I know I'm not the only one out there that is just a TEENY bit OCD when it comes to how their classroom looks. This goes for my centers/stations as well. Everything has a place and if it gets put away correctly then nothing ends up missing....like one of the cards out of a memory game.

When my students do memory games they used to do them on the carpet. It didn't work out well.  They struggle with how to line up all the cards on the carpet and that takes too much of their time in stations. So I started having students do memory games in the pocket chart. I would set it up all nice and neat, but by the end of our rotations the cards were no longer in nice need columns. They were a jumbled mess. Drove. Me. Crazy.

Simple solution: Washi Tape!

At first it seems like the washi tape won't stay on but it does if you press it down hard. I've had washi tape on my pocket chart since January and it's still on there. In about a minute and a half you can have your washi tape lines up and your chart ready to go. 

Now as students make a match they place their pairs toward the bottom. They remember where they pulled their card from and place it in the correct spot. Cards aren't all over the floor getting lost or shoved under a bookcase by mistake. AND when our rotations are finished my first graders have the cards all lined up and ready for the next group!

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My friend Melissa is having a HUGE and FANTASTIC giveaway on her blog First Grade Smiles! Tons of amazing products to win from lots of bloggers! I have my March and April Poetry pack in the Giveaway #3 Bundle! Go check it out!