Teacher Bag Organization

Week 7 of the Clutter-Free Classroom is all about teacher bags. 

BEFORE:Here is my bag:  It is a LARGE bag that I throw or shove a LOT of things into.  Anybody else fill their bag each night with the intention of getting back to it, and then losing the momentum to get it out:-)  This happens to me repeatedly....it is better to just stay at school into the evening hours and get it done there!

The bag is a Vera Bradley bag (which is unusual for me, I generally find her prints too busy.  I LOVE that this print had little birds all over it...since I call my class my chickadees, it was meant to be! 

It has lots of POTENTIAL to be organized, if I would stop randomly tossing things into it.  This is my attempt to corral the mess that is my bag.





Inside I usually have a professional book, Lucy Calkins curriculum, Investigations math curriculum, possibly a picture book.  I also have papers to look through and my laptop.  And the binder of all things important:-)  There are also camera cords and batteries, pencils, post-its, all kinds of little things.

AFTER:  First, using a colored binder clip and a Sharpie, I labeled each pocket.  And put the matching item inside.

I put all the pens, markers, highlighters, and pencils in a zippered pouch.  This is also a good idea to save your bag from disastrous ink explosions:-)

Finally I put an expanding file folder to sort the curriculum and papers by subject.












And finished!  The bag still doesn't weigh any less....but now at least I can find what I need without going through every pocket first:-)
Happy Saturday,
Laurie
P.S.  Don't forget about my give away...