Editable Classroom Labels — Cactus and Donut Theme

Raise your hand if you’re a Type A kind of teacher!

Well, when you’re trying to keep an elementary classroom in reasonable shape, you kind of have to get a tad Type A with it. Kids can be a little (or a lot) chaotic, so it’s up to us and our powers of organization to maintain order!

I know I can’t be the only one who geeks out a little for great organization. School supply season signifies the coming days in the classroom, but I can’t help but get excited for all the new patterns, folders, and storage supplies. Over the years, I’ve gotten better and better at figuring out exactly what supplies I actually need, and editable classroom labels are absolutely one of those needs.

When it comes to labels in the classroom, I say the more the better. Sure, everything looks a lot neater and nicer with a label, but they are more functional than anything. Labels are my saving grace when I have several different bins that all look the same from the outside. Otherwise, I’d be digging through each bin and wasting time every week!

One of my favorite things to use labels on are my center bins. Since I have so many activities, I need a great organized place to store them all. Center bins are essentially where I keep my collection of different activities for each type of center. From ELA to math, we cover it all in center time!

These Donut Center Bin Labels and Cactus Center Bin Labels are hands down the cutest way to organize your center materials. Whether you are going for a dessert or desert theme, these labels will fit in so well with lots of classroom aesthetics. Younger students always love cute touches and themes, and so do visiting parents. And you know I couldn’t miss the chance to work donuts into these labels!

How can you use these labels for classroom organization?

Personally, I use my labels for classroom centers to store my activities by subject matter. The prewritten labels are exactly how I designate each bin in my own room! Each label corresponds with a different 2nd grade standard. For example, there is one for geometry, adjectives & adverbs, verbs, and multiplication.

This helps me know precisely where to go when I need an activity for a certain subject. If you are looking for a way to sort your center bins based on 2nd grade standards like I did, the prewritten labels would perfectly match your needs!

I’ve also included labels that have the months of the year. This is a great way to block out which activities need to be used every month. Each month’s bin might contain the activities that correspond with the standards covered, the holidays that occur, and anything else that you need to hit on.

Not a 2nd grade teacher? Need to organize your bins by something other than standards or months? No worries! These labels are totally editable. You can customize them to sort your bins by holiday, types of books, and more.

If you want a longer lasting label, I would recommend laminating yours. You can use tape or velcro to secure the labels onto your bins. Velcro is a great option for anyone who wants to move their labels around throughout the year.

What are the best bins for center organization?

Good question! You will want something sturdy to last through the years. It’s also a good idea to know what sizes will fit on your room’s shelves. It would be a pain to have to return bins that don’t work. The ones I chose were the Sterilite 16.5’L x 13″W x 6 5/8″H. These dimensions fit perfectly in my space! I found mine at Walmart, but you could definitely find similar ones on Amazon or at the Container Store. If you already have bins that work for you and all that’s missing is the label, there’s no need to spend extra on new ones! Simply use what you’ve got, print as many labels as necessary, and stick them on your existing bins.

Conclusion

As teachers, organization is a must in the classroom. It helps us stay efficient as we go about our days and keeps an otherwise hectic classroom nice and tidy. I always strive to keep my organization and labels as cute as they are functional. Even better if they tie into a theme! These Donut Center Bin Labels and Cactus Center Bin Labels are absolutely adorable and so easy to edit to suit your needs. Use them for centers, months of the year, or any other organization needs!

How does organization help you be a better teacher? What are your favorite organization strategies in the classroom? I’d love to hear about your tips and tricks!