Starting the year off organized is key to many teachers’ sanity.  For me, that includes planning ahead.  With those two things in mind, this right here is one of my FAVORITE teacher organization tips/tricks/tools/methods (NOT an affiliate link).  It has worked for me no matter how many students/preps/periods I have because it comes in so many different combinations and colors (one year I had it in 5×5–one slot per period for each school day–and it was amazing!).

back to school tips for secondary teachers

When I make my copies for next week or two, I file them in this multi-row and column organizer.  It’s not an ideal location this particular year, it’s behind my desk and on a sideways filing cabinet, but it will do.

The left column is Monday-Friday for Geography, the middle one is for Texas History, and the column on the right is for US History.  I make the Geography copies for Monday, use a binder clip to keep them together, and put them in the top left slot.  Tuesday’s copies go right below, Wednesday’s in the third slot, etc.

Repeat for each class for each day of the week.  They slots are tall enough, and my classes are small enough this year, that I can fit 2 weeks worth of papers in each slot, each batch in its own binder clip.

my favorite way of keeping my classroom handouts organized

A few reasons why I love this:
–it helps me stay organized (the exact amount of handouts I need per class is pre-counted out and in binder clips)
–I can plan ahead without letting paper pile up on my desk

–if a student knows they’ll be absent I can easily give them their work ahead of time
–it gives me a physical visual of where I’m going in the chapter

–it’s very flexible (for every variation of the number of subjects and periods I’ve taught I’ve had one of these)
–it’s VERY durable, knock on wood, they always last the school year and then some

Right now my papers are waiting to be copied.  I don’t have my class lists yet but as soon as I do my paper organizer will be full of student information forms, get-to-know-you activities, why study history, task card answer sheets, map pre-tests, etc.

back to school teacher desk

Do you have any back to school tips?  I’d love to read about them in the comments.  

While you’re here, hop around the other blogs linked up here for more secondary back to school tips!

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