When I was in high school, I gave up my backpack. My backpack was a black hole. Papers were always being trapped at the bottom, and I could never find anything efficiently.
Instead, I replaced my backpack with a shoulder bag or tote, and I’ve never looked back. I carried a shoulder bag through college and continue using one today.
“Teacher bags” have their own special place in school lore. Of the gifts teachers frequently receive, bags are often my favorite.
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My First Shoulder Bag
When I said goodbye to my high school backpack, I replaced it with a Fossil tote. At the time, I was working a part-time job in retail, and I thought I was the coolest because I bought that bag.
My beloved bag had a bright, almost garish print. When I looked it up online, I was directed to several vintage purse dealers. I still have the bag, and it’s going on a summer vacation with me!
While Fossil no longer makes the same bag (and really, all of their prints are very tame now), the closest match seems to be the Hayes Tote. It’s a lovely bag, and I’m sure it’s very nice. However, as I’ve aged and transitioned from student to teacher, my needs have changed. Now, I prefer something with a little more flexibility.
Thirty-One
While I was in college, one of my friends sold Thirty-One bags. Needless to say, I had too many of these bags. These are the ones that have stood the test of time:
- The Signature Tote was a gift from my mom. It’s one of my more professional-looking teacher bags.
- The only Thirty-One bag I’ve ever absolutely destroyed was an Organizing Bag. When I was traveling between classrooms, this was my everyday go-to. As I moved from classroom to classroom, this came with me. After two years of hard use, it gave up the ghost, but I loved it.
- The Utility Tote is maybe the most practical Thirty-One bag. Between my mom and I, we have three that we kind of shuffle back and forth. Currently, I use one utility tote to store by classroom borders; one to store empty binders; and one stays in my car.
Current Favorites
This is such a niche and such an unusual post for me. But I was inspired because I could sing an absolute aria about my current teacher bag.
This Teacher Canvas Tote Bag was a gift from a former colleague. I have to admit that it was not love at first sight. However, I have come to adore this bag. It has a structured bottom, handles, a crossbody piece, outside pockets, and inside pockets. I always feel organized with this bag. It zips, but it never gets too narrow.
My other go-to is not really a bag. Instead, I love my rolling utility cart. My first utility cart lasted about seven years of hard use, so I’m on my second one. When students take books back to the library or when I’ve done serious copying, this cart is there! If you take home work, the three-wheels on the back make it easier to take the cart over curbs, too.
Of the teacher bags on this list, these two are the only ones I would instantly repurchase if they got lost. (Honestly, I might end up repurchasing many of the teacher bags on this list, but this is the only one that I wouldn’t at least pretend to think about.)
Weird Honorable Mentions
I do have a few odd honorable mentions. Even though these may not be my ride-or-die teacher bags, each one has a place in my classroom.
- There will always be a place in my heart (and closet) for a canvas tote bag. I have several canvas bags tucked into my classroom closet. While there are plenty of cute options online, this one from Kate Spade is a favorite. (I just realized that it also comes in XL!)
- Reusable grocery bags are such an everyday staple. They’re in my pantry, my car, my classroom. When it’s time to restock my classroom snacks, this is what I use.
- Similarly, giant Ikea bags are a favorite. I particularly love these for weirdly shaped items that I’m carrying to school.
- I also have a fair size stash of Ziploc bags in my desk drawer (both the disposable and the reusable kinds). I just didn’t think I could do a post about teacher bags without mentioning the most basic classroom staple.
