Classroom Organization Teaching Resources
Improve your classroom organization with printables, digital desk organizing tools and more teacher resources created by our teacher team just for you!
The teachers of Teach Starter know the challenges that come with entering a brand-new classroom only to realize you have too much stuff and not enough places to put it. We're teachers too, after all!
We've created this extensive classroom organization collection with our own experiences in mind, so you will find tools you can use for:
- Organizing your teacher desk
- Organizing student work
- Organizing classroom computer
- Organizing your classroom library or book nook
- And so much more!
And we didn't stop there! Read on for some tips from our teacher team on keeping things organized this school year — including your teacher desk and student desks too!
Our Best Teacher Desk Organization Ideas
So you’ve gotten your classroom set up and decorated. You’ve organized everything from your manipulatives to your art supplies. But now you’re starting at that teacher desk wondering "how do I my desk organized?"
Our desks can easily become dumping grounds for teachers and students. But there’s an old saying about a clean space relating to a clean mind that really and truly holds true when it comes to organizing a teacher desk. The cleaner the space, the more ready you'll be to tackle your lesson plans for the day.
1. Hang Spare Notes and Worksheets
Spare notes and worksheets that have been handed often end up in a pile on teachers' desks... somewhere! Not anymore... with this simple idea! Hang a laundry sock hanger near your desk with clips for students to retrieve missing work and notes that have their names on them!
2. Get a Sectioned Lazy Susan
Make sure you always have the thing you need right where you can reach it — buy a sectioned lazy susan that spins, so you can just use your finger to roll it around to the section you need!
3. Create Washi Tape Outlines for Items You Keep on Your Desk
Outlining each item will not only remind you to place it back in the right spot but also helps guide students who "borrow" items from your desk.
4. Contain Classroom Clutter With Containers
Putting things into containers not only keeps the space easier to keep tidy but also makes it easy to remove only what you need from a shelf or cabinet and return it when they are done. This is key for organising your supplies as a teacher but also to give your students' clear spots to place items they no longer need.
5. Use Binders for Assessment Organization
Assessments, trackers, checklists, student goals... all of this can become a little overwhelming and you may find you have bits and pieces all over the place! One teacher on our team keeps two main binders on her desk to ensure nothing goes missing!
She keeps Teach Starter assessment trackers in one binder. In the other, she keeps student work samples that she collects throughout the marking period to refer to at report card time or during parent-teacher conferences, or even when it comes time to recommend students for extra support services. Having these binders with everything together makes meetings so much less stressful!
6. Teacher Mugs = Perfect Pencil Holders
This isn’t exactly a mind-blowing tip, we know. But we all struggle with what to do with ALL OF THOSE #1 Teacher mugs we’ve gotten from our kiddos over the years, and the answer is pretty simple. Use them for pencils, pens, rulers … all those classroom supplies that tend to end up loose on your teacher desk.
Bonus: This will clear up the clutter in your kitchen cabinets too!
7. Label Clothespins by Days of the Week
Are you planning out your week of lesson plans? Keep things organized with simple wooden clothespins that you have labeled by the day.
How to Keep Student Desks Organized
Keeping your own desk organized is one thing, but what about those student desks? Here are some organization tips that may help!
- Explicitly teach students what an organized desk looks like, and provide a visual that they can reference. You can take a picture and mount it on your whiteboard where every student can see it.
- Designate a spot where each item should sit on your students' desks, such as "folders on the right" or "workbooks on the left."
- Schedule specific times during the school day for students to neaten their desks, such as before recess and at the end of the day. Taking the time to clear up your desk while students clear theirs is a great way to lead by example.
- Do random "desk checks," and award students whose desks are neat and tidy with a no homework pass to encourage students to take responsibility for their desk organization. You can also award them with one of Teach Starter's desk fairy awards!
- Hold a "clean out Friday" session before any Fun Friday festivities commence.
- Add chair pockets to your students' chairs to give them extra space for items that just have no place to go.
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Writing Center Rotation Board
Set up a writing stations rotation chart for your students to reference with this display kit.
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Spelling Center Rotation Board
Set up a spelling stations rotation chart for your students to reference with this display kit.
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The Dewey Decimal System Poster
Explain the Dewey Decimal system with a printable poster created to complement your library lesson plan!
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Reading Center Rotation Board
Set up a reading stations rotation chart for your students to reference with this display kit.
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Teacher To-Do List Templates
Print your own teacher list templates to organize your day and stay on top of school-related tasks.
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Hall Pass Templates
Send your students down the hall in style with fun printable hall passes using our customizable hall pass templates.
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Welcome to Our Herd! Back to School Bulletin Board
‘Mooo-ve’ into a brand new school year with a customizable Farm-themed Back to School Bulletin Board Display.
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Teacher Computer Desktop Wallpapers
Organize your computer desktop with bright and cheery motivational desktop backgrounds for teachers!
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Ice Cream Cone Colors
Kids love colors and ice cream... so we put them together!
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Classroom Equipment Signs - Spanish/English
97 signs to label equipment in Spanish and English in your classroom.
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Google Slides Teacher Templates - Rainbow Hearts
Organize your day-to-day classroom activities and engage your students with fun visual supports with fun Google Slide templates for teachers.
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Classroom Wish List - Card Set
Set up a Classroom Donation Station at Meet Your Teacher Night with our printable classroom donation card set.
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Caterpillar Alphabet Line - Editable
Display the alphabet in your classroom using a Caterpillar Alphabet Line!
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Just Be - Positive Character Traits Bulletin Board
Set an optimistic tone and promote positivity with a Just Be…One Word Back to School board.
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Editable Retro Themed Classroom Organization Labels
Get organized with editable and printable bin labels with a fun, retro theme.
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Ready for a Jaw-Some Year - Shark Themed Back to School Bulletin Board
Prepare for a ‘jaw-some’ back-to-school bulletin board with a printable shark-themed bulletin board pack.
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Chill Out! Calm Down Corner Poster
Welcome students into your class calm down corner with this cool classroom poster.
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Classroom Jobs for Students - Bulletin Board
Keep track of classroom responsibilities with a Classroom Jobs Bulletin Board Display!
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Classroom Jobs Bulletin Board
Keep track of classroom responsibilities with a Classroom Jobs Bulletin Board Display!
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School Hall Pass Template
Print your own hall passes for students to wear when they are moving around the school during class time.
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Digital Teacher Background With a Back to School Theme
Download the perfect teacher background for Zoom or your computer background this back-to-school season!
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Sloth-Themed Classroom - Daily Agenda Template
Organize your day with these teacher-friendly Google Slide templates.
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Classroom Library Book Bin Labels
Organize your classroom library with these illustrated book bin labels.
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Voice Level Chart - Classroom Display
Give your students reminders to maintain appropriate voice levels around the classroom with a voice level chart.
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Trash, Recycle, and Compost Posters
Remind your students where to put their waste with these trash, recycling, and compost posters.
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Virtual Classroom Background - Wreath
A special virtual classroom background teachers and students can use around the winter holidays.
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Where Are We? Classroom Door Sign
Add a "where are we?" classroom door sign to your classroom door to let people know where you and your students have gone!
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From the Desk of....Personalized Notepads for Teachers
Personalize your own memo pads or teacher notepads with our printable stationery for teachers!
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Digital Learning Background - Happy Holidays
A special virtual background teachers and students can use around the winter holidays.
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Classroom Library Genre Book Labels
Organize your classroom library by genre with these printable illustrated book labels.
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Virtual Background for Teachers - Math Themed
Use the math-themed video background file for recording videos for students, as video wallpaper when meeting with parents on a video conference, and more.
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Virtual Background for Teachers - Numbers Theme
Use the numbers-themed video background file for recording videos for students, as video wallpaper when meeting with parents on a video conference, and more.