Caddies are the perfect mix of functionality and fun colors, and classroom caddies are one of many teacher tools that can make organization easier. Whether you prefer to use the caddies for arts and crafts or for manipulatives and games, there are plenty of options to consider. We asked teachers how they like to use classroom caddies and collected some of the best responses for you.
Classroom Caddy Uses and Inspiration
There’s no real wrong way to use a caddy, but if you’re looking for new ways to organize classroom materials and tools with colorful caddies, check out these great ideas from real teachers.
Staple Supplies
Regardless of the classroom size or the number of students inside it, there are certain tools that you need to have on hand and at the ready. Pencils, scissors, markers, and erasers are just a few of the items that teachers said they kept in their caddies.
“I would have these filled with everything they need for close reading—note cards, highlighters, and post-its. They can annotate the text while using the post-its to mark significant places in the text.” – TIffany L.
“Pencils, scissors, crayola markers (thick and thin), erasers, crayola crayons, tape, post it pads, glue bottles, and glue sticks. The caddies would be used as center stations and have all the materials the kids need for the centers.” – Imee N.
“Each child gets one in my pre-k classroom with his/her picture on it- filled in main area with skinny and fat markers, one small area has 1 pencil, 1 scissor 1 glue stick and 1 glue bottle, second small area has crayons. Love using them. Children can independently get them out and put them away.” – Patsy C.
Arts & Crafts
When it comes to arts and crafts, it’s great for students to have tools to fuel their creativity. These teachers left some great ideas for how they use caddies to put creative tools in the hands of their students.
“It would be great to have a set for fine motor activities as well. Clay, Popsicle sticks and scissors. Beads, pipe cleaners and more clay; Clothes pins and cotton balls etc. I can think of so many ideas! These bins are so handy in a classroom!” – Cherri W.
“I would fill them with different grade pencils, pastels, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, and other different kinds of drawing supplies. And a set for different painting mediums as well as different brushes.” – Sol K.
“Individual art caddies for each group in my drama class room. Markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, scissors, regular pencils, erasers, and maybe a few crafty supplies for creating set-pieces, costume pieces and scenery.” – Meredith G.
Centers & Manipulatives
Students love to use their hands, and caddies are a great way to organize tools for station activities or STEAM learning. Check out the ways these teachers are using caddies to make hands-on learning easier and more organized.
“These would be perfect to hold all of my students STEM supplies- tape, scissors, hole punches, rulers plates, string, etc. This would allow them to move from the table to the floor so easily.” – Rachel L.
“They would be great for dry erase markers for my dry erase boards, clocks for center math skills, scissors and glue for sequencing activities, alphabetizing strips, rulers for measuring activities, dice for probability, plus pencils, highlighters, and pens for reading activities, and the list could go on forever.” – Dana W.
“I use these for mobile writing centers. Inside each one would be all the supplies kids need for their writer’s notebooks — sharpened pencils, colored pencils, erasers, post it notes, binder paper, scissors for cutting and arranging their paragraphs, and small rulers.” – Judy B.
