DIY Instant Pocket Chart

     Two teacher work days in and I'm exhausted!  I'm trying to get back into the routine and I'm having such a tough time.  Because I have such a long commute, I have to get up at 5:00 and I am fighting it with every ounce of my being.  I can't count the number of diet cokes it took to get me through the last two days!  The good news is that my room is coming along nicely and I'll be ready to go for the first day on Tuesday.  Our kindergartners come for a quick Meet & Greet on Monday and I can't wait to meet the kiddos that I'll be spending the next 10 months with!
     Of course, the first thing I tackled in my classroom was decorating it. Nothing thrills me as much as new bulletin board borders and desk tags! One project I worked on this summer was making an "instant" pocket chart for my classroom jobs.  I hung it in my classroom on Friday and and a few colleagues asked me how I made it.  They were surprised at how easy it was and headed off to make their own.  I thought some of you might like this little trick too, so I thought I'd share.  All you need is a box of standard envelopes and a poster or foam board. Here's how you do it...

The index cards with the kids' names on them slip right into the pockets and stay put.  I used this trick for my Job Chart, but you could also use it for Math or Literacy Station Work Boards, a Dismissal Chart, or anything else you use task cards for.

I hope you can use this little trick - I'd love to hear about what you create! Have a great weekend!

Update 9/2/12 - For more info on the clipart I used, check out this post.