They also need to stay organized themselves. That means having plenty of supplies and space for students’ materials.
Teachers need to have a well-organized classroom. This includes having enough supplies and space for students to complete assignments.
The key is to have a system that makes sense for them. How often do you get stuck at school because you don’t have enough supplies or space?
Are you always running out of paper, pencils, or other essentials?
If you answered yes to either question, then you need to continue reading this article.
It will help you organize your classroom, so you can be more efficient in the long run.
Below, we have put together a list of 12 essential items that you will want to add to your classroom.
These are the things that you can use on a daily basis to keep your classroom organized.
We hope that this list helps you find what you’re looking for!
Post-It Notes
Post-its are the perfect way to keep your desk clean. You can write down important information like due dates, reminders, phone numbers, and more.
Sticky notes make it easy to write notes and move them around without damaging any surfaces.
If you have kids who tend to leave notes all over the place, you may want to consider getting some sticky note pads.
These come with hundreds of different colors, which allows you to easily differentiate between subjects.
Here are some fantastic, bright-colored sticky notes with lines printed on them, so you can write neat notes without making a mess.
Or, here are some pastel colored sticky notes that come in a box, so you don’t need to find storage for each individual pack.
A Pencil Case
When it comes to keeping pencils sharp, there’s no better option than a pencil case.
Of course, you can hold most of your office accessories in a pencil case, not just pencils.
However, if you have a lot of pens, pencil sharpeners, highlighters, rulers, etc., you may want to buy two or three separate cases.
Pencil cases are so useful to have, especially when you’re constantly moving from one subject to another in your classroom.
It’s much easier to grab a pencil case instead of digging through your backpack.
There are so many pencil cases you can get, whether you’re looking for a professional styled case with plenty of compartments for your tools, or a funny case that will let everyone know you’re the best teacher in the world!
An Eraser
There’s nothing worse than marking a student’s work, or jotting down a note, and realizing that not only have you written something wrong, but you can’t find an eraser to remove your mistake.
If you want to avoid this situation, invest in a few erasers. Erasers are great for taking off marks, erasing mistakes, and even cleaning up crayon drawings.
Most pencil cases include an eraser, but if yours doesn’t, consider buying a couple extra. Keep one on each side of your desk for quick access.
You could buy a load of erasers in bulk if you don’t want to risk losing some and running out, or you could buy these cute erasers that the kids will love.
Just make sure they give them back if they ever borrow them!
A Rubber Band Holder
Rubber bands come in handy for holding papers together. However, if they are loose, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll end up misplacing them.
A rubber band holder keeps your rubber bands organized and ready to go.
A rubber band holder will make sure you always have one on hand, no matter what.
Keep it safe on your desk, by your chair, or anywhere else where you spend a lot of time in your room. Here are some handy rubber band holders for your desk.
If you’re searching for something with a little more personality, however, grab yourself a mummy-inspired holder that’ll make everybody laugh!
A Ruler
Just like erasers, you never know how much you need a ruler until you realize you haven’t got one on hand. A ruler is a must-have item in your classroom.
Not only does it help you create neat lines and measurements, but it also makes teaching math and science much easier.
A ruler helps with measuring things like height, width, and length. Use it to measure distances between desks, or even around doorways, depending on the size.
This may seem like an obvious one, but a neat, ready-to-use notebook is essential to every teacher’s life.
Whether you use it as a journal, planner, or anything else, having a notebook at your fingertips is a lifesaver.
You can use a notebook for everything from writing assignments, to planning lessons, to recording attendance.
Keeping track of assignments, due dates, and more is much easier when using a notebook. Choose one that has pockets inside for storing small items!
Click here and here for some inspirational and colorful notebooks that will keep you smiling throughout the day.
A Utensil Caddy
It is always useful to have a pencil case, but you should definitely consider having a utensil caddy that is placed at your desk.
After all, what are you supposed to do if you’ve accidentally left your pencil case at home?
Keep your utensils right where you need them by placing them in a caddy. It’s great for storing pens, pencils, scissors, markers, glue sticks, and more.
You can keep it out on your desk, under your table, or wherever you prefer.
This rotating utensil caddy will change your life: give it a spin, and find what you’re looking for! Or, here is one that is shaped like a rainbow!
A Teacher Lesson Planner
While we have already mentioned how important it is to own a notebook, it may be worth purchasing an actual lesson planner with dividers.
This way, you don’t have to worry about losing any notes, because you can easily flip back to previous pages.
If you’re looking for a planner that includes space for class schedules, homework assignments, and even a place to record attendance, there are plenty online and at local stationery stores.
Use the planner to organize upcoming projects, lesson plans, and any other information you want to remember.
This stylish planner comes with stickers and colorful notes included, while this one is so cute with sunflowers scattered all across the front. It will, no doubt, brighten your day!
Storage Boxes
As a teacher, having storage boxes on hand will make your life so much easier! Boxes help keep everything neat and tidy.
They’re perfect for storing loose papers, books, binders, and anything else you’d like to keep close at hand.
Use boxes to store supplies, such as rulers, notebooks, and pencil cases.
If you have a box full of supplies, you won’t waste time searching through drawers and cabinets for something you need.
Just make sure you organize and stack everything neatly!
Here’s an adorable box with colored polka dots all over it, and here is one that is a little more professional looking (if that’s your thing).
Pencil Sharpener
A pencil sharpener is, yet another, indispensable tool that will make your life so much easier as a teacher.
Having a sharp pencil means you’ll spend less time trying to find a new one, and more time focusing on your students’ work.
Pencil sharpeners work quickly and efficiently, making them ideal for teachers who need to keep up with the pace of the day.
You could even think about getting an electric pencil sharpener, which makes the process even faster.
Colored pencils and markers are a staple for classrooms, and are miracle workers when you need to make quick corrections.
These tools allow you to correct mistakes by using different colors that will catch your students’ eyes, and they also come in handy for drawing and coloring pictures.
Colored pencils and markers allow students to express themselves creatively.
Make sure you have plenty of both on hand, for yourself and for your students.
Here’s a set of 180 colored pencils – you will never run out of colors! And, here’s a set of colored markers with 60 different colors to choose from.
A To-Do List
Yes, you could use an empty notebook to create your own to-do list, but why not go ahead and purchase one instead?
There are many options available, including ones specifically designed for teachers.
These lists are especially helpful if you have multiple classes going on at once.
With this type of list, you can write down things you need to do before each period begins, and then cross off completed items as you complete them.
To-do lists help keep you focused on what needs to be done during the day.
Be sure to include tasks related to teaching as well as those related to student learning.
Whether you are looking for an organized weekly to-do list, or a colorful list that is more straight to the point, there are plenty of options to pick from.
Final Thoughts
Teaching is hard enough without having to worry about how to stay organized.
Luckily, there are lots of ways to keep your classroom clean and clutter-free. The key is to start small, and build upon success.
First, try organizing just one drawer or cabinet. Then, add a few more. Once you’ve got a handle on that, move onto other areas of your room.
Once you have all the tools to get you started, you’ll feel like a real pro!
Hi, my name is Helena Waters and I was a teacher for 40 years before retiring last year.
During my time as a teacher I dedicated the majority of it to making classrooms as fun as possible, with educational parties, fun activities, and low cost entertainment that made the children excited about learning.
I taught children of all ages, from preschoolers to high school students. Now, with the pandemic having uprooted everything that children once knew about school and learning, I think that the need for my ideas is bigger than ever.
That is why I created School Sparks, a place in which I can write down and share all of my ideas on how to get students excited about going to school again. I hope that you’ll find some useful within a school setting, even at home too!
