5 Teacher Desk Alternatives to Try Right Now
The perfectly organized teacher desk, complete with an apple, might exist in stock images, but we all know it's a far cry from reality. In fact, most teachers we know don't even have a traditional desk. "I had a desk, but I never sat at it. I mostly used it for storage," says teacher Jen Bianchi. "Once I got rid of it, it opened up so much room."
So why are so many educators opting to lose the traditional desk? More space and better collaboration are the top reasons, but teachers also told us they just weren't sitting at and using their desks anymore. Now we know you still need a place to grade papers, meet with students, and do lesson planning, so we found five great alternatives. If you've been thinking about giving up your desk, try one of these ideas instead.
1. Get Mobile With a Desk on Wheels
Put something on wheels and you'll instantly gain mobility. This holds true for a teacher's desk too. We like this computer cart/mobile desk, which is perfect for teachers who mostly use a laptop in the classroom. You might have to dock it near a power outlet, but this style will also allow you to unplug and move around as needed.
2. Lose Your Desk Completely
Is your desk just collecting things? Think about getting rid of it or repurposing it like teacher Sarah Donovan did. "I put my desk in the closet, and I use it as a shelf," says Donovan. "I realized I never sat at my desk except between classes and after school, so I just sit at a student's desk or classroom table instead."
Intrigued?
Try it for a week. You don't have to completely move it out of your classroom. Just try not to use it and see if you miss it. You might be surprised just how little time you spend there. You can find creative storage solutions like the one pictured at left to hold most of the items that are in or on your desk.
3. Keep It as Simple as Possible
Now not all teachers embrace the "no desk" concept. "I have a desk and couldn't work without it," says teacher Lisa Elischberger. "It's my home base for before and after school."
You don't have to get rid of your desk completely, but you can still move away from the big and bulky desks that have been in classrooms for decades. We like the simple design of this desk. It's small and basic, and if you're the kind of teacher who doesn't like all that clutter, it might just be the thing you need. If you're thinking, "Great, but where do I put all my stuff?" then maybe it's time to invest in a rolling storage cart.
4. Convert Your Sitting Desk to a Standing One
Study after study has touted the benefits of using a standing desk, which include better posture and even a reduced risk of cancer (seriously!), plus here are some of the other benefits mentioned in the article.
If you're able to go all-in and buy a new desk, we like the one pictured at left. It was designed for students, but we think it's perfect for teachers too. If you need to make your current setup work or you have less to spend, try a desktop conversion option. These just sit on your current desk and elevate everything to a standing position.
5. Try a Collaboration Station
Kidney table, kidney table, kidney table. Teacher after teacher told us this would be their choice when it comes to having a desk in their classroom. "It also works as a dual space where my students come to meet me for small group or they can use it to work with a partner," says Diana Beachy. "I just put cubbies behind it so I can store all my personal items. It's awesome to have a shared space with my students."
You can find all sorts of kidney tables available, including colorful ones like the blue one or even options on wheels. The nice thing about these tables is that they don't take up a lot of space, yet they have a lot of surface area to work with. Careful, though: It's not a challenge to fill it up. Try to make it a goal to start with an empty surface every day, and you'll definitely maximize your productivity.
Written by Stacy Tornio. Stacy Tornio is a senior editor with WeAreTeachers.
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