If you’ve ever ended a small group lesson with your table looking like a paper hurricane just blew through, you are not alone. I’ve been there—magnet tiles scattered, papers sliding off the table, pencils rolling into the abyss. Honestly, half my job feels like it’s just organizing all the “stuff” that comes with Wilson. But over time, I’ve stumbled into a few hacks that keep me sane and make small groups run a whole lot smoother. Let me spill the tea on the top five.
Hack #1: A Binder System That Works Overtime
Every small group has its own binder. What’s inside? Their assessments (WADE, WIST, My Steps Progress, Student Recording booklets), lesson plans, notes from previous sessions, dictation sheets, word lists, and mini posters. It’s my one stop, portable shop to quickly figure out what I need to do tomorrow with my kiddos. No flipping through piles, no frantic printing mid-lesson. Just grab the binder, open it up, and go. Bonus: I always keep a stash of blank copies tucked in the back so I never get caught off guard, like dictation pages, word list charts, small group notes, poster resources, and Clarity for Learning templates.
But here’s where my “binder obsession” really shines:
- End-of-Step Assessment Binder:This one holds everything I need to test students—teacher guide, blank copies of My Steps progress, and extra Student Progress Recording booklets (for kids who mysteriously don’t have theirs or those who are new to Wilson).
- Games Binder: Because my games deserve their own spotlight 😍and they’re ready in a flash. All Bingo, Wheel of Fortune, and seasonal Color By Code games live here in neat little sheet protectors, separated by sheets of colored copier paper.
- Sub Plans Binder: Inside are plastic labeled pocket folders for each group. When I’m out for a meeting or the day, I can rest easy knowing a sub can grab the right folder and have instant structure. I usually keep a Color By Code, and some workbook activities that can be ready in a moment. Also I can grab out the period I need coverage for without having to think about planning or copying.
- Poster Binder: All my favorites are here—Evil Schwa, Superhero E, Tricky Ex- Fox, and more. The binder has multiple, laminated copies of each poster so that when we get to that point in their progress I grab a few and put them in my Small Group Binder. Each student gets a copy to set next to them during our lesson as a reminder of the new rule.
- Master Binder: This one holds all my original lesson plans plus blank forms: dictation pages, small group notes templates, word list charts, vocab pages, “How Am I Doing?” check-ins, and fluency rating sheets. I’m ready at a moment’s notice and since there’s only 3 minutes between my groups- it also keeps me sane.
It’s basically a binder universe, and yes—my shelf looks like a rainbow parade of plastic spines. And no, I am not ashamed. They’re actually quite cute with my little Bruno mascot plastered here and there.
Hack #2: Dollar Store Gold (and a Little Extra Sparkle)
I don’t need fancy bins or Instagram-worthy rainbow carts. A simple pencil case from the dollar store is my MVP. I put one in each small group binder. It holds word cards, high-frequency words, and a few ready-to-go games for Part 3. I even tuck in some ideas for word sorts or matching activities so if a group is dragging, I can pivot on the fly. They’re cheap, durable, and the zipper means nothing goes flying when I toss it into my bag or back on the shelf at the end of the day.
But let’s be real—the dollar store is a treasure chest for more than just pencil cases:
- Metallic Mesh Pencil Cups: Colorful, shiny, and perfect for corralling highlighters, pencils, and dry erase markers. Perfect for when a student breaks their pencil or their highlighter dries up. (And honestly, they make my book case look like it has its life together.)
- Colorful, Open Bins: for dry erase boards, headphones, whisper phones, and even a cozy lap blanket for my chilly office—basically everything my students or I might need within arm’s reach so lessons flow without a single ‘Where’s my…?’ moment.
- Colorful, Shoebox-Sized Bins with Lids: These little gems hold extra games, syllable cards, and differentiation ideas organized by step. Each bin is like a grab-and-go station for materials and activities.
- Fake flowers, butterflies, & various gazitners: I love to create a relaxing, nature vibe to comfort my anxious readers. Little framed pictures, vases of flowers, and a butterfly here and there transform a drab space into a beautiful spot. Oddly, even though they’re from the dollar store my office looks amazing!
I always joke that Wilson is a program that runs on decodable text and the Dollar Store. And honestly? I’m not wrong.
Hack #3: Magnet Boards That Don’t Drive You Mad
If you have enough magnet boards, set them up per step. That way, your Step 2 kids aren’t digging through tiles meant for Step 4. Add a little labeled Post-It to keep them organized.
If you don’t have enough boards (been there- eyeroll), here’s the fix: separate your extra magnet tiles into snack-sized Ziploc bags- one for each student. Label each bag with a Sharpie and slide them right into the Small Group Binder pencil case. At the end of the period, the tiles go right back into the baggies so the magnet board is ready for the next group. No more mystery hunt for the missing ost tile.
Hack #4: Supplies on Standby
Two sets of supplies- colorful cups full of pencils, erasers, dry erase markers, and highlighters sit on my bookcase and on my multi-drawer organizer. No digging in drawers. No kids wandering around to “look” for a pencil (we all know how that goes). I’ve learned if my students and I can reach it easily, we’ll actually use it—and that makes lessons flow way smoother. One last thing that was worth every penny was a good electric pencil sharpener. From Amazon, of course.
Hack #5: Amazon Finds That Changed My Life
Okay, I admit it—Amazon is my weakness. But some of my best hacks come from clicking “Add to Cart”:
- Sturdy Open-Front Magazine Holders: These are perfect for organizing all my Step books so these expensive resources stay organized, neat, and in good condition- no bent or torn pages. Plus, all those colors look pretty when displayed together on a shelf.
- Multi-Drawer Craft Organizer: teacher’s best friend for keeping word cards from becoming the Leaning Tower of Step Cards. The larger bottom drawers hold the High Frequency word cards, sound cards, and fun resources (like Evil Schwa, Super Hero E, Tricky Ex- Fox, etc), and blank syllable cards.
- Plastic Crayon Boxes: Stronger than you’d think and just the right size for card games. I buy lots of them and use them for games, welded sound picture cards, final stable syllable cards and its exception, etc- pretty much whatever I need them for. They’re GREAT little storage boxes.
- Mega Packs of Coloring Supplies: Crayons, markers, and colored pencils fuel all my color-by-code activities and fill in their word list charts.
- Candy & Prizes: I love handing out Jolly Ranchers for a job well done. Nothing motivates a kid more than a little sugar rush and Amazon has the big 5 pound bags for cheap. Prizes are another thrill my upper elementary students STILL crave! And Amazon has huge prize packs full of what I need. Side note- kudos to my hubby! He made me a full-on treasure chest for my prize box- not kidding! My husband took a sad little, unstained, clearance chest that I found at Michaels and totally amped it up with a can of stain, an old leather belt, and brass furniture tacks—basically turning it into something that looks like it was swiped straight off a pirate ship. Kids LOVE it! I stuff that thing full of Amazon prizes. One or two packs will last all year, and let me tell you—my fifth and sixth graders can’t wait to remind me of their Treasure Chest Prize at the end of the month.
Final Thoughts
I wish I could say I’ve always been this organized, but trust me—it’s been trial, error, and a whole lot of “never again” moments. These hacks don’t just save me time—they save my sanity. And when I’m calmer and happier, my students feel it too. Which leads to more learning and more fun. A win-win for all. If you’d like to get all my tips and tricks plus my small group notes template, click here.
So whether it’s binders, baggies, bins, or candy bribes (hey, no judgment), having systems in place makes all the difference. Next up in this mini-series? The lesson tweaks and differentiation tricks I use to make Wilson more efficient—plus a few of my game on the fly ideas sprinkled in. Ever wonder how to shave 10 minutes off prep and still keep kids fully engaged? Stay tuned!
