Tired of ordinary ways to organize your classroom?
These creative FUNctional Uses ideas will keep your entire classroom orderly, vibrant, and stylish!
Use our Library Pockets to create your jobs chart! This fun, interactive board will help students stay organized and work independently.
Organize your cubbies with our Calendar Days! These numbered spaces never need updating and they teach students responsibility for their own areas and help them stay organized!
Use our Name Plates and Labels to organize and stylize throughout your classroom! Our Name Plates and Labels are the perfect size to organize your library, art supplies, papers, centers, and bins of all kind!
Organize your tables by attaching one of our Designer Cut-Outs to a stick and labeling it with a table number!
Add style to any pencil holder by wrapping a colorful border around it! This soup can never looked so good!
63 comments
I confess I’m not the most organized person! One idea I recently had (was inspired to do?) was purchase those fabric ClosetMaid storage bins from Target/Walmart for each curriculum area. I bought 2 in each of 4 colors, 1 for my stuff and one for student work. For example I have a green one that has my Science unit binders, curriculum books, etc, while the green one for student work has photocopies ready to go for the next Science experiments, etc…The are lined up on the counter behind my desk two deep, with the student one in front of the teacher one. This keeps me from having random piles everywhere. I inherited the pile gene big time!
I teach Kindergarten so I HAVE to stay organized. Every child has a number and everything they use, and I mean everything, has their number on it so there is never any confusion or fighting over whose is whose. They sit at tables and each table has a color so everything in the classroom that belongs to that table or stores that table’s items are in a bin/cubby/basket/folder that is that color. All of my materials and papers for the week are divided up and put into a hanging file labeled with its day.
“Inspired In Style” is the perfect description for these products! I tuly feel inspired each time I check them out! Love, love, love!
I have two preschool classes and I coordinate the colors my am class is yellow and red & my pm class blue and green. Then coordinate the binders, all of supplies. & materials acording to the AM or PM class
Keeping my classroom organized is something I desperately strive to do, but it’s something that is so hard. Besides the bus students who, unwatched, tear apart any organization I may have achieved that day, I find I don’t have the storage units or counter space to keep myself organized. I teach in a school that was not designed to be a school. With poor storage space and few furniture choices, I inevitably have to resort to a pile of things behind my whiteboard (no desk). I try to keep my students organized, however. I admit my OCD probably leaks over to them in ways they don’t realize. Despite the difficulty of staying organized, I always think to myself, “There’s always next year!”
I keep my room organized by using lots of color coded tubs and binders!
I love the classroom jobs idea! It’s functional and eye-appealing. I’m in serious need if classroom organization, so I love all of these ideas!
I try to stay organized by using a basket (kept under my reading table) that I dump everything in and then once a week I take time to empty the basket and find a place for everything and put everything in its place.
I’m still trying to figure how what works for me. I’m about to start my third year teaching, but I’ve found a couple of things that have helped. I have an inbox for my students to put their papers in. I have a class set of ten tubs with 2 different colors of 30 connecting cubes (we use them alot in Investigations). Unfortunately, my school is constantly changing our programs, so I start off with a program, get comfortable with it, get it everything organized, only to have to put it in storage for the following year. This year we’re moving to curriculum mapping, so I’ll be using lots of binders to keep everything organized.
I color code everything.
I am right there along with Christie. My organization style is an organized mess! In fact, that is about the only thing my principal asked me to really put thought into and work on for the coming school year:) I plan out, but don’t always have materials ready, and it’s mostly because I really don’t want to invest in the things (baskets, Sterilite drawers, etc) that will help keep me better organized. Binders help me keep track of data, but other than that, I need some serious help in this department:)
In my classroom we need to transition quickly from subject to subject, so I have materials caddies for each of my table groups. Each caddy is pre filled with coloring supplies, scissors, glue, and any other special material for that day’s activities. When we start the activity the materials manager for the group picks up their caddy and brings it to the group. This also ensures that only a few students are out of their seats. Another thing that I do for quick pickup is this….. I have collected a lot of paper box lids. One side of each lid gets cut out and then the whole thing is covered with paper or contact paper. This becomes each students project tray. All paper cutting and gluing is done Over this tray. When it is time for cleanup one student goes around the room with the trash can and students dump the contents of their trays into the trash. No more paper on the floor
I stay organized by planning & check lists. I love labels, clips, & bins!
If the beginning of the year I label everything. Is the year progresses I noticed that I have to change where some of my things are And the names of some of my labels. Being able to do this helps keep my clinician organize the whole year.
I LOVE to color code everything. If reading is one color, my notebooks, the kid’s notebooks, folders, etc are that color. It makes things easier. I also learned a fun tip to mark their workbook with a sharpie. I’m going to be adding that to my color coding as well.
I have finally created a sub binder for those days that I have to be absent–it contains a few plans for those unexpected sicknesses, plans that can be used throughout the year. I have also created a teacher binder, this is the one thing that is probably going to help me the most and keep me organized. This binder, is going to be my “one stop shop”, it will contain all important information in it: calendars, lesson plans (change weekly), emergency procedures, assessment data, IEP information, transportation information, parent communication, student/family information, meeting dates/notes, and a pencil pouch (contain Paper Mate Flair felt tip pens, pencils, and a regular ink pen). The teacher binder will eliminate the stack of notebooks for every meeting I attended last year, because everything is in one place.
Staying organized is a struggle but if I don’t, I regret it majorly. I have a binder where I keep all of my reading resources. The resources are grouped by skill and then alphabetized, so when I need something, it’s easy to find.
I have a wall of cabinets in my classroom. Each cabinet is dedicated to a specific area; art supplies, math manipulatives, listening centers, etc. I have banker boxes labeled for each month. They hold project samples, center materials, decorations, bulletin board pieces, books, etc for that month. I’m still deciding between file folders, binders or electronic storage of papers, so right. Ow I use all three. Not the best system so that’s my organizing focus for this year.
I try to stay organized with baskets, binders, and files.
I stay organized by making sure I plan my lessons well in advance so I know what’s coming up. Each week, I make all of my copies and organize any materials/videos/equipment I will need for the following week’s lessons. I use bins labeled with the days of the week to hold all materials for these lessons. I also keep binders with master copies organized by subject for forms/papers I use on a frequent basis. I keep everything else organized in my Google Docs.
Students numbers helps me stay organized.
As an elementary general music teacher, I’ve found clear rubbermaid/sterilite bins of various sizes are perfect for my small percussion instruments. Students can easily see what to grab, and as long as the lid fits, they know it’s put away properly (doesn’t have to be stacked “just so”). Seeing the pictures above gave me an idea: I should creatively label each bin so that substitute teachers who do not have a background in Music Ed. (agogo bells and cabasas aren’t generally well-known names). This would save me time when preparing for a sub (I could leave the bins in my tidy cupboards instead of setting them out) and help the substitute with classroom management (young children can be super excited when they come in and see a stack of instruments in bins…). My creative wheels are turning!!!
You have many great ideas to help me get me room more organized and still be stylish. I am excited to get started. Thanks
I use clear plastic bins to organize and store my monthly centers. Having coordinating labels helps keep things looking organized and pretty!
I color code for each grade I teach (I teach K-8 computers applications). So all my clipboards, file folders, Post-It notes, binder clips, etc., all have corresponding colors. It makes it easy to see what grades I have for the day when I have my file folders on the desk!
I use plastic containers for everything. I label each container as well. Whenever I bring something new in my classroom, I find a spot for it right away!
I stay organized by numbering my student’s mailboxes, this helps me to quickly hand out assignments or important notes. Also, I keep organized by using expanding file briefcases and labeling them by month, so each section holds important papers from that month for me to quickly access. At the end of every school year I go through all my things and toss what is no longer used or give away items to new teachers.
I try to stay organized by color – coding everything. Using student numbers for all of their things and training them to use their numbers helps too. And I love baskets!
I recently purged and cleaned all of my cabinets at school and sorted items into plastic shoebox containers and labeled the front of each container! Anyone should be able to find anything in my room! 🙂
I stay organized first by making lists and crossing things off when they are done. I also use tubs, labels, and notebooks. Also, I straighten things up at the end of the day.
I have two classes that I color code their folders, center tags, etc. I am a firm believer in binders for assessments, parent communications, lesson plans, etc. Everything has a place, and I start on first day teaching my kids how to clean-up correctly.
I love some of these ideas that I have not thought of. Moving to a new school this year and want to be organized from the start!!
I try to stay organized by color coding, but let’s be honest, a teacher’s day is so busy, it is hard to keep up!
I love using the library pockets for my job chart! I’ve done that for the past few years. I may have to try some of these other ideas, too!!
Using the library pockets is a great way to organize class jobs. I have been thinking of reorganizing the way I do class jobs and this will work great!!
I try to stay organized by having different notebooks that are labeled. I also like to use a same color scheme to keep things organized.
I stay organized by numbering my students. I file papers, take attendance, assign groups, etc. using their numbers. This makes it much easier to reuse items from one year to the next.
I stay organized by prepping, purging, and organizing in the spring! It makes the fall much more bearable. I also spend most of my summer searching blogs and Pinterest for ideas. Love your stuff!!!
Organization is one of the classroom management skills I would like to improve. Currently I use folders and plastic tubs to attempt to keep my materials and resources in some kind of semblance of order. I am forgetful, so lots of notes to remind me of actions to take or meetings. With so few “real” opportunities to get and stay organized within the class day, it is a never-ending battle for me.
I stay organized with folders and tubs/containers.
I don’t stay very organized. I start every year with good intentions, but never have been able to keep it up. Maybe if I win, these great products will help! 🙂
I stay organized mostly with bins and boxes. Sadly, I also have to many piles. I love the idea of labeling bins with nameplates or die cuts. I could use any and all help organizing my classroom.
I am moving grades – AGAIN – I would love anything that keeps my first is organized!
Bins, bins, and more bins! I have one for each month and put all my seasonal/monthly activities, storybooks, calendar pieces, etc. in the right bin. It is SO helpful!
Tubs, Tubs, Tubs! Everything has a place and it’s the only way I can keep myself organized and sane!
I am a first year teacher so am developing my organizational style. I have bins, and tubs for some things but have not labeled them. I am still not siure of what all I need so I am sure there is a lot missing!
I am a bit OCD when it comes to organization. I have binders of all different subjects, and type of paper. I have color coded drawers, tubs, ect. I am moving classrooms, and have a very limited storage space now and need even more organization!
I am using banker’s boxes, making one for each month so I can put all my center supplies, lesson plans, etc. together to make everything easier to find and put back. Inside each box I’m putting papers inside a monthly binder.
I stay organized by prepping materials ahead of time and making sure everything is picked up and put in it’d place weekly. Otherwise, I end up with mountains of papers and supplies!
I stay organized by labeling and sorting everything. I use clear plastic boxes so I can see what is inside without opening the boxes too!
I use hanging shoe organizers to store student paint shirts. A clear one is great for storing desk supplies!
I love sticky notes, binders and ziploc bags. Ziploc bags are great for centers!!
As a special education teacher working with students from all different grades, I cannot be organized enough!! I am always looking for new ideas!
In my 11 years of teaching so far, I’ve taught every grade except 1st and 3rd so I have to be organized. I use borders to create an environment of fun along with using the different styles and colors of the borders to create seperate areas around the room, such as the reading nook. To keep track of the literacy and math centers I have for the different grade levels, I created an excel worksheet. This is great for not only looking up what I have for a particular grade level,, but is also wonderful to use as a reference for a particular skill I want the students to focus on. One of my newest things I use to help me stay organized is the plastic zipper bags you get from buying sheets, pillows,, curtains, etc.. The different sizes allow me to use the bags to store such things as my bulletin board letters, bulletin board sets, and anything else that I don’t want to get ruined if it would get wet. The idea came to me after there was a minor sink explosion in my classroom and a majority of my bulletin boards got destroyed.
-color coding
-numbers for my students
-planner
-designated places for items
-teacher toolbox – saw them on Pinterest when they were first making rounds – mine still brings me joy when I see it
Lists, Labels and lots of color coding!!!! I’m always filing and purging!
The only way I stay organized is to write things down!! Everyone always comments on how organized I am, but I am always feeling disarrayed and hectic… I guess I have my own system, but I pity the person who has to come in and figure it out!
I use GoogleCloud to keep my documents organized. I’ve been transferring documents from files, to binders to the cloud. My classroom isn’t very big with limited storage space. I know I can find an item quickly on my computer. I do use binders for many things still. I have my math standards/materials divided into binders for each quarter. Math manipulatives are in containers with labels from the dots on chocolate collection.
My reading materials are in binders for each story.
Students are given numbers to use throughout the year. They put their number on their papers when they turn them in so we can quickly alphabetize them. Their numbers are on their coat hooks so everyone knows where to put their belongings. The numbers are on their name plates so they remember what their number is. I put magnets on the back of their name plates so they can take them to other classes when we switch.
For classroom jobs, I put everyone’s name on a Popsicle stick. Library pocket cards were labeled with jobs. The sticks were put in the pockets so students would know what job they had for the week.
I love coordinating items for organizing my classroom. I use coordinating labels on all of my containers. Even if they are different patterns, the colors keep them uniform and it looks great!
Label, label, label! I put pictures and labels on everything for my Kinders! 🙂
Breanne
I stay organized by using trays, bins, and boxes. I try and label everything for easy access.
I love the ideas of using the large and small library pockets to organize groups and their supplies. The calendar numbers in cubbies is genius! I could really use these things to freshen up the look and organization of my room.
I’m always looking for better ways to organize my resource room. I use many binders, file folders, bins, and trays to try to keep organized. I like the organized materials to look cute, too!