Avoid Stacks of Papers - ORGANIZE!

If you're anything like me, you can't stand a stack of papers on your desk that you have to go through at the end of each school day!  I have a solution for you!  Before you start stacking, have a "home" for everything!  Check out how I organize all the endless amounts of paperwork!

I use these incredibly bright-colored baskets to stay on top of being organized with all the paperwork that quickly accumulates!

Here's a closer look at each basket and what goes inside:






Now for papers/copies for the week.  Each drawer is labeled with a content area and all the papers/copies for the CURRENT week go in the drawer.

What about Long Term Planning?  Do you plan ahead weeks in advance?  I do!  I place copies of papers that will be used in the future in these drawers, also organized by content area.

As you can see, there is NO REASON for endless stacks of papers to be sorted at the end of each day!  There is a home for every paper!  I hope you find a way to ORGANIZE your endless amounts of paperwork too!  :)

Please feel free to PIN any of these pictures above for safe keeping!

54 comments

  1. Another great idea, Jamie! Love your organization! Much better than my "one big pile" that used to sit on my desk :)

    Shelley
    Teaching In The Early Years

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  2. I have baskets for a few of these, but I have never had a papers to pass out basket or paperwork to sort. Thanks for getting rid of some of my stacks! There is nothing I like better than an organized space! :)

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  3. LOVE everything about your post Jamie!!!! Stacks on my desk are my biggest problem!! It drives me nuts and I can't figure out how to fix it....but you just fixed it for me!! Thanks girlie!!!

    Hugs
    Anna

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  4. I love this post Jamie!! Thanks for sharing all of your categories for sorting, this has been so helpful! I especially love the drawers for the week's papers :)

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  5. May I ask where you bought your colorful baskets? (If anyone else has some suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them!)

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    Replies
    1. Those are the neon baskets from reallygoodstuff.com - they are by far my FAVORITE baskets. I love love love them!

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  6. I love, love, love this. Thanks so much Jamie! I never thought of having bins for the extra copies, class sets, and things. Now I just have to figure out where to put it.

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  7. Such a smart idea, Jamie! My biggest problem is always where to keep things I need close at hand without making "piles"! Problem solved!
    Linda
    AroundtheKampfire

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  8. Wow, what a great idea! I will be finding a way to do this next year! Thank you for sharing!

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  9. Great idea! I currently throw everything into one basket sitting (same basket students turn work into) on my desk! Takes FOREVER to go through at the end of the day!

    Christina :)
    Apples, Books, and Crayons
    applesbooksandcrayons@gmail.com

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  10. Love this idea! In semi-unrelated news, where did you get the shelves your baskets are sitting on. I am desperate for shelves that are low enough to fit underneath my smartboard/bulletin boards, and yours look like they might actually do the trick!

    Theresa @ True Life I'm a Teacher!
    truelifeimateacher@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Did you ever figure out where the shelves are from? I was wondering, too!

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    2. I am looking for shelves like these as well! Anyone know where I may find them?

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  11. I am inspired! I have these same big baskets but in primary colors.....and they are currently a catchall! I am going to make labels for them today and spend some time "spring cleaning" this week! Thanks so much!

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  12. Jamie, this post speaks to me as a habitual piper. Once again, I amazed at your organization, and it all looks so pretty. I think I know exactly where something like this could go in my room. Thanks so much for the inspiration.

    Nicole
    Mrs, Rios Teaches Second Grade

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  13. Great ideas Jamie! I have a few of those bins (extra copies) etc. but I think I should add a couple more. I love those labels. Where can I get them? Thanks for sharing!

    :) Shelley

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  14. Love this post! Your organizations skills are amazing! Thanks for sharing! :)

    Gladys
    Teaching in High Heels

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  15. Amazing organization!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

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  16. I do something very similar and it has made a HUGE difference in the number of "piles" that I have on my desk! I especially love your paperwork to sort bin. I always come back from a meeting and have to jump right into teaching. All the paperwork from that meeting ends up getting lost in the shuffle. Thanks for sharing!

    Sara :)
    The Colorful Apple

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  17. Great ideas! How often do you go through/ empty the baskets?

    Jenny
    Luckeyfrog's Lilypad

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  18. Tidy and organized - and I love the bright colors!

    Buzzing with Ms. B

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  19. Oh, no wonder we are friends! I love your organization! :) Great idea, Jamie!

    Amanda
    Teaching Maddeness

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  20. Thanks for sharing. I love your colorful baskets. What are they sitting on and how can I get one?
    However, my organization woes are from figuring out what to do with the stuff that the kids turn in. Either I put it off to the following week and I have tons to sort or it just piles up. I have to keep portfolios on all my kinders and I never find an easy way to organize, keep and file their papers.
    Kinders on the Block

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  21. I love your colors! I think I need more baskets now!
    Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations

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  22. Love the bright baskets! I am thinking the same...I may need a few more baskets. I might have a basket issue already though, haha!
    Wendy
    One Happy Teacher

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  23. I'm in awe of your organization, Jamie! Paperwork makes me want to cry! Thanks for the inspiration!! Love it!
    Laura
    Peace, Love, and First Grade




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  24. LOVE these ideas! Where did you get those black labels for the baskets?

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    1. Did you ever figure this out? I want those labels!

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  25. Wow! That looks awesome! I can only imagine how colorful your whole classroom is. Hehe! Kidding aside, it’s really hard to organize lots of paper work. You need your students' cooperation to maintain the arrangements. I hope you’re not experiencing any confusion on your paperworks. I love The Boxar Children series, by the way. :)

    Ruby Badcoe

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  26. Such a simple but useful idea. I've been drowning in paper work now that we have to send all of our copies to the "copy center" at the high school. I send things for months in advance and then they just sit in piles. I am so doing this before my maternity leave! :)

    Do you have the labels available anywhere?

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  27. Oh my gosh I get sooooo swamped by all of my paperwork. Such a great idea! I will be heading to the store to get some baskets!!

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  28. I am sooooo going to implement a system like this next year. I just left on maternity leave and spent the entire transition week sorting through papers. Thanks for the great idea!

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  29. I am sooooo going to implement a system like this next year. I just left on maternity leave and spent the entire transition week sorting through papers. Thanks for the great idea!

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  30. Where did you get the bright colored baskets?

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    Replies
    1. They are the neon baskets from www.reallygoodstuff.com - they are the best! Love those baskets!

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  31. I would also like to know where the baskets came from!

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  32. Where can I get your black labels?

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  33. Where did you get your bright colored baskets? I love them. Several people have asked but I don't see you response. Thanks for sharing! Suzieqalden@gmail.com

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  34. Hi friends! I have tried to respond to all questions via email associated with your blogger account, but if you haven't received an answer, leave me another comment. I never want you to think I've forgotten about you. I read every single comment and try to answer every single question. ;)

    To answer the 2 most popular questions regarding this post:

    The bright colored baskets came from Really Good Stuff (www.reallygoodstuff.com).

    The black labels are a FREE template from my friend at Ladybug's Teacher Files Blog (http://www.ladybugsteacherfiles.com/2012/07/my-favorite-basketsand-some-editable.html).

    Hope this helps! :)

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  35. Love the colorful baskets! Where did you get them??

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  36. Carly, see the comment right above yours for the link to the baskets. :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  37. I'm also curious about where you found your bookshelf?! I have been looking for one like that, but I haven't had any luck! Thanks! :)

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  38. Savannah, the bookshelf was already in my classroom. It was provided by my school. I just got permission to paint it black and LOVE IT! :)

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  39. Hi Jamie! Do you think you could email the labels that
    You used.. I have the same baskets getting shipped to me on Wednesday and I tried to go to ladybug blog and use the file but they no longer have the same font available to download and use so no matter which
    Font I try it isn't as cute as yours. I will be totally bummed if I get baskets and have ugly labels;) haha my
    Email is rainey.taylor@gmail.com
    Thank you in advance

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  40. Jamie, How did you attach the labels to the baskets?

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  41. Hi Jamie! I love your blog! Where did you get your CAFE templates from?

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  42. OMG can you come organize my classroom? Lol.

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  43. Where did you get these bins? I love them!

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  44. You have a basket for students to turn their work into as well, right? Is this just one basket, or do you have it separated by subject/homework/etc.?

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  45. Looks great!! :)
    Thanks for sharing!

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  46. What do you use to get the labels to stick on the basket?

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  47. Hello
    I interested in how to the labels for the baskets? Thanks

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