75 Best Classroom Organization Ideas
Are you looking for some new classroom organization ideas? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to discover the best ideas to create a gorgeous and organized classroom space for you and your students.
I’ll show you the best classroom organization tips for your bookshelves, to organize with file folders, create an epic teacher cart, make the most of those student cubbies, find pretty labels for the class, the best dollar store finds for your class and so much more. Plus, read to the very end find the best ideas to create a gorgeous space just for you!
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What is the best way to organize a classroom?
- The first step is to declutter and get rid of what you don’t use.
- Next think of your classroom in zones and tackle one zone at a time.
- Then, set up systems that work for your class.
- Use labels to help students & you keep everything in its place.
- Find products to take your organization to the next level.
- Continue to evaluate what’s working and make changes to your systems.
In this post we’ll explore these ideas and more.
Classroom Paper Organization
First, let’s check out some ideas to get all of the paper organized in your classroom so you are all set at the beginning of the year!
1 | Rubbermaid Bins to Organize Seasonal Activities
Use Rubbermaid containers with lids to organize your seasonal papers, supplies and activities so you don’t have to dig through piles to find what you need!
You can have fun creating labels for each month that match the style in your classroom. Place the bins where you can see them like on top of cabinets in your classroom.
2 | Clear Storage Containers with Trays
I love these storage containers because they have a removable organizer tray on top so you can add not only paper and books but the small items too that won’t get lost in a large bin!
3 | Cheat Sheet for Your Paper Bins
Do yourself a favor when you’re packing up your papers at the end of the school year and add a cheat sheet at the front of your clear storage bins to list everything that’s contained in that bin!
4 | First Week of School Bin
Here’s another smart idea to set up at the end of the school year. Create a first week of school bin that contains all the resources, books and supplies that you’ll need to make the first week back a little easier!
5 | Anchor Chart Storage Rack
If you want to re-use your anchor charts, then steal this organization idea and store them on hangers on a clothing rack. If you want to copy this idea here is a simple rack that comes in multiple colors including pink. You’ll want to get some pant hangers with clips like these.
Organizing Student Work
Check out below some great classroom organization ideas to keep your student’s work organized and looking great!
6 | Student Paper Cubbies
If you have room in your classroom a shelf like this works great to organize students’ papers and assignments into their individual mailboxes. Assign each student a number that correlates with their cubby.
7 | Plastic Bins for Each Class Period
Here’s an organization idea for middle school and high school teachers. Use plastic bins to separate student work by class period. You could also use this system and separate by student names, subjects or bins for small groups.
Classroom Organization Ideas with File Folders
Using file boxes with file folders is a great way to save space in your classroom and keep all the papers organized. Let’s check out some of the best ways that you can use files in the classroom.
8 | Student Data File Box
File folders make a great system for organizing student work. You can assign each student a number so that you can re-use your system every year. You can use a file box or milk crates for this system.
9 | File Folder for Student Mailboxes
File folders in a file box would make an easy compact mailbox system for your students.
For more classroom mailbox ideas check out this post…30 Easy DIY Classroom Mailbox Ideas for Students
10 | When You’re Done Crate
Create a when you’re done crate as an easy way to organize your early-finisher activities. This crate is stocked with task cards, mystery pictures, color-by-answers, fluency practice and various other tasks.
Best File Box Organization on Amazon
Below are some of my favorite finds to create your own organized file box for your students.
11 | Clear File Folder Storage
I like this clear file organizer because it looks modern, and you can clearly see all your folders.
12 | Pastel Hanging File Folders
If you’re using a clear file box, you’ll want to get pretty file folders. There are different color options so you can find the one to match your classroom color scheme!
13 | Pocket File Sorter
I love this file sorter because it comes with 25 pocket files which are so much more durable than regular manilla folders.
Best Paper Organization Finds
If you’re looking for some more classroom organization ideas to keep all the paper organized including hanging file folders and clipboards below are my favorites from Amazon.
Student Work Organization | Where to Find
One | 30 Pocket Hanging File Holder With Labels
Two | 6 Bright Rainbow Clipboards
Three | Wire Clipboard & Paper Holder
Four | 12 Mini Pastel Clipboards
Five | Wire Clipboard Holder
Six | 4 Pack Accordion Document Organizer
22 | New Student Bag
For a huge time saver create new student bags before the first day of school. That way when you get a last-minute addition to your class list during the school year you are ready to go!
Items to include in the bag are:
- Welcome workbook including paperwork from the school and class procedures
- Classroom supplies like pencils, crayons, glue and scissors.
- Meet the teacher sheets
- Student information form for parents to fill out and
- A little welcome gift
Dollar Store Organization Ideas
If your town has a dollar store, then you already know this is one of the best places to get classroom organization supplies. Below are some of my favorite classrooms that pulled off the Dollar Tree organization with style.
23 | Dollar Store Bins for Organization
Hit up the Dollar Tree and find bins in the same color to match your classroom color scheme. Add pretty labels to get all of your classroom supplies organized and ready for the new school year!
24| Colorful Student Turn-In Bins
These shallow colorful bins are perfect for papers or to be used as a turn-in bin. Pick up a rainbow assortment to add some more color to your class.
25 | Small Containers & iPad Cart
Small containers with lids are perfect for organizing small supplies, and game pieces. Creating an iPad cart is a great idea to have students separate the low battery iPads or Chromebooks to save you time.
Classroom Library Organization
Now let’s check out some classroom organization ideas to get your library bookshelves organized.
26 | Pretty in Pink Bookshelf Corner
Here’s a little inspiration for you to keep it organized and also inviting for young readers. Pretty pink bins set this stage for this stylish classroom library.
27 | Bright Colored Book Bins
Bright colored book bins with labels are a great way to keep your classroom library organized.
If you’re looking for some more ideas to get your library organized check out this post…25 Best Classroom Library Ideas for Organization & Style
Lesson Plans & Daily Schedules
Every teacher needs a lesson plan to keep it all together. A pretty lesson plan can help to keep you inspired and motivated to take on everything that the day entails. Below are some of the best ideas for stylish and functional lesson plans.
28 | Teacher Binder Lesson Plans
3-ring binders work great for printable lesson plans, holding student data, and organizing by subject area. Be sure to find or make pretty binder covers and spine labels that match your classroom theme too!
29 | Flexible Lesson Planners
This is a printable teacher planner that can be found on Etsy here. It includes all the printable sheets you need to keep your class organized and cute binder covers and spine labels too! You just download, print and put into a 3-ring binder.
30 | Class Schedule Bulletin Board Display
Keep the daily routine up on the whiteboard or a bulletin board with times so students can know what to expect every day.
For more bulletin board ideas check out this post…57 Best Bulletin Board Ideas for the Classroom
31 | Flipping Daily Schedule
Mount a magnetic curtain rod on your whiteboard to display the date and the “bark of the day.” You can find a 2 pack of magnetic curtain rods on Amazon here. They can be adjusted between 9 to 16 inches.
Next find pretty calendar sheets to create a flip calendar. Not only is this easier than writing the date every day on your white board it’s looks better too.
The bark of the day spot can be created with a roll of brown Kraft paper. Rachel uses this spot for a quote of the day, a countdown, a shout out or a class goal.
Classroom Organization Ideas for Headphones
Are you looking for some headphone storage ideas to keep all the headphones organized, separated and to not tangled up? If so, read on I have some ideas for you.
32 | Headphone Storage Bags
You can use bags like these to store your students’ headphones. The bags are different colors so you could either color coordinate to the headphones or put a number on each bag and headphone. Then have students keep these in their cubby or hang them on the wall.
33 | Headphone Organization with Hooks
Sometimes simplicity is the best strategy. You can simply add hooks to a wall in the class and label the headphones and the hooks with the student names. Here are some hooks that would work well.
34 | Numbered Earbud Organization
Here’s a great idea if your students have smaller earbuds. Number each earphone and each case to keep them organized. You can find these earphone cases here.
35 | Hanger Headphone Organization Solution
Here is a smart idea to store those headphones. Here’s how to set up this system.
- Add magnetic rods to your whiteboards or any magnetic surface.
- Then you can get this 24 pack of storage bags on hangers.
36 | Pocket Chart for Cell Phone or Headphone Storage
A lot of teachers love using hanging pocket charts to organize the headphones. This works great for cell phones too! I like this one because it’s already numbered so it’s one less thing for you to do.
Teacher’s Cart Ideas
A teacher cart is a must have. Load it up with all the essential supplies and resources and then move it around the class when you need it. Check out some ideas for teacher cart organization below.
37 | Rolling Cart for Paper Organization
A rolling cart like this works great to organize all the papers in your classroom. Add cute labels to match your classroom theme. Some ideas to label the drawers are:
- One for Each Day of the Week
- Class Subjects
- Small Groups
- To Copy
- To Grade
- To File
- To Do
- For the Sub
These rolling cart labels are part of an adorable boho daisy theme classroom bundle by Stepahanie Nash design that you can find here!
38 | Organized Teacher Cart for Supplies
Take a cue from Samantha and decorate your cart with a positive saying like, “Teaching is a work of heart.” Use small bins to keep it organized and stock your cart with all the essentials that are helpful to have close by like pencils, erasers, sticky notes, and white board markers.
39 | Teacher Clothing Rack Hack
If you want something even larger consider using a clothing rack like this to create a traveling cart with multiple classroom uses! Here’s how you make the most out of this cart:
- Use the shelf on the bottom to add bins and baskets for supplies.
- Hang shoe storage to racks for supplies like pens, highlighters and sticky notes.
- Use shower curtain rings to hang anchor charts and pocket charts.
40 | More Teacher Cart Ideas
I’ve gathered tons more ideas for teacher carts including:
- Creating a Rolling Classroom Store
- Making a Rainy Day Recess Cart
- Organizing Chromebooks, and Assignments
- How to Add Extra Storage Space to Your Cart
- Where to Get the Best Carts and Labels for Your Cart
You can find those ideas here…Genius Teacher Cart Ideas for Your Classroom
Colorful Classroom Organization Ideas
There’s something so fun about a colorful classroom. If you have a bright and cheerful classroom then read on, I have some organization ideas for you to fit your classroom aesthetic!
41 | Bright Classroom Organization
Here’s inspiration for a cheerful classroom! For a coordinated classroom look find rolling cart labels and teacher toolbox labels to match your classroom displays.
42 | Rainbow Classroom Organization Idea
I love the idea of organizing with a rainbow color scheme. Arrange colorful bins in rainbow color order so everyone knows where each bins belongs. A rainbow rolling cart would be a fun addition to your classroom organization too!
Rainbow Organization Finds
Below check out the best Amazon finds for colorful organization!
Rainbow Organization | Where to Find
One | 10 Pack Plastic Envelopes
Two | 10 Pocket Hanging File Holders | Rainbow Folders
Three | 6 Pack Rainbow Plastic Bins
Classroom Bundles
When you see those teachers on Instagram and Pinterest that have the classroom that looks so organized and everything matches, they probably purchased a classroom bundle. If you like your class to match a certain theme or color scheme it’s a great way to go.
48 | Composition Notebook Classroom Bundle
I love the composition notebook theme that is really popular right now, so I created a classroom bundle based on that theme. I created it so that you will have everything you need for your classroom setup.
Besides classroom decor and teacher resources there is also tons of editable printables to get your class organized including:
- Teacher Toolbox Labels
- Supply Labels and Table Labels
- Teacher Binder Covers
- Teacher Cart Labels for 10 and 12 Drawer Rolling Carts
Classroom Organization Ideas with Labels
Check out these amazing classrooms that use beautiful labels to create an ultra-organized space where everything has a place.
49 | Label Clear Plastic Containers
Small clear plastic containers with cute labels are the perfect solution to easily find everything you need in your class. Containers with lids are great for stacking and those without lids work perfectly on your shelves.
50 | Teacher Toolbox Labels
A teacher toolbox is the perfect way to organize all of those small items in your classroom like staples, erasers, paper clips and tacks and to have quick access to them when you need them.
If you’ve not set up a teacher toolbox yet, then get the step-by-step instructions plus tons of inspiration in this post- Teacher Toolbox Create the Perfect One for Your Classroom
The Best Finds for Pretty Classroom Labels
There are several places where you can purchase pretty labels. Below are some of my favorites.
51 | Pretty Editable Labels
This package of labels is a digital file that is available on Etsy for you to print yourself. It includes several round and square labels that you can edit for your classroom needs.
52 | Teacher Drawer Labels
These are great labels for your teacher cart. You can customize these labels for whatever you need.
53 | Animal Print Sticker Labels
An easy option is to get a package like this that comes with 40 sticker labels that you can use for anything. I like these ones because they are neutral enough to go with a lot of different decor. There are several designs to choose from too.
54 | Cute Composition Notebook Rolling Cart Labels
I created these editable printable labels to go with the composition notebook theme. There are two different patterns and options for 10 and 12 cart rolling carts. If you like these you can find them in my Etsy shop here.
Small Classroom Organization Ideas
If you have a small classroom you may need to get creative with your storage. You can use walls or whiteboards for extra storage space and find classroom furniture that does double duty. Check out some more ideas below
55 | Maximize Your Class Whiteboard
Maximize your whiteboard space by using it to store and organize supplies and resources for your class. You can use a mini rod to hang items like you spelling words for the week. You can find lots of white board organization tools to help you maximize the space you have.
56 | Furniture Doing Double Duty
Here’s an example of classroom furniture that has two purposes. This is a great idea if you have limited storage space in your elementary classroom. This classroom bench is also serving as storage for extra supplies and classroom materials.
Cute labels help keep everything organized. If you want to copy this idea lay a tall bookshelf horizontally or find a bookshelf shoe bench like this.
Organization for Student Cubbies
If you want to set up a classroom organization system for your students, then check out these ideas.
57 | Organized System for Cubbies
Take some tips from that teacher Taylor on organizing your student cubbies.
- Put the number on the top side of the cubby so it does not wear off with use.
- Number the cubby and everything in the cubby.
- Put a book bin in each cubby with headphones, task card boxes, pencil pouches, a clipboard, whiteboard and other student supplies.
Top Picks for Student Cubbies from Amazon
Below are some of the best finds to create beautiful student cubbies in your class.
58 | Pastel Cubby Bins
These small bins would be a great addition to your student cubbies to hold your students’ supplies.
59 | Cube Storage Bookshelf
If your classroom does not have built in cubbies this is a great option. You can arrange these shelve units in different configurations depending on what works best for your classroom. They come in several different colors too.
60 | Pastel Storage Bins
These pastel storage cubes are a great option for student cubbies or as extra storage in your class.
61 | Laundry Baskets for Student Supplies
If you don’t have cubbies but need a place to store backpacks and supplies how about a laundry basket from the Dollar Tree in front of each desk?
Organization for Classroom Supplies
I know you have supplies everywhere. Let’s check out some ideas to get all the school supplies and technology organized in your class this year.
62 | Classroom Table Organization Idea
Here’s a great idea to keep your supplies organized by table group. First you’ll get supply caddies in different colors and assign each table their own color.
Then color code all of the supplies to match the caddies. You can used colorful washi tape to color coordinate glue sticks, pencils and anything else in the caddy!
63 | Technology Organization Hack
Here’s an easy way to get your Chromebooks, laptops or any other technology organized in your classroom. Just get a package of rainbow colored washi tape and then add the tape to each Chromebook, cord, and the cubby where it belongs.
64 | Marker Organization
Keep markers organized by color in a clear spinner organizer to make them easy to access and to put away!
65 | Crayon Organization Hack
If you want to keep all those crayons organized and separate why not assign each color to its matching container?
This makes it super easy for the kids to organize the crayons themselves, brilliant! Here are some colorful bins that would work great for this!
Best School Supply Organization Finds
Below are some of my favorite finds to organize your school supplies.
66 | Pastel Supply Caddy
Supply caddies with handles work great for organizing supplies for students to easily carry around the class. I love these ones because they come in several different aesthetic colors and are available in different sizes too.
67 | Table Supply Organizer
Here’s another great option for organizing those table supplies. This organizer has 9 different sections and it spins.
68 | Pack of Supply Caddies
These supply caddies have 6 compartments and would work great for organizing art supplies. They come in several different colors.
69 | Locker Storage Cabinet
Sometime a large cabinet like this is perfect for hiding your mess. It’s not always going to be organized and perfect and sometime you want to show everything in a cabinet and deal with it later. You can find this locker here and it comes in several other pretty colors.
70 | Sub Tub
Great classroom organization is all about planning ahead. That’s why creating a sub tub is a game changer. This will make your life so much easier when something arises, and you need to have a substitute teacher.
To copy this idea first start with a book bin. Here are some items you can including in your sub tub:
- Lesson plans for the day
- Assignment sheets
- Procedures and school information
- Thank you note and treat for the sub
- Sub tickets for the teacher to hand out for excellent behavior.
71 | Tidy Team Classroom Job
When planning your classroom jobs considering adding a tidy team. The tidy team will clean up classroom messes with the tidy tub especially when the class is cutting or doing art projects.
72 | Student Desk Organization Hack
If you’re noticing a messy desk or two or ten in the classroom then copy this hack. Take a picture of the neatest desk in the classroom and display it with the label what should my desk look like.
This will not only help the students work on their own organizational skills it will also motivate them to get their desk featured next time!
Teacher’s Desk Organization
Ok, so now you have the entire classroom organized and looking perfect. Now, it’s time to beautify your space. Creating a pretty and organized desk for you is just as important as the classroom.
It keeps you motivated, inspired and boosts your mood. Sounds like what every teacher needs, right? Below check out some awesome ideas to organize your desk.
73 | Teacher Desk Storage Ideas
When you’re setting up your teacher space for the upcoming school year be sure to experiment with different storage solutions, leave plenty of blank space and open storage and create easy access to what you use most often.
74 | Brochure Holder Organization Hack
This 3rd grade teacher, Elizabeth uses a brochure holder to organize her checklists, so they are easy for her to see and access! This would work great for lesson plans, activities sheets, or any classroom resources that you don’t want to get buried on your desk!
75 | Organized Desk Drawer
Your desk drawers are the perfect space to store the supplies that are just for you. It’s easy for drawers to get messy and cluttered. A simple idea to avoid this is to invest in drawer organizers like these that you insert into the drawer to keep everything in its place.
For more ideas for organizing your desk and your teacher space check out this post…The Best Classroom Teacher Desk Ideas & Organization Tips
So, now you’ve seen the very best classroom organization ideas. I hope you’ve been inspired to create a beautiful, organized space for you and your students this year. Feel free to save your favorite ideas to your Pinterest Boards. Just click on the picture and then click on the red P!
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