Zig zags formations are the center of this class seating chart.  This would work best for individual student center work as the students would be able to work independently, while also allowing for freedom of movement throughout the classroom.

How else could you use this seating arrangement in your classroom?  Feel free to share in the comments below!

You might want to check out:

Want an AD-FREE resource book of all seating charts in one easy-to-print format?  188 pages in total!  Now available in our Bookstore!  And the second copy to share with a friend is half price!  

See it HERE.

Grab a printable handout of this seating chart!

Click here to email your freebie

~Charity

See ALL the Seating Chart options HERE.

The post Classroom Seating Chart: The Dippers appeared first on Organized Classroom.

Choosing the right books and activities for your students really can make a difference in whether they will want to return after their first day of school.

Some good book choices are posted below, along with some other fabulous return to the classroom activities – all provided by some of my fellow blogging buddies just for you!

Activities to Start Off the School Year

• Classroom Freebies is always a great place to start!  {Though I may be biased as that site is one I also created and manage – haha!}
• Need some new solutions for using binders this year in the classroom?  These 3 Back to School Binder Ideas might get your wheels turning!

• An entire page devoted to The Kissing Hand!  How fun are these cookie cutters?

Need a quick idea (or 18!) for a Back to School board?   I’ve got you covered!
18 files in one spot!

Each includes directions, premade printable title letters, borders, and student name accents.  You simply need a student roster and a printer.  Easy and lots of choices!

Includes:  Legos, shamrocks, writing, cookies, Tootsie Rolls, dogs, space, sunglasses, fish, gummy bears, buckets, rulers, calculators, owls, wild animals, bees, dinosaurs, and candy themes!

Click HERE to Get Your 18 Sets Now!

• With the littles, it is super important to teach name writing as soon as possible in the school year.  This name writing activity that goes along with the book Chrysanthemum will certainly come to good use!
• First Day Jitters anchor chart!  {source}

• Here is a handout you can use in your class to follow up your reading of the book What if Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick.
• A full week’s worth of lessons and connecting activities using Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!  Love these!

• Who doesn’t love the adorable Lilly and her Purple Plastic Purse?   I know I do.  Here is a free 20 page unit to go along with that book.  Your lesson plans were never done so quickly.

• The No, David books are some of my favorites!   I love the colorful large illustrations and simple words children can understand.  Even better when there are some teaching ideas to correlate with David heading to school!
• Speaking of great series, If You Take a Mouse books are always fun and I enjoy how the story always circles around back to the beginning somehow.  Here is a great unit for If You Take a Mouse to School!

You might want to check out:

Need some new ideas for Back to School?  This 114 page digital book has you covered!

Includes 14 ad-free articles from Organized Classroom, including topics such as:

• Easy Bulletin Board Ideas
• Quick Classroom Decor
• Fundraising Hacks
• Getting Parents On Your Side Right Away

…and even more!

Now available in our Shop!  And the second copy to share with a friend is half price!

See it HERE.

• Love these super cute listening posters from the teacher wife!

• Oh, the Places You’ll Go is a classic book – perfect for graduates and new students alike!   Here is a page of several worksheets to use with your students too!
• Do you have older students and prefer to start the year off with a great chapter book instead?   Thank You, Mr. Falker is a perfect title to take a look at when choosing your best book.  This website includes some suggestions for comprehension and discussion along the way.
• If you like the book Wonder (and like to watch the movie after), you’ll want to check out this site with tons of resources to accompany it!
• So, so, so many ideas here from The Picture Book Teacher’s Edition for How I Spent My Summer Vacation!
• Lots of comprehension connections listed for the book A Fine, Fine School if you have first or second graders!   Even includes a point of view freebie to practice!

Great Books for the First Weeks of School

Thanks to all the blogging buddies who shared their great ideas and I hope you are able to get some fresh ideas for yourself!

Need one more bonus printable?

Check out this super fun “Note to Myself” handout I just created for you.

Perfect for a first day or first week activity, it allows students to reflect on what they hope to do or accomplish this year, but in an informal way.

Make sure to have students date their paper – and then save them in a safe place where you will remember to grab them again the last couple weeks of school.

Students can get their papers back and see how they actually did.

They just night be amazed at how many items they unconsciously checked off their sheet!

Grab your handout below.

What other activities and/or back to school books are on your go-to list that might have been missed?  Feel free to leave a comment below to add to our collection!

Enjoy,

~Charity

The post Back-to-School Books and Activities appeared first on Organized Classroom.

Bringing Words to Life with Play

Think about how kids learn anything new – through doing, experimenting, and most importantly, having fun. Vocabulary acquisition is no different. Instead of rote memorization, let’s tap into their natural curiosity and desire to play.

Storytelling Power-Ups

Stories are a goldmine for new words. When you weave new vocabulary into a narrative, it gives it context and makes it memorable.

Character Creation with Character Words

As you’re reading a book or even making up a story, pause to introduce new adjectives to describe characters. Is the knight brave? Is the dragon grumpy? What about a mischievous fairy or a wise old owl? Encourage your child to come up with their own descriptive words for the characters, or even for themselves. You can even draw the characters together, visually representing the words you’re using.

Setting the Scene with Sensory Words

Don’t just say the castle was big. Was it tall and imposing? Or perhaps it was ancient and crumbling? Use words that appeal to their senses. Was the forest dark and spooky, or bright and full of chirping birds? Was the food delicious and sweet, or sour and tangy? Point out these descriptive words in books and then try to use them when describing your own surroundings.

Word Detective Games

Turn your child into a word detective, on the hunt for new and interesting vocabulary.

The “I Spy” Vocabulary Twist

Elevate the classic “I Spy” game. Instead of just “I spy something blue,” try “I spy something sparkling” or “I spy something gigantic.” This encourages them to look for objects that fit a specific descriptive word. You can also have them be the “spy” and use rich vocabulary to describe something you need to find.

Mystery Word Challenges

Write down a word on a card, but only give your child clues. These clues can be definitions, synonyms, antonyms, or even sentences where the word is used. This guessing element makes it a fun challenge and reinforces understanding. You can start with simpler words and gradually increase the difficulty.

Making Words Tangible and Active

Sometimes, words feel abstract. Making them physical or connecting them to actions can make a huge difference.

Crafting and Creating with Words

Hands-on activities are fantastic for reinforcing vocabulary.

Word Art and Visual Dictionaries

Have your child illustrate words. For example, if you’re learning the word “enormous,” they can draw a huge elephant or a giant mushroom. You can create a personalized visual dictionary where each page is dedicated to a word with its definition and a drawing. This active creation process solidifies the meaning.

Building with Words

Use building blocks or LEGOs to represent words. If you’re learning about sizes, you can build a tall tower for “towering” and a small one for “miniature.” You can also use playdough to sculpt objects related to new words. Imagine making a “velvety” texture for the word “velvet” or a “rough” surface for “gritty.”

Acting Out Words

Physical movement and drama can be incredibly effective for learning verbs and abstract concepts.

Charades for Vocabulary

This is a classic for a reason. Act out verbs like “tiptoe,” “gallop,” “whisper,” or “yell.” You can also act out emotions like “joyful,” “anxious,” or “determined.” The physical representation helps cement the meaning.

Sentence Scenarios

Create short scenes or scenarios where your child has to use a specific target word. For example, if the word is “hesitate,” you might set up a scenario where they have to decide whether to cross a wobbly bridge. How do they show hesitation through their actions?

Harnessing the Power of Technology (Wisely)

Technology can be a brilliant tool to make vocabulary practice engaging, but it’s about finding the right balance.

Interactive Apps and Games

There are countless apps designed to teach new words in fun ways. Look for ones that use games, puzzles, and stories.

Gamified Learning Platforms

Many educational apps turn vocabulary learning into a game. They might offer points, badges, or levels to keep children motivated. Some even adapt to your child’s learning pace, offering more support for words they struggle with. Look for apps that focus on context rather than isolated word lists.

Digital Storytelling Tools

Encourage your child to create their own digital stories using apps that allow for voice recording, image insertion, and text. This gives them a creative outlet to practice using the new words they’ve learned in a meaningful way.

Visual Learning Through Videos

Short, engaging videos can be a powerful way to introduce and reinforce vocabulary.

Educational Videos with New Words Highlighted

Many children’s educational shows and YouTube channels introduce new vocabulary in entertaining ways. Look for content where words are explained visually and used in context. Some channels even have dedicated vocabulary segments.

Creating Their Own Vocabulary Videos

Have your child script and film short videos explaining a new word or using a set of related words. This encourages them to think critically about the definitions and how to communicate them to others.

Integrating Words into Everyday Life

The most impactful vocabulary learning happens when new words are relevant and used naturally.

Scavenger Hunts for Specific Words

Turn your house or neighborhood into a learning zone.

The “Find the [Word]” Adventure

Create a list of words and send your child on a scavenger hunt to find objects or situations that represent them. For example, for the word “fragrant,” they might need to find a flower or a scented candle. For “gleaming,” they might search for a shiny object.

Nature Word Walks

Head outside and actively look for words in nature. What’s a “gnarled” tree branch? What does a “babbling” brook sound like? Encourage them to collect leaves or stones and then use descriptive words for them.

Word of the Day or Week Challenges

Make it a family affair.

Family Vocabulary Jars

Write down new words on slips of paper and put them in a jar. Each day, or each week, pull out a word and make it everyone’s mission to use it in conversation. This creates a shared learning experience and normalizes the use of new vocabulary.

Real-World Application Tasks

Assign small tasks that require the use of target vocabulary. For example, if you’re learning about different types of weather, you might ask your child to describe the weather report for the day using specific terms like “blustery” or “drizzly.”

Cultivating a Lifelong Love for Language

Beyond just learning words, the goal is to foster a genuine appreciation for language itself.

The Magic of Reading Aloud Together

This is perhaps the most fundamental and powerful way to build vocabulary.

Choosing Exciting and Diverse Books

Don’t shy away from books with rich language. Classics, fantasy novels, and even well-written non-fiction can expose children to a wide array of new words. Discuss unfamiliar words as you read, making it a shared exploration.

Beyond the Textbook: Exploring Different Genres

Introduce your child to poetry, plays, and even song lyrics. These forms of writing often use language in unique and creative ways, expanding their understanding of word choice and effect.

Word Games That Foster Creativity

Move beyond simple quizzes and embrace games that encourage inventive thinking.

Story Cubes or Prompt Cards

These tools provide random images or prompts that can spark imaginative storytelling and the use of varied vocabulary. For example, you might pull an image of a dragon and a key, prompting a story about unlocking ancient secrets.

Building Custom Word Puzzles

Create your own word searches, crosswords, or cryptograms using theme-based vocabulary words. This makes the learning process personalized and engaging.

The more you can make vocabulary learning an active, playful, and relevant part of your child’s world, the more they’ll naturally embrace it. It’s not about forcing them to memorize lists, but about showing them the incredible power and fun that comes with having a rich and varied vocabulary.

How about when it comes to teaching your students (and parents) what the learning standards mean? 

How about a fun idea to use with your class tomorrow?  They can become word detectives!  Grab the Word Detective Slip freebie file to get you started right away!

What is your favorite vocabulary idea?  I would love to hear in the comments below!

~Charity

The post Create a Class of Word Detectives! appeared first on Organized Classroom.

Some days the seating chart choices want to make you bang your head on your own desk over and over again.

Billy doesn’t work well with Elijah.  Patty continues to chat with Mercedes even when they are separated across the room.  And Gus can’t work close to anyone, so he is mostly an “island” on his own, much to the dismay of his parents who seem to be in your classroom complaining at least once a week.

It’s like playing a dangerous game of checkers, knowing that no matter which way you turn, you’re probably going to get jumped and have to start over again the next day with a new solution.

Easy Student Desk Ideas

Having a simple way for certain number of students to move into group work makes it easier on yourself and quicker to keep the learning going throughout the day.

Utilizing the floor space wisely also saves you time during the school year.

Think about the following tips when choosing the best seating arrangements for your classroom:

• Class sizes will play an important factor in how your room is set up.  Obviously the smaller the number of students, the easier it will be to arrange your furniture and learning spaces.  Smaller classes may be tougher to create a wider range of group work options though.
• Know which teaching methods you prefer to use more often.  Do you like to lecture more often than not?  Then you will want desks that face the front of the room.  But if you use a small group teaching style, pods of desks that leave space in between for walk-throughs make better sense.  Independent work can also be a challenge if desks aren’t separated at all.
• Also consider your behavior problems.  Depending on personality conflicts, a horseshoe shape might work ok or be a horrible option when students are able to face one another.
• Choose how often classroom arrangements are changed.  A good rule of thumb is 6 weeks.  This gives children enough time to get to know students nearby better, but a change of scenery (and new personality combinations) every now and again to keep things fresh.

Effective Desk Arrangements Layouts

Need some new seating chart visuals?  Organized Classroom has you covered!  There are 87 options below, from 16 students up to 31.  With any of the seating charts shown, you can certainly add or subtract any number of desks you need to make it perfect for your space and students.

Click on any image below to begin designing your perfect new classroom space or click HERE to see the archived list of all 87 options:

• This section is for class sizes of 16-17 students. While all the photos show options for 16 students, feel free to place an additional student on the end of one of the groups, if needed.

• This section is for class sizes of 18-19 students. While all the photos show options for 18 students, feel free to place an additional student on the end of one of groups, if needed.

• This section is for class sizes of 20-21 students. While all the photos show options for 20 students, feel free to place an additional student on the end of one of the groups, if needed.

• This section is for class sizes of 22-23 students. While all the photos show options for 22 students, feel free to place an additional student on the end of one of the groups, if needed.

You might want to check out:

Want an AD-FREE resource book of all seating charts in one easy-to-print format?  188 pages in total!  Now available in our Bookstore!  And the second copy to share with a friend is half price!  

See it HERE.

• This section is for class sizes of 24-25 students. While all the photos show options for 24 students, feel free to place an additional student on the end of one of the groups, if needed.

• This section is for class sizes of 26 or more students. While all the photos show options for 26 students, feel free to place additional students on the end of groups, or add additional groups, if needed.

• This section is for class sizes of 28 or more students. While all the photos show options for 28 students, feel free to place additional students on the end of groups, or add additional groups, if needed.

• This section is for class sizes of 30 or more students. While all the photos show options for 30 students, feel free to place additional students on the end of groups, or add additional groups, if needed.

What are some of your favorite classroom desk arrangement options?  We would love to hear them in a comment below!

PS – You can get a free download of each individual seating chart on the individual blog posts. But, if you prefer them already formatted into one AD-FREE document, grab the OC Digital Books Mega Bundle!

~Charity

The post 87 Seating Charts for Any Class Size appeared first on Organized Classroom.

Today, I have something even cooler to share: a double-decker DIY pocket chart stand!

Two years ago I received two amazing pocket chart centers through a Donor’s Choose project. As much as I love, love, love the centers I wasn’t using them because I really had no way to hang them! We can’t staple into our walls and of course, the charts were not the same size as the stand. Besides, I had two half-size charts to hang.  

Finally, I enlisted a little muscle from the hubs and created this little masterpiece.

We used pvc pipe from the home improvement store and just cut it to the size of my charts. They sell all kind of connectors, caps and corners in the same section as the pipe, so you really can custom build just about any size stand you might need.

I did not use any adhesive, just some elbow grease to connect everything. It’s very sturdy and super lightweight. And at the end of the year, I can just disconnect the pieces for easy storage!

You might want to check out:

Need some new ideas for organizing your classroom environment?  This 108 page digital book has you covered!

Includes 16 ad-free articles from Organized Classroom, including topics such as:

• Easy DIY Projects for Making Mundane Office Supplies Cute Again
• New Ways to Use Old Supplies
• A Quick Tech Tutorial that Will Save You Money on Classroom Decor
• Unique Ways to Use Binder Rings
• Student Desk Straightening Tips

…and even more!

Now available in our Shop!  And the second copy to share with a friend is half price!  

See it HERE.

I’m a bit pocket chart obsessed and it’s so nice to have an easy, in expensive way to use them all!

I hope this gives you a few ideas too. See you next time!

Make sure to visit Denise at Sunny Days in Second Grade!

So, you’ve got one of those handy pocket chart stands lurking in your classroom, and you’re wondering how to get the most out of it. Beyond just holding up flashcards, these versatile tools can be a real game-changer for making your lessons more dynamic and your classroom hum with organized energy. Let’s dive into some practical, creative ways to put that pocket chart stand to work, making learning engaging and management a breeze.

Breathing Life into Vocabulary

Vocabulary acquisition can sometimes feel like a chore for students, but a pocket chart stand offers a fantastic opportunity to make it a hands-on, interactive experience. Moving beyond simply displaying words, you can transform it into a dynamic hub for exploration and reinforcement.

Building Word Walls with Flair

Instead of a static word wall, think about a living, breathing one. You can dedicate sections of your pocket chart to different types of vocabulary: new words for a current unit, sight words, challenging academic terms, or even words students are frequently misspelling. As new words are introduced, have students write them on sentence strips and place them in the chart. This active involvement already makes the words stickier.

Categorizing and Connecting Words

Once words are on the chart, you can take it a step further. Dedicate pockets for students to sort words by meaning, part of speech, or even by thematic units. For example, if you’re studying the rainforest, you could have pockets for “Animals,” “Plants,” and “Verbs related to rainforest actions.” This encourages students to think critically about the relationships between words, not just their individual definitions. You can even create pockets for synonyms and antonyms, having students find and match them.

Would you like premade templates for the Star Student Story Packet?

Packet includes 24 pages, 10 customizable covers for your to personalize, and is perfect for grades 2 and up!  Click HERE to grab it now!

Interactive Word Sorts and Games

Pocket charts are perfect for quick, engaging word sorts. Prepare cards with individual words and have students come up to the chart to sort them into categories you’ve pre-defined in other pockets (e.g., “Nouns,” “Verbs,” “Adjectives”). This is great for independent practice or as a quick warm-up. You can also create “matching games” by placing word cards in one set of pockets and their corresponding definitions or pictures in another. Students have to draw a card and find its match.

Picture-Word Association

For younger learners, or when introducing new concepts, pairing pictures with words is crucial. You can either print picture cards to go alongside word cards or have students draw simple pictures themselves to affix next to the vocabulary words. This visual support significantly aids comprehension and recall for diverse learners.

Vocabulary Review Through Stories

Instead of just drilling definitions, integrate vocabulary into engaging storytelling activities. Write a short, simple story on sentence strips and place them sequentially in the pocket chart. Then, swap out key vocabulary words for blank cards. Students can either fill in the blanks with appropriate words from a word bank provided elsewhere on the chart, or you can have them brainstorm words that would fit the context, fostering creative language use. This puts vocabulary into a meaningful context, improving retention and application.

Boosting Math and Number Sense

Math concepts, especially abstract ones, can be demystifying for many students. A pocket chart stand offers a tangible and interactive way to explore numbers, patterns, and operations, making math more accessible and enjoyable.

Manipulating Numbers and Operations

The pockets are perfect for hands-on number sense activities. You can create number lines by placing number cards in order, allowing students to visualize counting, adding, and subtracting by moving counters or their finger along the line. Similarly, you can set up equations by placing number cards and operation symbols in separate pockets, then have students find the answer card or solve it themselves.

You might also enjoy:

Math Games Bundle

6 math products that will be perfect for students in grades K-6!

See it HERE.

Exploring Place Value with Ease

Place value is a foundational concept that can be tricky. Use the pocket chart to visually represent numbers based on their place value. You can have pockets labeled “Thousands,” “Hundreds,” “Tens,” and “Ones.” Then, have students use number cards or even draw dots to represent a given number. This concrete representation helps them grasp how the position of a digit affects its value. You can also create activities where students have to build a given number using this place value framework.

Unlocking Literacy and Reading Comprehension

Beyond just displaying sight words, the pocket chart stand can be a powerhouse for developing comprehensive literacy skills, from decoding to critical analysis of text.

Interactive Reading Activities

The pocket chart can transform reading comprehension from a passive activity to an engaging, participatory one. You can display short passages, sentences, or even graphic organizers that students can interact with. For instance, for younger learners, you can have sentences about a story where some words are missing, and students have to choose the correct word from a word bank to complete the sentence.

Story Sequencing and Retelling

After reading a story, students often need to demonstrate their understanding of the plot. You can write key events from the story on sentence strips and have students (individually or in groups) arrange them in the correct chronological order in the pocket chart. This reinforces their understanding of beginning, middle, and end. You can also use the chart to create story maps, with pockets for characters, setting, problem, and solution, which students then fill in.

Need a quick set of calendar pocket chart cards to use for all sorts of learning activities? Grab it below for free!

Enjoy!

~Charity

The post Pocket Chart DIY appeared first on Organized Classroom.

Oh, and they are super easy to make!

There’s nothing worse than students digging through your perfectly organized classroom library books bins that have painstakingly been labeled with the correct category or level, only to have books tossed back in different bins and have to start all over again.

It makes my organizational heart hurt.

So I needed a way to allow students to peruse the book titles, while still having an easy way for them to also replace the books back into the correct book basket when they were finished.

You might want to check out:

Need some new ideas for building and maintaining your classroom library?  This 41 page digital book has you covered!

Includes 6 ad-free articles from Organized Classroom, including topics such as:

• Super Easy Checkout System
• Teaching Students to Reshelf Their Selections
• Book Gift Idea
• Learning How to Create Book Labels
• A Quick Book Log to Encourage Reading at Home

…and even more!

Now available in our Shop!  And the second copy to share with a friend is half price!

See it HERE.

Fostering Student Responsibility

No matter which system you choose, the most important element is teaching students how to use it and instilling a sense of responsibility for the books. Regular reminders about returning books, demonstrating the check-out process, and discussing why it’s important to take care of shared resources can make a big difference. You might even assign “library helpers” to assist with re-shelving or checking on overdue books. Empowering students in this process not only lightens your load but also teaches valuable life skills.

Involving Students in Maintenance

Students can be excellent library assistants. Encourage them to help straighten shelves, organize books, or identify books that need repair. Perhaps they can even suggest new titles they’d like to see. Having a “library squad” or designated student librarians can foster ownership and teach practical organizational skills. This also lightens your workload and ensures the library remains a space that truly belongs to and serves the students.

Regular Culling and Repairing

Books will inevitably get loved a little too hard. Set aside time each month or quarter to go through your collection. Take out any books that are beyond repair – a few worn pages are charming, but a book falling apart is frustrating. Repair what you can with clear packing tape or book repair tape. This is also a good time to cull books that are no longer relevant, out-of-date, or simply aren’t being read. Don’t be afraid to let go of books that are taking up valuable space if they’re not serving your students.

Book Basket Organization

To make:

1.  Grab some paint sticks from your local home improvement store, or old rulers from your stash of school supplies.  {I used rulers because they were on hand and easy for me to grab.}

2.  Find some washi tape in your classroom decor colors and decorate your sticks however you like.  The possibilities are endless.

3.  Create some toppers.  You can either use a Word processing program , or even go freehand!  Print out on cardstock.  Use a large paper punch to make it uber simple to cut them out.  Laminating is optional.

4.  Attach toppers to your sticks with hot glue or a large piece of clear packing tape.

That’s it!  Did I mention how simple it was?

Students Organizing the Classroom Library on Their Own

Now, students can either grab the library stick with their name or number on it whenever they are searching through your classroom library. 

When they find a book, they place their stick in that basket or lay it down horizontally on the bookshelf where the book was or vertically in a book bin.  When it is time to return the book, the student will know exactly where to place it upon return!  Yay!

Of course, no system works perfectly, but I bet with practice, most students should be able to follow this system easily! 

Drop all the sticks into a large clear container and set it right by the classroom library so the sticks stay presentable and close at hand.

Need some numbered library stick toppers? I have a fun file that includes numbers 1-36 just for you to get started right away!

How do you keep your classroom library organized while students are browsing?  We would love to hear your ideas in the comments below too!

Happy organizing!

~Charity

The post DIY Classroom Library Sticks appeared first on Organized Classroom.

Gives a simple way for small classroom groups to interact with  one another.  All are facing the same common direction.  Parters next to one another or facing partners can also quickly be used at the spur of the moment without rearranging desks.

How else could you use this seating arrangement in your classroom?  Feel free to share in the comments below!

You might want to check out:

Want an AD-FREE resource book of all seating charts in one easy-to-print format?  188 pages in total!  Now available in our Bookstore!  And the second copy to share with a friend is half price!  

See it HERE.

Grab a printable handout of this seating chart!

Click here to email your freebie

~Charity

See ALL the Seating Chart options HERE.

The post Classroom Seating Chart: Tri-Squares appeared first on Organized Classroom.

It can be simple.

Figuring out what to put on your teacher desk – a place where you probably spend many, many hours sifting through piles of paper – is an important piece of an organized classroom.

When I was sent to a classroom to observe for my very first education college course eons ago, I had an amazing cooperating teacher that I learned so many valuable lessons from as I was starting my career in education.

I pretty much thought she was the bees knees (and she was).

One vivid day in my memory, I was observing the class as usual (it was my first basic teacher ed level course so I wasn’t there to teach necessarily, but rather just watch) and by this point, I had been in her classroom over 10 times over the course of the semester and knew how she ran most everything.  And the students all knew me well too.

Well this particular day, she wasn’t feeling so hot so after picking the students up from PE, she asked if I would mind giving the spelling test while she took a minute in the teacher’s lounge.

She explained that the spelling test papers were on her desk.

I had seen the spelling test given several times and had even helped grade them in previous weeks, so I knew what the assessment paper looked like.

No problem!

I walked the students back to class and went to grab the stack of blank tests.

Ummmmm – she had piles and piles of paper stacks!

I panicked for a hot minute as this was the first time I had solely been in charge of this classroom and I was already blowing it!

Needless to say after moving around a few stacks here and there, I found them buried under 3 other things and successfully carried out the task.

But I learned a very important-to-me lesson that day:  I never wanted a guest in my classroom to feel like they couldn’t take over if needed because of my organizational style.

And even my teacher desk was an important part of feeling empowered in my profession.

What Should a Teacher Have on Their Desk?

A few must-have ideas of items a teacher might want include:

• large desk calendar
• writing and grading utensils
• paper or binder clips
• stapler
• name plate (depending on the grade level maybe?)
• sticky notes
• Anything else you use on a daily basis multiple times through the day that you will be grabbing a lot

How Do I Organize My Teacher Desk?

After you have compiled everything you want to place on top of your teacher desk, you’ll probably need something to place your loose items in, such as paper clips or writing utensils.

Personally, I love using a cup as my writing utensils supplies holder.  It can be plastic or glass.  A cup or even an old coffee mug.

The best part is that I can personalize it with my name, grade level, monogram, or nothing at all if that fits better.

You could make several and hot glue them together on a lazy susan to make a turntable too!  Be as creative you like.

One of the best parts of having something handmade is that you can have it match your classroom theme decorations and change it up as often as you like.

Now that you have your desk accessories set up, don’t forget the small touches that really make it sparkle!

Use fabric scraps to cover the lampshade.

Or use scrapbook paper to create a welcoming desk decoration.

A welcome pennant banner also adds a nice touch!

Want all the files to make the banner, cup label, and decor fans already done for you?

Check out the Organized Educator Packs ready to print and display right away in a ton of different themes!

Click HERE to see what sets are available now.

Want some more tips on how to utilize all the spaces around and inside your desk effectively?

Sign up for a free on-demand workshop: The Anatomy of a Teacher Desk.  

It includes a FREE teacher desk checklist! Click HERE to register for free now.

What other easy ideas do you have for decorating your teacher desk?  We would love to hear in the comments below!

Would you like the Lemon Theme Welcome Banner? Download it right here for free!

Enjoy!

Click here to email your freebie

~Charity

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