Saturday, September 1, 2012

B.Y.O.O. #3 Ditching the Desk - lessons on organization for teachers


I've mentioned my old desk before, and there is valid good reason I did. I loved my desk. L-o-o-o-v-e-d it.
It was circa 1940, wooden, gorgeous.  I so truly, truly loved my desk.

But lurking within that deep love was a hidden poison, a toxicity so great it would nearly detail my teaching.
(ok, so that may be a little dramatic)

I'm a "Desk Hoarder". I never knew my illness had a name until last week when my co-worker lovingly threw it out there. A "Desk Hoarder".

No one wants to be a hoarder. They make TV shows about that.

The definition of a Desk Hoarder is:
Noun: a person who puts various things into desk drawers, either categorically or randomly, until the drawers are too full of everything to use or find said items.
Proper Noun: What a person can be called when they hoard in their desk; usage: "Have you seen The Desk Hoarder's classroom? I asked her for some tape and she disappeared for 30 minutes inside her desk. She came out with some Rolaids, string and plastic eggs, but The Desk Hoarder never did find her tape. *tsk tsk*".

So that's me.

BUT.....I came up with a solution. It wasn't my idea, and it isn't a new idea. I believe it's origins go back to sometime in the '90s.

I ditched the desk and got a table. I went to IKEA, and got this sweet baby:


I paid 20 slim buck-a-roos for it. You can order one here for yourself. IKEA rocks!

That gave me a work surface/computer home. What about all the drawers? My Tools? My STUFF?

 It all went here:
and here:

I actually have one more larger 3-drawer organizer off to the side, plus a little baby one.

Everything has a home; a home for everything.

The key for me was cutie labels. I used to have plain little ol' white Avery labels, but I wasn't truly satisfied with them until they looked, well, cutie. A better and more important word might be professional.

Here are some other ways I've used this label kit:


Aren't they amazing printed on Astrobrights?


I have these babies everywhere, and use them on everything. My room design is clean, consistent and professional.

Want them? I've posted them today as a FREEBIE. Watch out, they won't be free forever.


Have you been organizing, too? Please share by linking up below.


2 comments:

  1. You are so funny! I love your Ikea table and all of your organizing ideas! Thanks for sharing!

    I am a new follower! I'm going to check out the link for the table! I need one for home too.

    Jeannine
    http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/jmoriconi

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    Replies
    1. You can mix and match the tops with the legs (did I mention that?)

      Thanks so much for stopping by! It's nice to meet you!!!

      Heather

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