Monday Made-It - Word Work Organization

Today I'm linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for another edition of Monday Made-It!

I have been away from my blog for a few weeks.... I apologize to all those who follow!  I have been very busy, and very exhausted!  I actually went home early one day last week.  I was just not feeling well and ended up sleeping all day and night.  I think my body was worn out!

Here is what I've been working on the last few weeks!

One of my partners has been making awesome word work activities using our Social Studies vocabulary and spelling words.  The kids love word work!

Since we have been learning about Geography, one activity is to match each continent's name to its picture.  Then students have to label the continents on a laminated map using a dry-erase marker.

Another activity is to match vocabulary words with their picture.  Students say to themselves the definition and example of the word, and use the word in a sentence.

They love this one!  Using a dry erase marker and laminated cards, they have to write the vocabulary or spelling word that matches the picture on the card, or fills in the sentence correctly.

This is Ms. Meredith's vocabulary match game.  It uses the words she teaches during our weekly vocabulary lesson.  They have to match the vocabulary word, definition, picture, and sentence to make a match.

We do a few other word work activities as well, I just don't have pictures of them.  :)

For ALL of these activities, students are encouraged to use their vocabulary books.

ANYWAY...... All of these activities are stored in little baggies.  All of those baggies were in a big tub.  You can imagine how hard it was for anyone to find what they were looking for.  Hence my need for some organization... and my Monday Made-It!

I made envelopes to store each activity.  For each activity, I have four envelopes (sets).  I think altogether, I made about 25 envelopes.

I had quite the mess on my desk while I was doing this project!

Each envelope has the name of the activity, materials list, and directions (with pictures).  I created these to meet the needs of my class and word work activities, so I won't be posting this on TpT (sorry, friends!)  I wanted the kids to be able to grab an envelope and know exactly what they were grabbing and how to do the activity.  I have many struggling readers, so I created pictures for the directions, so they were easier to follow.

The envelope also has a sticker dot in the corner to tell whether the activity is low, medium, or high level.  After gluing directions and a dot on the envelopes, it was time to laminate each one.  

I kid you not, after all of my envelopes were laminated, the laminating must have stretched about 20 feet long!

Then it was time to slice open each envelope using a craft knife.  Super easy!

Now, all you veteran teachers have probably already figured out the trick of laminating envelopes, but I am now in love and want to store everything in laminated envelopes!

I still keep my word work in the same plastic bin, but now the envelopes are organized, and the kids know exactly what materials they need and how to do the activity.

The whole project was quite time-consuming, but totally worth it!

What activities do you do for word work?  How do you keep them organized?  I would love to hear about it!

Until next time,

-Miss Woodward