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10 Easy Classroom Organization Tips

Easy Classroom Organization is so dang important for so many reasons.  Things run smoothly when everything is organized, promise!  I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.
Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.
1. To-Do List

I'm a list-girl.  I'm the type of person who will add something to the list once it's done just so I can cross it off.  Please tell me I'm not the only one.  I love this laminated planner because it's simple and to-the-point.  Just use a fine-point dry erase marker to list your tasks.  You can get this planner for FREE!

Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.

2. Guided Reading Area

 Use daily bins to keep materials in for easy access. I've got a few suggestions for you on Amazon, where I do get compensated for my suggestions. Wall Pops are great little dry erase stickers that you can stick onto your table.  We use it for word work and sight word practice as well as comprehension practice.  I love the seat crates because they provide extra storage for all of your materials.
Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.
Credit: One Sharp Bunch

3. Construction Paper
Use a filing cabinet with hanging folders to store construction paper.  You can also store it in letter trays if that works better for you.  Either way, all of your paper is in one place!

Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.
Credit: Saddle Up for 2nd Grade

4. Folder Holder
I love how Meredith, from Creativity to the Core bought an IKEA trash bin, attached hooks to the wall, and hung the bin.  Now, it's a perfect spot to store folders, or anything really.  Could you see how you'd use this in your class?

Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.
Credit: Creativity to the Core

5. Pencil Pouches
Have you ever thought to use Pencil Pouches to store centers?  Brilliant, right? My favorite are the canvas pouches with a clear cover so everyone can see what's inside.  Keep everything students need in the pouches so it's all in one place.

Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.
Credit: Not So Wimpy Teacher

6. Library Book Bins
I love my bright bins from Really Good Stuff.  They are sturdy and match the theme of our classroom.  Label them to make for better organization and you're set.  Use lexiles in your class? Label them with lexile levels so students can choose the books that are at their level.

Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.
Credit: One Sharp Bunch

7. Table Supply Caddy
I've never been able to love the idea of students having their own supplies in a pencil case.  Maybe because I'm neurotic and the sound of kids rummaging around them makes me want to cry.  So, I've always bought supply caddies.  They're inexpensive at Target in the Dollar Spot and Michaels.  One supply caddy works for 5 kids, love it!  Here's a little tip: get cups to place in the caddy to store pencils and scissors {see below}.  For crayons, get a little container to store crayons and stack them.  This year, I bought them at Dollar Tree because they matched my colors, but I always used the white stacking ones in the past.

Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.

8. New Students
Eeeek, it's Monday and you just found out you're getting a new student?  Do you scramble looking for all of that beginning of the year paperwork?  Not anymore if you follow this organization trick!  Grab a few folders at the beginning of the year and place important papers like your Back to School powerpoint, website log ins, class expectations, and all of that other good stuff.  So next time you have a new kiddo walk in through that door, you're prepared!

Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.
Credit: Love Learning with Liana

9. Math Supplies
I've talked about math center organization before, and love this favorite little tip of mine!  Shoe hangars aren't just for your closet anymore!  I hang ours up in our math station and fill it with dice, paper clips, spinners, flash cards, and everything else that my kids will need for extension activities and reinforcement.  The clear ones are best so students can actually see what's inside!

Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.

10. Technology
Are you lucky enough to have technology in your class?  What do you do with it all?  I've got a few tips over at The Primary Pack as well as some freebie screensavers for your computers and devices.

Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.
Want more organization tips, join us over at the Easy Teaching Tools Primary Teachers Facebook group.
Easy Classroom Organization is important for so many reasons. I want to share with you 10 easy tips that will help you in your class.
My name is Kristen and I’ve enjoyed teaching kindergarten, first grade, a 1/2 combo, and second grade.  I’ve taught at both a low and high-performing Title I schools as well as a few fancy schools in California and O’ahu, Hawaii. I’ve earned my Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in reading in addition to my Reading Specialist Certificate.  When I am not teaching my scholars or other educators at Professional Development classes, I  enjoy creating materials to share with my colleagues, organizing family literacy events, and giving workshops on ways to make Literacy Workshop effective and engaging.  

33 Responses

  1. All good tips! I'm a list girl too but I like good ok paper & pencil. I have a little notebook that I wrote to dos for home on one side and for at school on the opposite side. There's something I love about seeing things crossed off—I can visually see what I've accomplished for the day ha! How well do the wall pops stick to the table? I'm somewhat concerned they will peel up (like the kids' name tags after wear and tear) but I so love the idea.

    1. My problem with the wall pops is that they get scratched and are hard to erase. My guided reading table doubles as my desk, so things are always getting stacked on it throughout the day. I discovered that you can get the same effect using colored paper and clear (glossy) contact paper. They work just as well and are easy (and cheap) to replace if they get scratched or dingy.

  2. As I find out I'm having to move classrooms most likely next year for the first time ever, I'm a little too excited to try some of these new ideas out! Great collection of ideas!! Thanks!

  3. Hi Kristen! You are such an inspiration. I’m going into my 27th year and you’ve made me excited about it. I’ve bought so much stuff in the past 2 weeks all because of your ideas and creativity. Thank you for fresh eyes! I would like to know where you get all your cute labels. Esp like the ones on your turn in basket. Keep up the great work. I can’t wait to decorate my room. Oh and could you plz share your Word Work ideas? Like the ones that go in the Lakeshore magnetic folders? Thanks a bunch!

  4. Where can I get that table? I’m searching and can’t find that shaped table. I think it’d be perfect for my tiny resource room!

  5. Love it all but most of all the small group table. Where did you get that? I’ve never seen that shape!

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