue never gets stuck in the lid
“Here’s some dirt.”
-What?! 
Ok…that last one never happened.  
But you get the idea!
My students USED to give me all the stuff they found!
And forget about anybody actually claiming something on the ground if I asked whose does this belong to?!!
Enter the Lost Property bucket!

A quick and easy tip for keeping your student's area and classroom clean and not losing your sanity in the process! www.rachelatalldrinkofwater.com
Now before you get too excited…
It doesn’t actually stop your students from trying to give you stuff.
(It’s not a magic bucket!)
BUT…it gives a place for all the stuff to go!
“Miss Vincent, here’s a crayon.”
-Put it in the Lost Property bucket.
“Miss Vincent, I found somebody’s glue top.”
-Put it in the Lost Property bucket.
“Miss Vincent, I can’t find my scissors!”
-Check the Lost Property bucket.
“Miss Vincent, I don’t have a black marker.”
-See if there’s one in the Lost Property bucket.
Some kids start to do this without involving you!
Which is awesome!!
But you always have those few who never stop bothering asking you!

Rachel

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Classroom, organization

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elementary Engagement says

    June 26, 2014 at 7:19 PM

    I started a "Missing Parts Bucket" last year. I love it! I also love your quote – so true!

    Mary
    Fit to be Fourth

    Reply
  2. Alison Rose says

    June 26, 2014 at 7:38 PM

    So I notice that "don't freak out" is not written in that positive thought. No wonder I've been doing it wrong the whole time. I need to live by this. I guess I need a lost property bucket instead of saying…"What do you want me to do about it?" hahahaahahahahahah
    Alison
    <a href=" rockinandlovinlearnin.blogspot.com'>Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'</a>

    Reply
  3. Alison Rose says

    June 26, 2014 at 7:40 PM

    What in the world did I do wrong?? Never mind…I see my error! Oops!
    Alison
    Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

    Reply
  4. Unknown says

    June 26, 2014 at 9:11 PM

    I LOVE that idea!!!!!!! I always ended up putting all of that stuff on my desk and made more of a mess!!! 🙂
    Lori
    Mixing it up in Middle

    Reply
  5. Ana says

    June 26, 2014 at 10:10 PM

    Your missing property bucket is a great idea! Kids sure do want to give you everything, even if it's a piece of trash…haha! I also love your quote. I needed that today! Thanks for sharing.
    Ana
    Mrs. Bentin's Blackboard

    Reply
  6. Teach With Laughter says

    June 27, 2014 at 1:46 AM

    Your missing property bucket is a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  7. Jennifer Laffin says

    June 27, 2014 at 12:10 PM

    I love the idea of a Lost Property bucket! That also helps kids realize that they can't keep things they find that don't belong to them. I'm sooooo doing this!

    Jennifer

    Reply
  8. Unknown says

    June 29, 2014 at 12:28 AM

    Love the Lost Property bucket! I can see *some* independent, helpful ones using this without interruption too! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  9. Ms. Smith says

    June 30, 2014 at 11:41 PM

    Love your bucket! I can TOTALLY relate!

    Excited to find your blog. =)
    Ms. Smith
    Adventures of Ms. Smith

    Reply

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