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There is a NEW giveaway for a class set of Steps to Literacy book bins. You can enter here.
I need a change this upcoming school year, so my classroom is getting a makeover! My safari/jungle classroom is evolving into blue, greens, and some black. I am envisioning a big, black bulletin board with neon green borders that really pop. I have some labels, calendar cards, schedule cards, and job cards that I am using in my room next year available at my store if you’re interested! Much of my old decor and storage containers are also going through a makeover to match with my new decor!
I recently came across these book bins from Steps to Literacy. I currently have book bins I inherited from a teacher that retired at my school from Really Good Stuff. Those book boxes are red, yellow, dark green, and blue. I’m not a fan of the colors… mostly because I really do not like the color red. I find the color red stifling and prefer cooler, soothing colors. With my classroom makeover this year, I knew I had to buy new book bins this year, but really did not want to spend an arm and a leg on them.
How do they compare to the Really Good Stuff book bins? I always felt like the Really Good Stuff book bins were the Holy Grail of book bins. Although pricey, they are durable and long-lasting. But I am super picky about color, and unfortunately you cannot pick specific colors with their big sets. These Steps to Literacy bins are SO MUCH CHEAPER than the Really Good Stuff ones and you get to pick the colors. Actually, everything on their site is cheaper. I am definitely a fan! They do not feel thin or like they will break easily, so I think they will be long-lasting and I will get some good wear out of them. Unfortunately, kids are not as delicate with my stuff as I’d like them to be! I think these will hold up well even with the typical student use.
What do you do with book bins? Firstly, I use five book bins for all my handouts and lesson plans for each day of the week. I keep it near my SmartBoard, projector, and document cam so it is easy to grab when we are transitioning to a new subject. Also, each of my kiddos gets their own book bin to
store their free reading books in. I keep these book bins against a wall- not at their seat. My gifted kids LOVE to read. Now, I don’t want to be the teacher who tells kids they cannot read a book, but not when we are learning math, science, or social studies! Keeping the book bins in a different part of the room helps kids pay attention to whatever we are learning. This year, I am using book bins for each of my table groups to keep their Unfinished folders in. Ugh, seeing these pictures make me SO EXCITED for the new lime green and bright blue ones!!!!!!
