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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Science of Reading Group Folder Templates
Stay organized with these versatile Science of Reading Group Folder Templates, designed to offer plenty of options.
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Woodland Friends - Forest Theme Classroom Decor Bundle
Bring the outdoors In with Our Woodland Friends - Forest Theme Classroom Decor Bundle.
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Read the Room - Classroom Labels With Pictures
Label where school supplies and equipment are housed in your classroom with free printable classroom labels with pictures.
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Vocabulary Building Activities Bulletin Board Set
Ignite student interest with fun vocabulary building activities that make learning new words interactive through our vibrant bulletin board set for a word of the day or week routine!
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Sound Wall Classroom Interactive Bulletin Board
Print a complete Sound Wall designed to help you enhance your phonics program by displaying the phonemes your students are currently mastering.
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Voice Level Chart - Classroom Display
Guide your students in determining the desired voice levels throughout the day with this colorful classroom display.
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Chill Out – Classroom Break Passes
Give your students a work break to stop behavior problems before they start with our printable Chill Out Passes.
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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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Digital Learning Background – New Year
Celebrate the new year with a special virtual background for teachers and students.
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Digital Learning Background – Holiday Lights
A special virtual background teachers and students can use around the winter holidays.
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Watercolor Classroom Decor Theme Bundle
Welcome your students with our watercolor classroom decor featuring vibrant pink, purple, and orange hues.
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Vintage Chalkboard - Black and White Classroom Decor Theme Bundle
Use our Vintage Chalkboard Black and White Classroom Theme Decor Bundle to transform your classroom into a classy chalkboard-inspired learning environment.
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Sharp and Dull Pencil Signs (Pencil Station)
Help keep your pencils organised in the classroom with these pencil station signs.
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Learning Target - Teacher Bulletin Board Display Templates
Set clear expectations for each lesson with this set of Learning Objectives Posters.
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Interactive Classroom Layout Maker
Save your time (and your back) by pre-planning your classroom layout and furniture placement with a Google Slides interactive design template.
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Classroom Morning Routine and Agenda Slides
Use these editable classroom morning routine slides to display important information for the day.
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Cupcake Birthday Bulletin Board
Create a cupcake-themed birthday display for your classroom.
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Classroom Schedule Cards
Keep your students on track by choosing from 60 editable schedule cards to display in your classroom.
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Modern Succulent Classroom Decor Theme Bundle
Use our printable Modern Succulent Classroom Decor bundle to create a serene and stylish classroom oasis!
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Superhero Classroom Decor Theme Bundle
Use our action-packed Superhero Classroom Decor Theme Bundle to create a super engaging classroom theme!
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Poppin’ Pineapple Classroom Decor Theme Bundle
Use our Poppin’ Pineapple Classroom Decor Theme Bundle to give your classroom a tropical makeover.
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Modern Boho Classroom Decor Theme Bundle
Use our modern boho classroom decor to create a calming yet classy learning space for your students.
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Totally Tropical - Plant Themed Classroom Decor Bundle
Bring a calming tropical feel to your classroom with a Totally Tropical Plant-themed Classroom Decor Bundle.
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Ink-Friendly Classroom Alphabet Strip
Print and hang your own classroom alphabet strip with printable upper and lowercase letter posters with real-world images.
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Visual Daily Schedule - Classroom English/Spanish Labels
Keep your dual language students on track by choosing from 60 editable English & Spanish schedule cards to display in your classroom.
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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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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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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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I'm Done! Early Finishers Choice Board Display
Build a useful ‘I’m Done, Now What?’ bulletin board with a printable early finisher task board display kit.
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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 Practices to Promote a Green Future - A Teacher's Guide
Create a more sustainably-friendly classroom with this 18-page teacher's guide.
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Virtual Background for Teachers - Space Theme
Use the science-themed virtual background photo for recording videos for students, as video wallpaper when meeting with parents on a video conference, and more.