A classroom is a home away from home for both teachers and students, and just like our homes, sometimes our classrooms need a little redecorating to keep things fresh. If you're lucky enough to have a budget for next year that allows you to retire that old bookcase for an updated one or splurge on a brand new storage system, check out these innovative classroom furniture pieces you'll want to add to your wish list.
1. Exercise Ball Chair
Whether you have a student with ADHD or one who simply has the wiggles, a Runtz Ball Chair can help students bounce their sillies out and focus on assignments. The Runtz chair is ergonomic and designed with an anti-burst exercise ball, so even your most active students can't break it.
2. Storage Cart
The Blue Hills Studio Multi-Color Double Storage Cart, is the ultimate classroom piece for organization. Label the drawers and use them to store math games, fast finisher activities or daily assignments by subject. The cart has swivel casters, so you can move it around the classroom when needed, but the wheels lock, so you won't find it rolling away when you want it to stay put.
3. Big, Bright Area Rug
There's nothing like a rug to make your classroom feel warm and inviting. The StyleHaven Area Rug will enliven your reading nook with a pop of color and make kids look forward to sitting down with a good book.
4. Ergonomic Bean Bag Chair
Another welcome addition to your reading nook is a beanbag chair. The Majestic Home Goods Bean Bag Chair is not only fun to look at with its vibrant polka-dot pattern, it's also ergonomic. As an added bonus, it has a machine-washable slipcover that's made with durable indoor/outdoor fabric — a must for classrooms with young kids where sticky hands and spills can't be avoided.
5. Standing Desk
Sometimes students need to think on their feet — literally! Just like office workers, students reap health and productivity benefits from using standing desks. The Safeco Adjustable-Height Stand-Up Workstation can be used as your classroom computer center or as a study-carrel alternative. It's easy to change the height so you won't have students standing on tiptoes or hunched over.
6. Book Cart
A book cart is a versatile substitute for a regular bookcase. Sandusky® Book Cart allows students to browse from all four sides, which helps avoid traffic jams at the bookshelf. It includes nine large eco-friendly storage tubs made from 100 percent recycled materials and locking casters to keep it from sliding even when bumped by a student with an armful of books.
7. Big Book Easel
It's always a challenge to find a suitable place to store big books. With the Wood Designs Big Book Easel, you can not only display your big books on the easel side, but also conveniently store up to five big books on the dowel side. If your classroom is tight on space, it can also fold flat for easy storage.
8. Storage Shelving Unit With Bins
Organize and store all your classroom's puzzles, games and books in Wood Designs See-All Storage's 12 multi-colored cubby trays. The hidden casters make it easy to move the unit around your classroom when needed.
9. Modular Sensory Table With Lid
The ECR4Kids 8-Station Sand and Water Play Table is a modular sensory table that's totally customizable — it can be connected into several configurations and is adjustable to three heights. Let each child have his or her own station, or fill each basin with different sensory materials and have students rotate around the table to experience a range of hands-on exploration. You'll love that it has removable basins for easy draining and cleaning, as well as individual translucent lids to keep the unit clean when not in use.