Preparing your classroom for the year ahead can be an overwhelming task. Here are 10 creative ways to store, organize, and sort classroom items.

Top 10 Classroom Organization Ideas

Some of our favorite do-it-yourself classroom organization ideas can be created from everyday items found at home or inexpensive finds at the dollar store or hardware store.

1. Hang a shoe organizer to hold paperback books or center supplies. A hanging sweater organizer works well to sort construction paper.
2. Use a large beverage tub or laundry basket to hold and transport students’ lunches and PE equipment, to collect library books, or to file student portfolios. If you buy several laundry baskets of the same type, the baskets can be stacked easily when not in use.
3. Wash round food containers and then cover them with contact paper or printed duct tape to hold markers, pens, and scissors. Or, secure large round food containers together to file student papers, classroom passes, art supplies, etc.
4. Glue a magnet to repurposed containers that can be attached to magnetized whiteboards to hold dry erase markers.
5. Keep art supplies accessible by placing scissors, glue, markers, etc., in plastic cups placed in a muffin tray or by gluing small tins or containers to a Lazy Susan.
6. Create a centralized supply table to hold items needed every day using baskets, cleaning supply caddies, or small crates to organize supplies.
7. Sort center activities and art projects in zip-lock bags. For easy access, bags can be stored upright in a plastic bin.
8. Customize large binder clips to organize stacks of paper. Use Mod Podge or glue to attach small labels to the clips. (ex: “To be graded,” “Return,” and “Misc.”)
9. Use large magnetic clips to clip notes or papers to the front of student desks (or use clothespins with pieces of self-sticking velcro).
10. Hang a pegboard on a wall, add hooks, and hang small tin pails or buckets to hold classroom supplies.