The Perfectly Grown Classroom is all about Learning and Growing Together.
When they say “You learn something new every day,” it is ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!
As I’ve stated before, I LOVE to do research and learn new things as a HOBBY.
I’m the person who is on their phone during a movie (at home), especially those set in the previous century.
But all this is great because I can share everything I learn with YOU!
My How to Teach Elementary School series Part 1: Classroom Set-Up has TONS of ideas on everything you need to know to set up and organize your classroom for student success (and your success).
Click here to download your FREE copy if you haven’t already.
Here are a few fun things that will be included in the updated draft of Classroom Set-Up and you get to read them here FIRST!
STUDENT PAPER ORGANIZATION
Teachers need to have an organized, systematic way to ensure that student work and essential papers get from school to home. My school has a Thursday folder that parents expect to see and know to look for regarding important school communications. Student work and projects may be saved throughout the year for a memory book. Additionally, it is necessary to have a place to organize paperwork and student work examples for parent conferences. Many teachers prefer to have mailboxes or cubbies as a way to organize the papers that students need to take home. Others prefer a file system. See a few organization ideas below…
MAILBOX/CUBBY SYSTEM
You can set up a mailbox system that allows for a place to file paperwork and allows students to keep personal items if necessary. They can take up a lot of space, so consider this first.
Mailboxes can be purchased as cardboard, plastic, or wood. Note: cardboard can weaken and “slump” over time and use.
LETTER TRAYS
Stackable letter trays made from metal mesh or plastic can be space savers as they allow for stacking at various heights. They are sturdy and durable and will last for many years.
THREE DRAWER UNITS
A class set of Sterilite three-drawer containers are perfect for the organization of student papers and materials. Because it is a drawer system rather than an open space, paper and other items stay put. I personally love that each drawer front can be clearly labeled with a student's name or number. The cost, depending on your total number of students, can be more expensive than other options, but this could be more achievable by purchasing over time or putting on a wish list.
POCKET CHART/WALL FILE
If shelf space is limited, but wall space is abundant, use a pocket chart to hold files! This is a cost-effective option to store student papers. Additionally, pocket chart files can be used as a way for students to turn work in, bonus!
CRATE OR FILE BOX
I do not keep a traditional file cabinet in my classroom, BUT I do have a need for files. My absolute favorite way to hold files is a crate AND file boxes. Crates hold a larger quantity of files. I use a crate to store materials for curriculum lessons. The upper-grade teachers at my school use file boxes for student data folders; they hold a full class set easily.
THREE TIER ROLLING CART
Do you have a Three-Tiered Rolling Cart in your classroom? I do!! A rolling cart is a multi-versatile storage item. If you don’t have one, you will want one. If you only have one, you’ll want another one!
I use mine to hold the supplies I will need at my small group table: pencils, whiteboard markers, student whiteboards, whiteboard erasers, prepped materials, etc.
Here are some additional ideas for rolling cart organization.
1. TEACHER SUPPLIES
Hold the supplies you will need next to your teaching station: pencils, correcting pens, markers, stapler, tape, scissors, glue, and copies for lessons.
2. LIBRARY CART
Designate a shelf for books needing to be returned to the library. One for new books that need to be labeled. Another for books that need to be repaired.
3. CLASSROOM COMMUNITY SUPPLIES
Use the shelves to hold the supplies that students share OR if students have their own personal supplies, use the shelves to hold extra supplies for students that may need them. Supplies: pencils, correcting pens, markers, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, glue, paper, student stapler and tape dispenser, tissues, band-aids, etc.
4. PREPPED MATERIALS
Once you’ve photocopied and prepped materials for lessons, use the shelves for organization. Organize by this week, next week, or future weeks. Organize by subject: reading, writing, and math.
5. FRIDAY FREE CHOICE
If you use Friday Free Choice as a reward in your classroom or some other type of earned free time, store materials on your cart! Your rolling cart could hold games, puzzles, color sheets, card games, or STEM bins.
6. ART CART
Occasionally, I have a class that LOVES to create. When I do, I create an art cart for them. When students have completed all independent work and have a few extra minutes, they can access materials from the Art Cart. Provide students with scrap paper (regular or construction), color sheets, stencils, coloring tools, etc. Students are responsible for keeping it neat and organized.
7. HYDRATION STATION
Use the cart to hold student water bottles. No more water bottles falling off of desks!! Students can label their water bottles with their names OR, advice from a fellow teacher, “I tape down numbers and they set their water bottle on top of the number! This method also eliminates water spills on desks.
8. COPY CART
If you plan to do a lot of copying, roll this cart to the copy room with you. The cart can hold your copy paper if you need to provide your own and then hold your copies to easily transport them back to your classroom! Voilà!
9. SANITATION STATION
Use the cart to house all things for a germ-free classroom! Keep hand sanitizer, baby wipes for cleaning hands, disinfectant wipes for cleaning surfaces, tissues, paper towels, cleaning spray, and more.
10. TABLE GROUP STORAGE
If you have your students sitting in groups and storage is an issue, use a rolling cart to hold the materials and supplies that students need to access during the day. Shelves can hold community supplies, student whiteboards, notebooks, folders, pencil boxes, and whatever else students will need for daily lessons.
11. CLASSROOM STORE
If you give out rewards to students (water bottle stickers, desk pets, fun pencils), store them on the cart, and roll it out when it's time for the kids to choose a prize.
12. WHITEBOARD SUPPLIES
Store all the supplies you need under your whiteboard. You can keep whiteboard markers, erasers, extra magnets, and whiteboard cleaner. If you use the whiteboard for the date, a calendar, and daily agenda, you can keep the materials for these on the cart, as well.
13. WELCOME CART
Keep the rolling cart by the door where you greet your students each morning. If you have your students “check in” for the day or mark a lunch count, the materials for this can be kept on the cart. You can also collect and house folders that are sent between school and home. If students have things to turn in first thing in the morning, they can be placed in a tub on the cart.
14. INDOOR RECESS CART
If it is raining, snowing, or just plain HOT, and your students need to remain indoors, use the cart for special indoor recess activities. Include activities that ONLY come out on these days to make them extra special!
15. SNACK CART
Some schools provide snacks for their students in the classroom. The levels of this cart are perfect to hold snacks and can be rolled around if needed.
I need to run out now and buy a few more rolling carts!!
Classroom Organization: FILE CABINETS
File cabinets are a HOT teacher topic! Old-school teachers from before the 21st century love to hold onto paper copies in files in a file cabinet. Newer teachers, from the digital age, swear by keeping everything in a digital format to keep paperwork from piling up. Then there are the teachers like me, I’m a TWEENER. I see the value in having digital files, but when the internet is down and you are STUCK, you’ll be thankful for your paper masters In addition, you will likely run data reports, keep diagnostic assessments, and sample student work for parent conferences. Whatever it is in paper form, you need a place to store them.
If you are not a file cabinet lover, but have one and need to know how to make the best use of it, here are some ideas from REAL teachers just like you!!
STORAGE
Many curriculums come with individual workbooks that need to be stored until you need them.
When you prep materials for future lessons, keep them in the file cabinet drawers.
A file cabinet can be used to keep extra supplies. If students bring supplies at the beginning of the school year, the large, deep drawers are perfect to hold containers of glue sticks, boxes of markers, etc.
Store tissue boxes, baby wipes, and disinfectant wipes.
File cabinets LOCK! Store your purse and other personal items. If you have snacks you need to keep away from pests, a metal file cabinet is the PERFECT pest-free place 🙂
Be prepared for the weather. Keep an extra sweater, jacket, gloves, and umbrella in a drawer.
Store novel sets and mentor texts.
Use the drawers to hold items for your classroom prizes or store items.
Place your coveted copy paper, Astrobrights, and construction paper in a safe place. YOUR file cabinet!!
BONUS: Head to the FREE STUFF page on my website to download a FREE planning guide and start organizing now for the school year!
Now, get organizing!
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