Keep your elementary classroom organized with these brilliant classroom organization hacks!
As a teacher myself, I know how hard it can be to keep your elementary classroom organized. But these classroom organization hacks are actually GENIUS and will help you keep your classroom super neat!
These are the tried and true best classroom organization hacks that every teacher needs to know about!
This post is all about classroom organization hacks.
Best Classroom Organization Hacks:
1. ‘I’m Lost’ Box
This is seriously an essential in every elementary classroom! It will make tidy up time so much quicker and will help you keep in control of the clutter.
You could even have it be someone’s monitor job to sort through the ‘I’m Lost’ box each week.
2. Label Everything!
When you label boxes, it will make your classroom look so much cuter! It also helps you see quickly and easily where everything this and saves you time going through boxes looking for your supplies.
Labelling boxes that students will be using also helps them know where to put things when it comes to tidy up time.
3. Water Bottle Storage
This water bottle storage idea is GENIUS! I always hated having a huge box of water bottles because someone’s bottle would always spill and cause a huge puddle in the bottom of the box. It also felt kind of unhygienic to have all those water bottles touching…germs….
This shoe storage organizer perfectly fits student water bottles so each student can easily find their water bottle. And no more leaking bottles!!
Just a PSA, this might work better for older children as the top pockets might be too high for younger children to reach.
4. Teacher Toolbox
If you don’t have a teacher toolbox, you NEED to get one! It is honestly a piece of must have classroom organization!
This one from Amazon has 44 drawers in a variety of sizes. Use the smaller drawers to store paperclips, pins, rubber bands and other smaller pieces of stationery. The larger drawers could store pens, scissors, labels, stamps, tape and more!
Keep it on your desk or somewhere nearby so that you have everything you need in easy reach.
5. Anchor Chart Storage
Making anchor charts can take some serious time so you don’t want them getting ruined. Ideally, you want to be able to reuse them year after year, and with some clever storage ideas you will be able to.
Try using trouser clip hangers like these to hang your anchor charts on. Then hang on a hook or rail to keep your anchor charts crease free!
6. Sharp and Dull Pencils
This is such a super simple classroom organization hack but it works SO well! Reduce the amount of time students spend sharpening their pencils by having a sharp and dull tub. Students put their dull pencils in the ‘sharpen please’ tub and take one from the ‘ready to write.’
These ones from Amazon look super cute and the handle will make it super convenient to carry the pot over to the bin when you need to sharpen them.
7. Student Mailbox
Use a student mailbox to keep students’ letters and homework organized. Simply grab a crate and some file dividers and you’re ready to go!
8. Seasonal Classroom Decor Bins
If you’re anything like me, you love seasonal classroom decor but can never find what you’re looking for the next year. Try organizing your seasonal decor into monthly or seasonal storage bins! This way you can just grab the box you need each month and you know everything will be in there!
9. Monthly Read-Aloud Book Bins
In the same way, organize all of your read aloud books by month so you can just the box you need for each month!
These boxes are great for storing books because they are not too deep so don’t take up much space!
10. Tape Pens Together
If you are sick of children not having any color they need when it comes to an art and craft project, try taping the pen lids together into sets! This way each child can have a set of pens with every color they will need.
This classroom organization hack also stops pen lids from going missing – bonus!
11. Craft Paper Organization
Using magazine files to organize your craft paper is a super simple but super effective classroom organization hacks for teachers. Organize by color or by type so students can quickly and easily grab what they need. It also helps you see when supplies are running low.
For a similar look, try these cardboard magazine files which also comes with labels!
12. Substitute Tub
Having a substitute tub is such a smart thing to do in your classroom and future you will be so glad you took the time to set it up! There is nothing worse than feeling super rough and having to wake up early to sort out sub plans when all you want to do is rot in bed!
Use a desk organizer like this and fill it with your sub planning, class information, all the supplies they will need and a little sweet treat to say thank you.
13. Color Coded Tech Storage
Okay so there is seriously nothing worse than having a tangle of wires when you try to put the chrome books or iPads away to charge. It gets so messy so quickly so try using some color tape to show students which wire needs to go with their equipment.
Another super simple classroom organization hack!
14. Turn-in Trays
Save your desk from getting cluttered with papers to grade by setting up a turn-in station. Use a tiered office paper organizer like this one with 10 tiers so you can organize your papers by subject.
15. Clipboard Storage
Ever tried making a neat pile of clipboards to put back in a cupboard…then you know the struggle! Try using a cheap dish rack to easily and neatly store your clipboards – genius!
This one from Amazon is expandable with space for 14 clipboards.
16. Whiteboard Organizers
Having magnetic organizers stuck to your whiteboard is one of the best classroom organization ideas out there! Use them to store your whiteboard pens, read aloud books, classroom times etc.
This one from Amazon is a great size to hole a few pens, cleaner and board rubber. Try getting a few in different sizes so you have multiple options!
17. Group Work Caddy
A group work caddy is the way forward when it comes to classroom organization and management. Store everything your students will need, including pencils, colors, whiteboards, calculators etc. in one easy place. It stops student desks from looking cluttered and you can easily move them around the room as you need.
These ones from Amazon get great reviews and come in a range of colors.
18. Math Resource Storage
Storing your math resources in clear tubs helps students easily find what they need. Add a label and you’re done!
I have always loved the Really Useful Boxes as they are so sturdy and last for YEARS! This is a good size for storing math equipment but you could always buy in a variety of sizes depending on the item. And the best thing is, you can stack them so they don’t take up much space!
19. Color Code Gluesticks and Lids
Why is it that glue sticks and lids always seem to end up separated?! Not anymore with this genius classroom organisation hack! Use colored dots on the lid and glue stick so students know which lid belongs on which glue stick.
20. New Student Bag
Having a new student bag ready to go takes all the stress out of it when you are told last minute you have a new student joining your class. Have all of their stationery essentials and a set of books together so all you have to do is grab the bag!
21. Teacher Binder
Organize your sub-notes, planning and assessment resources so you easily know where to find that bit of paper you need! These super cute safari-themed binder covers are available in my TPT shop here!
These are the ring-binder files I use too – they are great because they have a plastic pocket at the front so you can just slip the binder cover right in!
22. Rolling Cart
A rolling cart is an essential classroom organization hacks for teachers! Use them to store your stationery, student resources, cleaning supplies or anything else you can think of!
This one from Amazon comes in so many different color options you can definitely find one to fit your classroom theme!
23. Teacher Desk Drawer Organizers
Having an organized teacher desk is so important because the clutter not only makes you less productive but it can seriously get you down! These clear acrylic desk organizers will help you find what you need quickly and easily. And seriously, how good does that look?!
24. Pen Holder
Having a pen holder on your teacher desk is an absolute must. This one rotates and has different compartments for your pens, pencils, highlighters and other teacher essentials.
Plus, the white and gold is super cute!
25. Classroom Library Trolley
Here is a genius way to use that rolling cart from earlier… a classroom library cart! Easily store books that need to be returned and books that need a trip to the book hospital!
26. Headphone Organization
If you have tried storing headphones in storage boxes or drawers, you will know the struggle when all the wires get tangled together and it takes forever to sort out!
Use this hanging shoe organizer and add name labels so each student can easily grab their headphones when they need them!
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