Classroom organization can be overwhelming. I get it.
A new school year is coming – Let’s do our best to organize that classroom for efficiency.
Organization is a tough topic because it’s different for everyone. What works for me might not work for you, and that’s totally okay. You’ll have to experiment in order to create systems that work for you. Here’s what works for me:
Use all the bins!
I’m a big fan of plastic drawers! The drawers pictured above are used for storing my copies (and other materials) for the week. I put copies and such for next week in the bottom drawer as I work on plans throughout the week.
I also use plastic drawers to store small group materials, papers that need to be graded or sorted, etc. They are cheap and effective!
I like using 12 x 12 scrapbooking bins to store my units: books, games, task cards, posters, etc. These are the Iris brand. I got mine on sale at Michael’s for $2.50 each, and I LOVE having everything for a unit in one place, ready to pull out!
If you decide to go this route, your first year of teaching is the perfect time to create these bins because you can do it as you go. Put together a bin at the end of each unit, and you’ll already be ready(ish) for next year.
These paper bins from Lakeshore are some of my favorite purchases for my classroom. They are super sturdy. I use them for turn-in trays. I use different colors to color-code by subject, small group, etc. This is a system that works well for me!
Student Folders
I like using hanging files for students’ papers. Instead of a filing cabinet, I prefer to use hanging files in a plastic crate when filing students’ graded work. The crate is able to be moved around the room and manipulated easily. I have one hanging folder per student, labeled with names so kids can help me sort papers if I deem any responsible enough – ha!
(I don’t have any pictures of mine, but it’s this sort of situation.)
However, the filing cabinet comes in handy for some things. I also have hanging files for students in my file cabinet. In those folders, I keep important documents like 504 or IEP copies, tests that can’t be sent home, signed behavior forms, etc… anything I may need to hang onto for the future.
In the past, I’ve had students keep their own data folders. You can read more about data folders below. Now, everything is so accessible online that I’ve moved away from paper folders, although I definitely think there are benefits to having students track their data!
Again, classroom organization can be tough because you’re going to have to create your own systems that work well for you. This will take time, trial, and error.
The Dollar Tree will be your best friend when it comes to storage bins! I typically do not advise spending lots of personal money on your classroom, but when it comes to buying bins, buy extra to grow into. That way you don’t have to start over completely when you run out of matching bins.
Related Content
Using data notebooks is a great way to keep students’ data organized – and the kids do the heavy lifting!
Team Jobs are my favorite for getting students involved in classroom organization.
See how I organize my classroom library here.
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