Being a teacher and in the field of education means that generally our classrooms are filled with stuff. Feeling the need for teacher organization is something we all go through if you’ve been a teacher for longer than 3 months. Learn how to organize for classroom systems, materials, teacher storage and volunteers using labels.
So, what’s a teacher to do? My biggest tip for working towards teacher organization is to learn from others. This includes learning what to do and what not to do.
Teacher Organization
Take a walk around your school building and find teachers who will share a tip or idea that they use or an organization project they are proud of. You can get great ideas from your fellow colleagues for teacher organization and they’ll like that you asked!
Another is to scope out teacher blogs for classroom photo pictures and to find things you think might work for you. Personally, I like being able to know where things are without having to remember so I like to label things, like a pencil organization system.
Since I work with kindergarten, often I will label things with pictures too if its something I want them to be able to find independently.
Here is my example on KindergartenWorks, where I explain how I label little buckets for lost supplies so that I don’t keep getting handed stuff during the day. Because it would all end up in my teacher space at the end of the day if that were the case.
I think that labels help encourage classroom community too since everyone can accept the responsibility for knowing where things are and go. {Free download}
Extra supplies are great to have on hand and labels are the perfect way to make sure you can find or direct a student to find what is needed without much interruption. {Free download}
If you use community supplies, then you definitely have a lot of different materials to organize. For any lesson you may need pencils, markers, glue and scissors. Kristen from Ladybug Teacher Files has some gorgeous community supply bin labels.
These circle labels printed on paper to match your color scheme will make your classroom look cohesive and feel more organized. {Free download}
Sometimes we have “teachery” things that could definitely use a label to help keep us sane. These might be things stored in a cupboard, closet or filing cabinet.
But labeling your own materials will save you from wondering if that’s where something is or make it easier to explain to a teacher friend when they need to borrow an item. Labeling your writing portfolios is a good example if you keep them separate. {Free download}
Other classroom things that might need a label:
- Bathroom Doors {Free download}
- Supply Caddies {Free download}
- Tables (Using Continents) {Free download}
- Totes {Free download}
Not only do we have to organize for ourselves and create systems that work for our students, if we have additional support staff or parent volunteers we most likely should include them into our teacher organization realm. Right?
If you have people that will travel, work in small groups around the room or just need a place to put things until they show up, a basket will do. Add a label so that both you and they will know who it’s for and the right people will get the right thing.
Whatever systems you choose to use, ensure the success of it by teaching it to your students multiple times. You won’t be sorry you did, but you might be if you skip this step. {wink}
Take the tip of learning from others including these fantastic teachers above.
Thank you fantastic teachers for sharing your organization ideas. I love your creations! Feel free to grab the “I’m a Featured Teach Junkie” blog button since your ideas are definitely worth some serious gold stickers.
What’s your organization idea? Upload it here on Teach Junkie and I’ll be sure it gets the spotlight.
More Teacher Organization
- Creating/Labeling Substitute Materials
- 5 Sharpened/Unsharpened Pencil Labels
- Teacher Toolbox {Polka Dots}
- 10 Ways to Label Classroom Library
- Paint Stick Labels for Organizing Extra Books
- 8 Cute Teacher Printable To Do Lists
- 21 Classroom Organization Labels and Tags
Leslie {aka the original Teach Junkie} loves learning new things to make teaching easier and more effective. She enjoys featuring creative classroom fun when she's not designing teacher shirts, making kindergarten lesson plans or planning her family's next trip to Disney World.