classroom ideas Archives - Teacher's Brain

Classroom Organization Tips for the New School Year

May 31, 2024 teachersbrain Classroom Behavior Management, Classroom Decor

Summer is the perfect time for us teachers to relax and recharge, and we deserve it! However, it’s also a perfect time to get a head start on classroom organization for the upcoming school year.

I always say, a well-organized classroom not only creates a better learning environment, but it also sets a positive tone for teachers and students alike. An organized classroom is a happy one!

If you’re looking for some classroom organization hacks or classroom organization ideas, you’re in the right place! I’m sharing some practical and budget-friendly tips to help you get your classroom in tip-top shape before the new school year begins.

How can I organize my classroom better?

Declutter and Deep Clean

Start with a clean slate by decluttering your classroom. Go through all the materials, supplies, and decorations from the previous year. Decide what to keep, what to donate, and what to toss. But here’s the key: you have to be ruthless! If you haven’t used it in the past year, it’s probably time to let it go. Once you’ve decluttered, give your classroom a good cleaning. A clean, fresh space will make you feel more motivated and ready for the new school year.

Plan Your Layout

Think about the flow of your classroom and how you want it to function. Consider different areas you need: a reading nook, a group work area, a quiet corner for individual work, and a teacher’s desk. Arrange your furniture in a way that makes these areas accessible and functional. Don’t be afraid to move things around until you find the perfect layout! Remember, the goal is to create a space that is conducive to learning and easy to navigate for both you and your kiddos.

Label Everything

Labels are your best friend when it comes to organization. Label shelves, bins, and drawers so that everything has a designated spot. This not only helps you stay organized but also makes it easier for students to find and put away materials. Use clear, easy-to-read labels, and consider adding pictures for younger students. You can even get your students involved in the labeling process once school starts, which helps them feel ownership over the classroom space.

Utilize Vertical Space

When classroom space is limited, think vertically. Use wall space for storage and organization. Install shelves, hooks, and bulletin boards to keep supplies and materials off desks and floors. Hanging file organizers can be a great way to keep papers and assignments organized and easily accessible. Pegboards are another versatile option for hanging supplies, tools, and decorations.

Create a Supply Station

Set up a supply station where students can easily access materials they need for daily activities. Stock it with pencils, markers, scissors, glue, and other essentials. Having a designated supply area reduces interruptions and keeps your classroom running smoothly. Make sure to establish clear expectations for how and when students can use the supply station to maintain order and minimize chaos.

Organize Your Teacher’s Desk

Keeping your desk organized is crucial. Use desk organizers, trays, and drawers to keep everything in its place. Only keep essential items on your desk to avoid clutter. Make it a habit to tidy up your desk at the end of each day to maintain a clean and organized workspace.

Prepare Your Bulletin Boards

Bulletin boards are not only for displaying student work but also for organizing important information. Dedicate one bulletin board to classroom rules, schedules, and announcements. Another board can be used for showcasing student work and achievements. Change the displays regularly to keep the boards fresh and engaging. Using color-coded sections can also help make the information more accessible and visually appealing.

DIY Projects and Budget-Friendly Ideas for Classroom Organization

You don’t need to spend a fortune to organize your classroom, I promise! Get creative with DIY projects and repurpose items you already have. Use cereal boxes covered in colorful paper as magazine holders, or turn some shoeboxes into storage bins. Thrift stores and dollar stores can be goldmines for affordable organizing supplies.

After you have your classroom organization complete and ready to go, you get to have FUN decorating it!

This Black and White Classroom Decor Set has everything you need to get your classroom set up and ready to accept students in the fall. This classroom decor is a simple, yet classic Black and White-themed set! It goes with any decor you already have and you can edit it to add a pop of color or images!

classroom organization and decoration pack

What is in the download:

An Editable Calendar Set
Editable Daily Visual Schedule
Editable Classroom Jobs Set
An Alphabet Line (Print and Cursive)
Color Word Posters & Name Tags
Back to School Welcome Banners, Forms, Posters & Labels for Binders
Amazing Work POSTERS

Check it out now!

I hope these tips are helpful and that you have fun getting your classroom ready for the new school year!

If you want some more classroom ideas, check out my post here for some classroom decor tips!

Classroom Themes and Transformations the Students Will LOVE

August 12, 2019 teachersbrain Classroom Decor, Door Decorating, Teacher's Pay Teachers

Pick a theme or color scheme that you will love all year!

Themed Classroom Decor

Picking a theme that not only you love, but inspires your students to learn is one of the most important decisions for a teacher! Your classroom decor sets the tone for your students all year. Teacher’s want it to be warm, inviting, and materials to be easily accessible to the students. Keep your theme calm, yet fun. Nicole Woody’s camping reading area is warm and inviting! What student wouldn’t want to curl up with a good book in a tent next to a camp fire?

Create a STEM Area

STEM Classroom Decor — Lisa Taylor Teaching the Stars

If you love a particular subject, make sure you incorporate your favorite subjects in a way to make you feel happy and inspired. Not only will you walk in to your classroom with an instant feeling of happiness, your students will see your passion and follow suit! Check out Lisa Taylor’s STEM area for ideas in your classroom. She also creates amazing STEM products in her TpT store! It is bright, happy and screams “MAKE SOMETHING GREAT” with the way she organizes using accessible bins with various items. This also makes clean up a snap for students to easily put materials away.

Imagination

Amazing Classroom Decor — The Fairy Tale Teacher – Kirstian Bryant

Check out The Fairy Tale Teacher’s classroom where imagination meets blooms of color to engage her students and set a happy tone to the school day! Using your imagination to design your room is a great way to model for your students how they should use their imagination. Not sure what theme to pick? Consider leaving the room a blank canvas and let the students choose a theme and maybe even a class name. You can invite the students help create the decorations or help write a grant to obtain materials they want for their room.

Classroom schedules can help spruce up your classroom and be a helpful tool to help students with transitions during the day. Check out this editable schedule for primary or intermediate classrooms!

Flexible Seating Board — Rikki Heyman
@MissHeymaninThird

Objectives in the Classroom — Rikki Heyman
@MissHeymaninThird

Bulletin Boards are the best way to spruce up a classroom! Rikki Heyman has utilized hers to make a “Smart Spot” and another to place her learning objectives, so students can clearly see the targets they should be aiming for during lessons. She said, “Creating a learning environment is a lot of work, but well worth the community I get to share it with…” Do you have a spot in your classroom for placing learning objectives? Her “Smart Spot” board is used for students to be able to locate flexible seating choices. What child wouldn’t want to be in this class?

Add Some Color

Sometimes all you need is some great colors to brighten up the walls of a dull classroom! I love the way this room utilizes colorful pompoms, blue hanging paper lanterns, various forms of lighting, and the cute chalkboard table stands. Adding pennants and lanterns are fantastic ways to transform a classroom into a positive environment for learning.

Don’t forget about your doors. They are the first thing your students will look at in the morning! Either decorate your door, or for younger students, have a choice for them to pick for a MORNING GREETING (Grab the freebie!) or GOOD BYE. If you don’t have time to greet the students in the morning, let that be a student’s job. It can change the mood of a student who had a rough start at home.

Travel the World

Tropical Classroom Decor — Teacher’s Brain -Cindy Martin Tropical Themed Classroom

Want to bring Hawaii with you into the classroom for the year? Use this tropical themed classroom decor set that includes watercolors and real photos of Hawaii. Decorate some palm trees for holidays. Create a warm environment by using bamboo, beach colors and tropical decor in your classroom. Students can relax in beach chairs in the reading nook.

Colors make a Difference

Paint Cans as Table Markers and Pencil Holders

Find you local home improvement store to find paint color sample strips. This will help you pick some colors that really go together, if you want to transform you classroom without having a particular themed room. You can find empty new paint cans there also. Use the paint cans as pencil holders, flower pots, spray on some chalk paint to easily use chalk to write table numbers, and use the lids for students to practice tracing circles. You can spray the lids with the same black chalk paint, add a magnet to the back and write your class schedule on the lids. So many possibilities! Whatever you decide, make it feel like your second home, because that is really what your classroom is to you and your students.