DESK-IN-A-BAG

PROBLEM: 

I get to the teacher workroom or sit down to work at home only to realize I don't have everything I need! It is frustrating and exhausting to keep going back to my classroom or office for things I need. 

SOLUTION: At the beginning of the year (or whenever you have time!) put together this "Desk in a Bag". You will say "go me" later in the year when you find things in there you need and don't have to go hunting for them!

Step 1:  Get a handbag organizer, or if you have less stuff you can get away with a zipper pouch:

• You can order a handbag organizer at Amazon for under $10.00 by clicking here.  It comes in LOTS of colors, including many appropriate for men!  Medium is the size I prefer (my iPad even fits). 

• If you need one immediately, or need a smaller one, grab one like this at the dollar store or big box store:

• They are both fine, and I used the smaller size for many years before getting the larger one.

Step 2:  Gather mini sizes of the things you normally use at your desk.  You probably already have a lot of these things. Click here to download this checklist of what to have in your bag:

See my Pinterest Board called Desk in a Bag for Amazon links to most products:

Step 3: Enjoy the convenience and the fact that planning ahead makes you a better "teacher with ADHD"!

FIND YOUR STUFF AND SAVE YOUR SANITY: PICK A COLOR

PROBLEM: Do you always misplace things in your classroom and spend precious instructional & planning time looking for those items? How can you keep better track of your "stuff"?

SOLUTION: Save your sanity and find your "stuff" by choosing TEN THINGS INYOUR color. I have been doing this for a few years now and it saves LOTS of time when I'm looking for my cellphone, plan book, computer, pen, etc. The kids even help me because they know to look for things that are hot pink. I can also spot things at home, in the teachers' lounge, during a meeting, etc.

How: Pick a color that is not a dominant color in your room décor. My color is hot pink and everything that belongs only to me is in this color. My room colors tend toward primary colors, so hot pink works!

What: Here's a list of what I recommend getting in "your" color - I wanted to provide the quickest way to get these all in one place, so please note these    are Amazon affiliate links, but you don't have to buy these on Amazon! See below for ideas of other places to buy these:

1. Cellphone case (this one is for an iPhone SE)
2. Planner/Planning binder & Post-its
3. Writing instruments (pens, pencils, sharpies)
4. Reading glasses
5. Computer case (for a Macbook Air 13", or for a Samsung Chromebook)
6. Colorful clipboards for attendance, lesson plans, seating charts
7. Water bottle
8. "Desk in a bag" bag (see separate post on this)
9. Labeler, labeler case and colorful label tape
10. Lunch bag (VERY easy to spot in the teachers' lounge fridge - comes in many colors, including for men)

How much $: As of this writing, the total for all of these things is around $250.  I know that's a lot for a teacher, so try to acquire these things over the course of weeks or months. I just replaced things gradually.

Where: You don't have to buy these on Amazon. You can find a lot of them at garage sales, Dollar Tree, Office Depot, Staples, Walmart, Target, etc.