At-Home School Organization Ideas

Many of us are coming to terms with the reality that school will look a little different this year for our kids, whether it’s time divided between the classroom and home, virtual learning or even homeschooling – all which will require a certain level of school organization ideas at home!

With our oldest daughter entering Kindergarten this year, I️’ve been really bummed out that this school year is not going to be “normal.” After we found out that our district chose 100% virtual learning, I️ got to work researching private schools, charter schools and homeschool options for her. I️ have heard some not-so-great things about how our district intends to handle virtual learning, and with her being brand new to school, I️ didn’t think it would be an ideal option for her. I️ also preferred her having a traditional school experience, so we applied to a charter school in the area and we’re so fortunate she was accepted (especially on such short notice!).

With that said, she will still be spending some time doing school at home – it’s going to be a 50/50 split between classroom and virtual for now – but I️ think having the real Kindergarten experience will be invaluable for her. I️ realized that we don’t currently have a great set-up for completing school assignments or homework, so I️’m now on the hunt for great school organization ideas for the upcoming year! I️ thought I️’d share some of my top picks, since I️ know many of you are in the same boat with having to equip your home with classroom essentials for your kids.

My Favorite School Organization Ideas for Kids

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When I️ first planned our home office remodel, I️ didn’t know I️ was going to be sharing it with others…but now, in addition to my husband (who has been working from home since March), it looks like we need to make some space in there for our rising Kindergartner as well! To be honest, my husband and I️ both move around with our laptops and spend some time in the kitchen, the office, the dining room, etc., but with two other kids at home, I️ know my oldest will need a quiet space to concentrate and that’s why I️’m planning to turn a corner of the office into an area where she can do her schoolwork.

We have this teeny IKEA kids’ table that the girls use for crafting and coloring, but we wanted something a little more durable and bigger. We actually went to IKEA last night and picked up this table/bench (they had it set up as a kid desk in-store and it was the perfect size!) and kid chairs.

I️’ve been wanting one of these rolling carts for a while, and I️ think it will be perfect for school organization – think: pencils, markers, crayons, paper, scissors, etc. Here’s a great post to create a homework station with this type of cart, and another cute idea, too!

I️ love these hooks for hanging backpacks – the girls’ room is pretty small, so it will probably be best for her to keep her backpack in the office or mudroom anyways for easy access. PS – I️ heard this tip prior to the pandemic, but it’s even more valuable now – spray down their backpack with disinfectant as soon as you walk in the door from school! I️’ll be stocking up (if I️ can find any!).

Since we’ll have to keep up with a mix of in-person and virtual learning, it’ll be key to have a calendar in plain sight to keep track of the week. I️’m thinking a magnetic dry-erase calendar on the fridge will be helpful for us and if there’s room, I️’ll also try to list our weekly meal plan! These dry-erase markers will help fit the most text in each calendar block.

I️ saw this hack on Pinterest a while ago and thought it would be a great idea to implement. Just pick up a hanging clothes organizer, add weekday decals, and have your kids pick out their outfits for the upcoming week on Sunday. My daughter will actually be wearing a uniform to school, so most of the stress around picking clothes will be eliminated! I️ still think this would be a great way to keep track of all of her uniform options each week so she won’t have to dig through her dresser each morning.

I️ haven’t ventured much into letting my girls’ prep their own meals and snacks, but I️ think it will be good for them to start trying! I️ need to move some things around in our kitchen so we can designate a drawer/cabinet within their reach for plates and cups and maybe a few pantry organization baskets to hold snacks for easy grab and go. On that note, I️ also want to be better about food prep for the week ahead (washing and slicing fruit/veggies, etc.). PS – we love these lunchboxes and water bottles for school!

I️n general, a bit of organization at home can go a long way, especially as the school year begins and parents have to juggle work, school and extracurriculars. Hopefully this list inspired a few at-home school organization ideas for you!

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