So you’re looking for some teacher organization tools? I get it, teaching can be super overwhelming and trying to get (and stay) organized is a huge task. I hear you! I like to keep things as simple and minimal as possible. The idea of having 100 plastic bins, each with different contents isn’t how I roll, in fact, that’s kind of overwhelming. I want to start off by saying that this is how I keep me, my classroom and my students organized. Also, important to note, I’m only talking physical space here. Not everything I recommend is going to work for every person and every classroom. I hope that you can find at least one useful thing that you can implement.
Turn in bin
There are a few options when it comes to turn in bins. Some people like to keep their periods or blocks separate from each other and have the kids submit work into different bins. I’m not one of those people. I just assume that the kids are going to make a bunch of mistakes throughout the year, and I’ll wind up marking an assignment as missing when it really isn’t. For simplicity sake, I have all my kids, regardless of their block or class, turn in to the same bin. It’s actually a $1 blue bin I got from Dollar Tree. I use book rings and hang a laminated card from the bin so I could easily mark it “Mrs. Reavy Turn In Bin.” I put my name on it because I have shared my classroom before.
Graded Work to be Returned
One of my favorite teacher organization tools is my sterilite drawer system! I teach just three main sections of chemistry now, but I have taught more in the past. These drawers come in threes and are perfect for sorting work that has been graded and needs to be passed back to students. The drawers are nice because they are closed, meaning there is a limit to how much can fit in there. I use that to remind me to pass back papers. I usually have kids pass back work so the process isn’t so bad. I use binder clips to hold tests and quizzes together. I don’t like to have students pass those back because I feel that a student’s grade on assessments is their business only. By clipping them together, I know what papers I need to pass back and what I can let kids help me with.
How to Store Work for Absent Kids
I love these rainbow folders for another of my favorite teacher organization tools. I hang this hanging folder system using a Command Hook. (Always listen to the rules your custodial staff makes – THEY are the ones in charge!) I used to label the folders Monday through Friday. Then I got an alternating schedule so I instead labeled them using my lesson coding system. I got these dry erase sleeves (you could use a simple page protector or laminated sheet of paper). I write on the sleeve which lesson is in each folder using my coding system.
Task Card Storage
Another favorite teacher organization tool is my photo storage boxes. These are big bins that hold smaller bins that are perfect for task cards and smaller manipulatives. I have a box that holds 4×6 cards, and another that holds 5×7 cards. (If you have just one or two task card sets you can also find individual boxes, though some people swear by the always faithful ziplock bag.)
When it comes to printing task cards, I try to shrink them so they will fit in the 4×6 boxes since those are usually easier to find and cheaper. In fact, I make my vocabulary dominoes so small that I can fit 12 sets in one 4×6 bin. These bins are great because you can put all the little bins in order or move them around really easily. I put labels in the front of my boxes, but you don’t need to because they’re see-through. I actually keep my big bins at home, and just carry in the small boxes as needed.
Laminated Paper Storage
Once you laminate game boards or things like it, they’re basically impossible to store. You need a thousand binder clips to hold them together because they slip out so easily. They’re too big for pocket folders. Punching holes to put them in a binder basically defeats the purpose of laminating them in the first place. I store all of my game board in 12×12 sterilite drawers. I labeled them with my unit numbers. Depending on how much you have, you may be able to get away having one drawer for a few months worth of stuff. If you don’t have a lot of task cards, you could store them here too.
I also stuff these drawers with leftover copies that I’ll use as sub plans or for reducing my number of copies needed next year. Most people would just use a file cabinet for this kind of stuff, but I’m not interested in all the folders and organizing that goes with that. I can literally just throw stuff in the drawer and forget about it until next year. I even leave myself to do lists for the future. For instance, I know that at the beginning of my Kinetics Unit, I’ll need some glow sticks, so I have a note in the drawer reminding me to get them. The drawer system maybe isn’t the most logical, but I swear by it for me.
What if it doesn’t work out?
So there are my five favorite teacher organization tools. Finding what works for you can take a few tries. I feel like I didn’t have my physical space organized until my fourth year of teaching. I got most of it right during my first year, but the details needed to be ironed out. I’m sure as my teaching style evolves this teacher organization system will too. Save your receipts so you can return what isn’t working for you. If it’s too late to return something, you can try to trade with other teachers. I also love to dump my unwanted things in the faculty room with a note “free to a good home.” Just because it doesn’t work for you, doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else! Maybe you’ll get this trend going in your school and you’ll find something there that you can happily receive as a hand-me-down.
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