City Teacher/Country Teacher: Teacher Totes

I am always interested to see what other teachers carry as a work bag. They are like magic portals into the world of educators!

When I first began teaching in NYC, I thought it was more important to be fashionable than comfortable. Little did I realize that schlepping work back and forth on the subway in my fancy designer bag would end in serious shoulder pain! Sometimes it is so painful I can't even pull a shirt over my head :(

I realized the importance of making sure that I am carrying the right bag that will fit all of my teacher tools and not leave me permanently lopsided! Backpacks and cross-body bags are definitely the most friendly. When I have a lot of stuff to carry (data binders, TE's, etc.), I use my favorite Cath Kidston backpack that I bought in Notting Hill during a summer trip to London. I try to remember to keep it in my car in case I have to bring anything extra home from school that won't fit into my regular bag.

Right now, when I don't have a lot of stuff to carry to/from school, I am partial to my Longchamp tote. It is foldable, water-resistant, and roomy. I got mine monogrammed for a little something extra, since it is a pretty basic bag.

Something that I have started doing recently that has been a lifesaver for me since I do switch work bags every now and again is to store the important, smaller things in little pouches that I can transfer from one bag to another. I have one pouch that has advil, lip balm (Burt's Bees, natch. I'm obsessed with the new coconut-pear flavor), band-aids, and gum. Another pouch has a back-up iphone battery, extra ear-buds (you never know when you might need to wait somewhere and could be listening to an audiobook or podcast), and some pens/pencils. I like using LeSportsac pouches, because like the Longchamp, they are durable and water-resistant.

Obviously, I am always on the lookout for the next best teacher tote! Here are a few options I have rounded up!