O.K….So, I know school JUST got out…but, I’m already thinking about how to arrange my room for next year!!;) I know, I know….a little OCD…..O.K. maybe a lot:) But, when you have a small room and not a single closet in the ENTIRE school (Yes, you read that correctly:) you have to think about how to use your space effectively.
So, my question is this….Keep my teacher desk or get rid of it??? I’ve been reading a lot about teachers who say they’ve gotten rid of theirs and they’re so glad they did. At first, I was dumbfounded!!! No desk?!, I’d never heard of such a thing!?!? But, then I got to thinking….I NEVER sit at my desk. It’s just there for me to “dump” things on throughout the day and also serves as a place to keep my computer.
I’m just soooo scared! What if I get rid of it and then hate myself for it later??
So, here are some things I’m wondering about…
Where do you put all of your papers, manuals, plans and just stuff from throughout the day??? If you use a table instead, wouldn’t it just get cluttered from all of this “stuff”?? And if so, then isn’t it just like having a desk anyway?
Do you have a teacher computer?? Where do you keep it?
Organization is just NOT my strong point. Will this help keep (force:) me to be more organized, or will I just be a complete mess…..I’m scared of not having a “dumping ground”!!;)
Well, what do you all think? Do you have any tips or pointers? Any advice on how to keep me organized??
I DID see this fabulous idea from Create, Teach, Share:
She made this teacher toolbox out of a cabinet that she got at Lowes!!! BRILLIANT! So, at least I know how to keep the items that are kept inside of my desk organized:)
Do you have any other ideas or words of wisdom?
I would LOVE for you to leave a comment….but, I would also LOVE some visuals!!! Do you have any pictures of your own deskless classroom? I’d love to see how you organized it!! And I figured, if I’m struggling with this decision, then there’s probably others out there that would love this info too.
So, if you have some advice, PLEASE leave a comment, or better yet-link up!!
Can’t wait to read about your ideas!!!!
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I got rid of my teacher desk a few years ago & I haven't had any problems with it. I just use a kidney shaped table. I have had clutter at times, but I bought some tabletop organization tools & it hasn't really been too much of an issue. I don't have much room in my classroom so having a table really alleviates that problem. 🙂
Lisa
Learning Is Something to Treasure
I am getting rid of my desk for next year. My classroom is tiny and I need the space because I want to add a for real reading center/station. I just started my blog and I have some photos of my classroom as it is now.
http://www.kindertrips.blogspot.com
I think getting rid of your desk is smart. The lady I did my student teaching with (many years ago) used a cart. I am using the tool box like you have above. I used it this year and loved having it all organized instead of trying to find things. My student files will be kept in a filing cabinet or crate.
Good luck with your decision!
I've been wondering the same thing! How do you keep it all organized, where does the computer go, and all that good stuff. Can't wait to see what everyone links up with!
LeAnne
Hangin' with Mrs. Cooper
My desk is essentially a technology center as it is where by laptop, document camera, speakers, etc are housed. It does offer me a place to store all my teacher manuals under in a crate where your feet should be if you were sitting at desk. Since it is where all the tech stuff is, I actually sit there when giving lesson on the document camera and it still has a couple of drawers to hold items. It is not "just a desk" in the sense that I do lots of teaching using the doc camera. If it wasn't where all the tech stuff was then I would probably think about doing without a desk since that was what I was think when it occurred to me that this was the perfect size for all the tech stuff.
Your post blew my mind. It's my first day of break and I'm pinning the afternoon away getting ideas to make next year better. I have to admit my desk, after August, is a total wreck! I like to think the sign of a good teacher is a cluttered desk…but I really just say that to myself to not feel so bad, haha.
I think if I did get rid of it I'd still need a small table or computer cart. Mostly do computer stuff and grading there. That toolbox idea you posted would pretty much take care of anything in my drawers. I'm going to keep checking back to see pics!
http://www.YouMightBeAFirstGrader.blogspot.com
I'm a Head Start teacher and we are not allowed to have desks. Last year we were stripped of filing cabinets, too! I keep my paperwork in a file box and we have a file thing that hangs on the wall by the door. I admit that it makes it hard to keep things in order for me and I am searching for some organization ideas. I definitely need something like what you have pictured above but I wouldn't have anywhere to keep it. I work with small children and almost everything is a hazard… looking forward to seeing ideas!
I got rid of my teacher desk a few years ago and love not having it. The extra space is amazing! I use my kidney table as my desk. I have shelves built in behind the table so I use those to organize my things. I currently have two of those plastic 3 drawer organizers that hold my two (yes two) printers. I'm going to replace those with a small desk and hide the organizers under the desk. I still have lots of work to do to be organized but no teacher desk was a great start! Good luck!
Greg
http://Www.kindergartensmorgasboard.blogspot.com
Getting rid of my desk was the best thing I ever did! I got a cheap bookshelf and keep most of my desk supplies on it. I also saw the same pin as you and have loved using the toolkit this year. (I keep it on the bookshelf.) I also have 2 two-drawer carts I keep under my kidney table. I throw all the junk that accumulates from the day in one (I clean it out at the end of the day- when I am being good!) I keep all the stuff I need for small groups in the other drawers.
The toolkit is a great idea for the small stuff I would put in a desk. I don't plan to have a teacher desk next year. My room is too small, I never sit at a desk anyway, and it just collects junk. I'd rather have a space for the children for a book nook or listening center. I will have a ten drawer rolling cart for papers and a hanging file crate for student files. My computer would be on a projector cart anyway unless I needed it at my table.
LindaC
I just posted on my decision to keep my desk and then I saw this post. =) I was all set to get rid of mine and then decided in the end to keep it. I do have a large room and it just seems to work better for me. I DID have to do a bit of cleaning up and organizing though. My post does have some visuals (just maybe not what you are looking for.) http://www.thedailycupcake-akindergartenblog.com/2012/06/im-keeping-desk.html
Good luck! I can't wait to see the pics from the linky party. =)
Bobbie
The Daily Cupcake…A Kindergarten Blog
I got rid of my desk and put a chair under a shelf as a spot to collect my "teacher things" and sit once in a while. It worked and took up much less space. Renee
I am going into my 7th year of teaching and am one of a few teachers who still have a desk in my building. I have a small room too. I feel I need my desk for my own sanity. It is like my own little island in the room even if I'm sitting there until the end of the day. The kiddos have the rest of the room to use and I have a small corner for my personal area to keep confidential files away from peeking eyes. I also use it as a reward sometimes for quiet writing and reading.
I don't sit down often, either. But, if I gave my desk away, I'm afraid I would never get it back!
I need to see your room; do you have access to it over the summer? I'd love to visit and give you some feedback! ReadWriteSing
I didn't use a desk at my first school because the room was smaller than me. My new room is huge so I kept the desk. I hung a pocket chart off the back and it's our poetry center. Doubler duty feels better to me! I think you can do it, though!!
When I first started teaching kindergarten I was in a very small room (which I LOVED!) Because it was so small there was no place for a desk and I had to get creative for storing my things. I purchased a rolling cart with different sized drawers. I labeled each drawer (I used an index card and marker – nothing to fancy – 6 years later those index cards are still on the cart!) I made different drawers for different supplies. I purchased 5 stacking trays for homework and notes and labeled them for each day of the week. I used another set of stacking trays (or bins depending on my mood) to organize future/extra work and notes for the teacher/work to be corrected. I placed all of these on a file cabinet or the top of a bookshelf. We are always using technology so I had a small computer cart on wheels – the computer sat on the top with the overhead ELMO and then the projector was on the shelf. By not having a desk I ran out of room very quickly to throw things down and make a mess. My extra work and notes bins because me catch alls BUT once I saw they were beginning to overflow I spent 15 minutes organizing and filing the papers. I started keeping a filing system where I kept one sheet of everything in organized folders and all the rest went in the recycling bin or scrap paper bin. I had a hanging magnetic file folder organizer that I used to organize my student conference notes – each student had a folder. I can look and see if I have any pictures of my old room… but the wall was knocked down and my room expanded a few years ago. I have to say I miss my old room and while I have a desk I use the same systems as i did before but now I have too much room for my piles to get out of hand!