5 Best Classroom Organization Tools to Make Your Life Easier

As teachers, we are always looking for new things for our classrooms. Whether our district will pay for it or it comes out of our own pockets, we are constantly searching for the next greatest thing to help our students or even just us be more productive and have a better classroom experience, including classroom organization ideas. From classroom libraries to teacher desks, staying organized not only enhances productivity but also helps foster a learning environment that benefits both teachers and students.

Creating a method of classroom organization is key to any functional classroom. I enjoy organization, but always found it difficult to keep myself organized, let alone an entire classroom! However, I found that having tools that allowed for consistent organization allowed me to have a functional classroom with a method to maintain it. The beginning of the year is an especially crucial time to establish a solid organizational system. From book bins to pencil boxes, every little thing has its place, and maintaining this structure throughout the school year ensures a smooth classroom run.

Why It’s Worth the Time

For those teachers who are still on the fence about implementing a classroom organization system, here are five reasons why it is well worth the investment of your time to organize your classroom.

1. Having an organized space saves you time!

You won’t have to waste time looking for things or reorganizing when you need something quickly. Desk drawers and filing systems, like file folders and plastic bins, are essential for maintaining an easy access space for everything you need. Think about your Monday mornings: rather than scrambling to find that important sheet of paper or the right supplies, you’ll be able to jump right into your lesson plans with ease.

This allows you to teach more efficiently because you don’t have to spend time teaching your students “where things go” during class time. It becomes a reflection of the teacher, and having an organized classroom gives a very distinct vibe to your classroom environment and in turn, your classroom culture. Not only does this reflect well on you as a teacher, but it also impacts the way students respect and care for their learning space.

2. Organization allows your students to be more independent.

They will learn how to organize their space, putting things away when they are done with them without having to ask for help. Whether it’s task cards, dry-erase markers, or classroom books, the way students are taught to organize the classroom materials instills good organization habits from the very beginning.

This allows your classroom to run more smoothly and efficiently, without wasting time on “how do we put this away?” or having to wait for the student who is keeping things organized. It’s a win-win situation: you teach students independence and organizational skills while helping maintain the space you have! Using tools like numbered bins for student work and new student bags for incoming students is a great way to keep things streamlined. Students know exactly where to go and what to do, reducing interruptions and creating more time for learning.

3. Having a functional organization system gives you peace of mind.

Knowing that everything is where it should be at the end of the school day allows you to feel more at ease when working with your students. This is one of my favorite classroom organization tips because it extends beyond just materials—it helps create a calm, prepared mindset for both students and teachers alike.

This means that at the end of class, everything is where it’s supposed to be. No more walking around trying to find equipment or being frustrated when you can’t locate something quickly. Efficiency leads to peace of mind! Plus, having a well-organized teacher desk with easy access to frequently used supplies, such as glue sticks, editable labels, and a name tag for the sub tub, ensures that you’re always ready for any situation.

4. Keeping organized allows you to be more prepared for special projects.

Activities that require space or supplies can be stressful if you’re unprepared, but with good classroom storage solutions, setting up for special activities becomes a breeze. If you know where everything is, setting up for special activities will be quick and easy. For example, having a classroom organization collection that includes items like book bins, plastic bins, and even laundry baskets for student materials can be a game-changer when it comes to project days or working with small groups.

Having an organized classroom allows you to be ready when the opportunity arises for certain activities or projects! You’ll never have to worry about not being prepared when something good comes along. For instance, use fabric to create visually appealing classroom decor, while maintaining a system that holds everything in its perfect place.

5. Having an organization system in place helps prevent conflict between classmates.

A structured system creates a sense of responsibility where everyone knows their obligations. For example, if you implement classroom jobs or assign community supplies to be managed by students, it takes the pressure off the teacher while teaching students about responsibility. A student may have the right to use a particular bulletin board for an assignment due on Friday. In order to keep that space available for them, another student may be responsible for putting their work away when they are done with it.

This system of rights and responsibilities helps students learn valuable life skills while also keeping the classroom organized. You can even use task cards or m hooks for keeping smaller items organized, so everything has its place, reducing any potential confusion. This not only helps with classroom management but also promotes good organizational habits that students can carry with them beyond the classroom.

Favorite Classroom Organization Ideas

Over the years, I’ve accumulated several classroom organization hacks that have truly transformed how I keep my learning space functional. Here are some of my favorite tips:

• Use dollar store bins to organize classroom materials like pencils, glue sticks, and student work.
• Implement a color-coded system with file folders to make sorting student materials and paperwork a breeze.
• Label everything! Whether it’s with editable labels, stickers, or even a hot glue trick, making sure everything is clearly labeled saves time in the long run.
• Utilize milk crates for book bins or to store larger classroom materials.
• Incorporate classroom jobs that focus on organizing the learning environment, such as assigning students to monitor the classroom library or restocking water bottles.

These small changes make a big difference in both day-to-day teaching and long-term classroom management. And, if you’re like me, you love browsing through a blog post or product page for new ideas! Sometimes, a small commission may come from selecting custom-stocked items that help your classroom run smoothly.

The Financial Side of Classroom Organization

While organizing your classroom can feel like an expensive task, there are always ways to save money while keeping things organized. For instance, using select coupons or free shipping offers on classroom organization collections can be a great way to get the best deals. Many teachers look for coupon codes and promo codes such as “SHIP” at the time of checkout to get free shipping on items purchased for their classrooms. Stores like Dollar Tree, Five Below, and similar places can provide the perfect solutions for purchasing small items with minimal cash value.

Sometimes, schools may also offer select coupons for prior purchases or offer classroom organization items at a discount for bulk orders. It’s always worth asking if your district can provide standard ground shipping or a minimum order to save on costs when outfitting your classroom for the school year.

Lastly, think about the long-term value. Investing in organizational systems early in the school year means you’ll save time and energy later. A well-organized classroom means fewer “messy desk” days and more opportunities to focus on your students’ growth and learning.

In conclusion, a strong system of organization is not only key to a smooth school year, but it’s also the perfect way to create a learning space that promotes productivity, independence, and peace of mind. Start small, experiment with different ways to organize, and soon, you’ll find that good organizational habits will follow you through every stage of your teaching career.

Finding the Supplies You Need

Hopefully, you have seen our other post at some point, 10 Teacher Supplies You Need, which are all supplies that easily morph your classroom into a student-centered abyss. However, below I would like to present you with 5 AMAZING teacher organizational tools that will make your life so much easier and your classroom so much more organized!

(This post may contain affiliate links that won’t change your price but will share some commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read our disclosure policy for more information.)

Classroom Organization Tool #5: Dry Erase Packets

Dry erase packets rock my world….and are a complete no-brainer! These guys save on copies and thus, save on trees. Sometimes you have activities that use a printout, but it isn’t something that necessarily needs to be saved, collected, etc. These little packets are PERFECT for that. You just slip a piece of paper in and give each student a dry-erase marker…POOF! Reusable. You can also use these in place of small whiteboards for trivia-type games, etc. The possibilities are really endless and are well worth it. Find them here (ad).

---

Classroom Organization Tool #4: Straw Dispenser…I mean…PENCIL dispenser

I saw this idea once and my jaw fell to the floor. Another one of those, “Why didn’t I think of that?!” moments. I have a desk set up in my classroom that has anything my students may need….pencils, tissues, lint roller, you name it. I had the pencils in a large pencil cup, but then I saw this idea and it’s perfect!

There are so many different types of straw dispensers out there, but I like this kind the best because it just drops one at a time. It will keep your pencils nice and tidy since it just dispenses them one by one. This takes away from the “search for the perfect pencil” time suck that I was finding when the students could just pick one out. Plus, let’s be honest, it looks cool and was much cheaper than the option I REALLY wanted:

(But let’s be honest….this is pretty cool!)

You can find the red option above here (ad).

Classroom Organizational Tool #3: Giant Class Calendar

If your students are anything like mine, they like to see what is coming up. They like to see what they missed. Of course, they want to see excitement, too (birthdays, assemblies, etc.)  Enter this calendar. It is large enough that it can be visible from a distance. The nice part about this is it comes with a ton of different tools to use with it (tacks, markers, etc.) so they can be designated for the calendar only.

You can have a student who is in charge of amending or give them free rein to add relevant information. It’s also a great way to post due dates and if you’re a promoter of student choice,  it’s easy to have conversations about fluid due dates when everyone can see the same calendar at once. Another game-changer. You can find it here (ad).

---

Classroom Organizational Tool #2: Caddies…not just for the dorm shower!

I remember having a version of this in college that I carted back and forth from the showers. It carried my shampoo, soap, etc. Fast forward [number left out on purpose] years and WHO KNEW there was such an awesome use for these in the classroom?!

These caddies can function however you see necessary. They can hold art supplies, and make “all you need” stations for a table. Again, just another “ah-ha!” way to keep you and your students organized. When they’re done using whatever goes in them, it’s easy enough to just drop them in and be done with them. Such a fantastic idea. You can find them here (ad).

---

Classroom Organization Tool #1: Magnetic Borders

If your whiteboards are anything like mine, they don’t look the same from day to day. This makes it difficult when you want to keep things separated without it looking like a hot mess. Below are just some examples of how my boards transform on the regular:

You can see that no two days look alike. You can also see how I make my best attempts to divide up the board. I’ve used masking tape (the board gets gummy after a while), a yardstick and a dry-erase marker (a student will inevitably bump into this and erase something), and even hanging up typed labels to try and make sections (you can’t edit these as you go, obviously). THEN I discovered magnetic borders!

Whoever came up with this idea was pure genius. You can create any type of division that works for you as easily as moving around a few magnets. If you’re someone who divvies up your board, these are an absolute must-have.

You can create any number of divisions on your whiteboard. You can also add an extra student-centered element and give your students this task when presenting or using the whiteboard for an activity. They like anything that gives them a little autonomy that everyone else will be taking a look at (and a little flair never hurt). Find them here (ad).

These by FAR are not the only organizational tools out there. A quick scan of Amazon alone will bring up dozens of “why didn’t I think of that?!” items. It is important that we are able to keep ourselves as stress-free as possible to keep us in a positive frame of mind.

Having a few of these items to help keep your classroom organized and tidy might make all the difference in the world. The best part about all of them is that they are an easy investment that you can use over and over, year after year, even as your styles and lessons change.

This article was originally published on October 9, 2018.