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The Write Stuff Teaching

Helping Teachers Inspire Learners

Bright Ideas Blog Hop: The Teacher’s Desk

How does your teacher desk look?  Are you organized?  Scattered?  A little of both?  There has been a trend lately to decrease teacher space to make more room for student space.  Debbie Diller speaks about this in her workshops.

For me, my desk area is my sanctuary.  I don’t often get too much time to sit but when I do, I like to have some space of my own to just “be”.  That’s a tall order for a primary teacher!

Thanks for joining me for this month’s April Bright Ideas Blogpost.

I’d like to show you my teacher’s desk.  When I posted about my classroom last fall I had lots of emails and questions about some of the things on my desk so this post is all about my desk!  I hope it gives you some ideas for your own teacher space. Here is my desk in full view.  I have it in a corner with my teacher resources and my little mini fridge that houses my coffee milk and my lunch just in case I need to stay in at lunch and work instead of going to the staffroom (which almost never happens because I believe everyone needs a break!)

I love being prepared and so I have my “magazine” holders right on my desk so that everything I need is right at my fingertips. I have Monday-Friday files and one for regular weekly work/next week/photocopying. The bins have to be large enough to hold books and supplies. I got these ones at Ikea.

They even hold craft supplies for our Easter Egg crafts that we did this week.

On my desk is my plan book and my TOC (teacher on call) Survival Kit – complete with schedules, class lists, overviews and plans, and any special instructions or allergies. I get asked a lot about the stand that my daybook is on and the little burgundy wrist support that is in front.  It is AWESOME!  Unfortunately, I can’t tell you where I got it because it was given to me as part of a rehab program when I was in a car accident several years ago.  I was told by the OT that teachers often have sore necks/backs because they are always leaning over kids and when they write their plans their neck is in the wrong position.  So this little baby keeps my posture just right and the wrist support helps too. *Great idea!*

I had an extra Lazy Susan at home so I brought it in and placed it on my desk.  It’s so fantastic!  I twirl it around when I need something and it’s so convenient.  Here, you will see some teacher supplies, my Kleenex and hand sanitizer, an emergency snack and my little jelly bean treats that I might share with the kids once in a while. 😉

Here’s a view from the top down and a shot of my “fair and square jar”  If you don’t have one, you should give it a try. All the student names are on popsicle sticks. Whenever I want to pick a random person for something I pull a name out of the jar. It’s fair and it’s easy peasy!

I love my coffee so I keep my Keurig close by 
And finally, what is in the teacher’s top drawer?  Chocolate of course!

I hope you check out the other Bright Ideas blog posts for other great ideas to make your teaching world just a little simpler. There’s also a Pinterest board called Bright Ideas for the Classroom where you can go and find even more ideas!

If you enjoyed this bright idea, please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter
for more great ideas.

For more bright ideas from 150 different bloggers, please browse through the link-up
below and choose a topic/grade level that interests you. Thanks for visiting!

An InLinkz Link-up

  • Shelley The Write Stuff Teaching
  • « Lessons from New York
    Plural or Possessive? A Fun, Interactive Teaching Lesson. »

    Comments

    1. Susanna Westby says

      April 12, 2014 at 6:10 pm

      LOVE the Lazy-Susan idea! It would be perfect for the limited space I have since I got rid of my teacher desk – thank Shelley!
      Susanna
      Whimsy Workshop Teaching

      Reply
      • Shelley says

        April 19, 2014 at 4:48 pm

        That's why I love it so much Susanna!

        Reply
    2. Hilary Gard says

      April 13, 2014 at 12:10 am

      I was going to say the same thing as Susanna! I love the lazy susan idea! Thanks for sharing!
      Hilary
      Second Grade is Out of This World!

      Reply
      • Shelley says

        April 19, 2014 at 4:49 pm

        Thanks for popping by Hilary!

        Reply
    3. Sarah Paul says

      April 14, 2014 at 3:34 am

      Shelly, I need to pin every picture! Ha! I love the Lazy Susan idea. I didn't even know that's what they were called. Spinny thing maybe? 😉 I also love how you organize your weekly plans in the magazine holders. I had been putting mine in a hanging file but I actually like your idea better. Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!
      Sarah
      Sarah's First Grade Snippets

      Reply
      • Shelley says

        April 19, 2014 at 4:50 pm

        Hi Sarah,
        I really love using those magazine holders (especially the Ikea ones because they are bigger) because I can store all the supplies I need for the day including books and crafts supplies.

        Shelley

        Reply
    4. Ronda Walton says

      June 9, 2014 at 4:06 am

      I have seen several blogger and teachers post that they have gotten rid of their teacher desks. But even though I don't sit there much, it is still the main focus for my teaching material, like yourself. I love your use of the acrylic stand for your lesson plans and the lazy suzy to make items accessible while at desk.

      Reply

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