Storage and Organization for Your Preschool Classroom

As an early childhood educator you will accumulate a lot of things that you will want to use in your classroom throughout the year. It is less stressful when you stay organized and have great storage tools to keep everything easily accessible.

BUY STORAGE SUPPLIES

Having the right equipment to store your classroom supplies makes your classroom feel neat and organized. Some of the supplies you might consider are:

• Clear, plastic containers with stackable lids that snap or clasp shut with handles
• Heavy duty, clear packing tape to adhere labels to containers
• Labels with pictures for students to identify where materials go
• Permanent marker
• Rolling carts
• Filing Cabinet
• File boxes
• Magazine holders
• Paper organizers
• Binders
• Command strips

START ORGANIZING

Start out by organizing the things you already have for your classroom. Use shelving if you think you’ll need it to store extra supplies and toys. Label everything to keep your system organized. Keeping your classroom organized will help with students being willing to clean up their spaces after play. It’s also easier not to have too many things out at once.

Keeping the clutter at bay will help you maintain your sanity. Teachers tend to be very resourceful and keep as many things as possible to use throughout the year and for years to come. Here are some tips to organize your materials:

• Use clear or color coordinated containers for supplies.
• Label everything on the sides and top of container.
• Include pictures on the containers if preschoolers are going to be responsible for helping with clean up
• Choose a system that works best for you to keep things organized. You could choose to put all extra puzzles in one container, all extra books about butterflies in a container or you could even choose to organize by themes or centers. An example could be that you use large Ziplocks to put each puzzle and their pieces in then put all puzzles in one container together.
• Use containers that can double for storage and to put out for classroom use.
• Use a binder for each student and keep their best work in it to present to parents at the end of the school year as a keepsake.
• Use Command strips to hang aprons, dramatic play clothes and display art work or wall hangings.

STAYING ORGANIZED

Once you have your system in place just keep going as you add more items to your collection. Put everything away as you get it so you are not overwhelmed by clutter. If something is broken, toss it. If your students no longer seem interested in something put it away or sell/donate it to someone else who can use it.

Rotating toys will make preschoolers think they are getting new toys. Storage and organization for your preschool classroom is essential to maintaining sanity and order.