Our Organized Upper Grade Classroom

Two years ago, I shared about some of our favorite organizational systems you can read about it HERE.

We still use so many (if not ALL) of those things but I thought it’d be fun to update with some additional ways we keep our fifth grade classroom both tidy and accessible for all of us.

Plus, I just love organization (and buying bins and baskets…)!

Personally, I always like to start out by mapping the room.  I sketch out everything from student desk arrangement to bulletin boards to furniture pieces.

From there, I decide the best way to utilize each space.  As you can see in our math wall space, I REALLY rely heavily on a lot of cubbies and baskets.  I love the cube systems from Target and bins from Big Lots, Target, and HomeGoods.

Another huge organizational tool for me (personally) are these rolling carts.  Mine are from Target and Ikea (I have a few!) and they keep everything I need right at my fingertips.  If I’m working with kids on the rug, I can just roll this over with me.

I recently used smaller bins (Marshalls and Target) to even organize my teacher cart and I’m really hoping it stays this way!

Now, student supplies need to stay organized too and with a little prep in the beginning of the year, these systems will serve you well.

For writing, each child has a number and a clothespin.  I just hang writing pieces, text responses, or completed work right on top.  At parent conference time, it’s easy to grab and go.  I typically pull the down the work about 3 times a year, file it, and save it.  At the very end of the school year, we put together a writing portfolio but it’s a snap because you have all the pieces ready to go.

We use THIS to help us.

You’ll notice book boxes, too.  We either use the cardboard Ikea ones OR plastic ones I have (more on that in a second).  Students store their daily books, journals, and folder in here.

You can read more about our book box system HERE.

Once work has been completed, graded, and is ready to go home, it gets filed in their mailbox.  This is typically the job of our class organizers (I like having two students for it) and they work on it whenever they’re done with their own work.

We do something called Take Home Tuesdays, meaning that all work and office paperwork goes home ONLY on Tuesdays.  It’s nice for parents to know that on that day, they can check or sit with their child because it’s always the same day each week.

I’ve been really lucky to also have these cubbies, which we use for “long term storage” and organization.  The white bins are actually dishpans from Target and they conceal all sorts of things!  These hold text books, additional volumes, or things we just don’t need on a daily basis.

I added vinyl numbers with my Silhouette Cameo and they’ve held up for years.

I also love using THESE Ikea paper trays to give students access to worksheets we regularly use, as well as different paper choices.

Our paper choices come from HERE.

I also unboxed games and put them in THESE zippered pouches and it’s been wonderful!

We use these with soft start days, rainy days, and for class parties.

I also love using Sterilite divided cases for manipulatives, like our language wall pieces.  THIS one is my favorite.

While nearly everything is digital, I still love keeping paper masters in binders.  It works for me and when the binders are in rainbow order, it works to even make me smile!

Binders are from Target.

THIS Ikea cabinet is awesome and it holds our soft start materials.  It even locks!  Ours is right under our projector.

I have found that when systems are established, discussed, and practiced, everyone is set up for success.  Kids know where things go but they can also help themselves if they need something, which is huge because I’m often working with a small group or individual student.

I’m constantly rethinking our space because I want things to be efficient and organized for all of us.

Any questions?  Let me know!  I’d love to hear from you!