Managing the Mess

Managing the Mess Hi, I’m Katie Jarvis, a K–6 elementary art educator sharing art room management, routines, and systems for teachers.

All content reflects my personal experience and views and does not represent any school or district.

These are the kindergarten art supplies that have truly survived my little artists over the years 😂🎨Comment LITTLE ARTIS...
05/27/2026

These are the kindergarten art supplies that have truly survived my little artists over the years 😂🎨

Comment LITTLE ARTISTS and I’ll send you the links 💕
I also have my editable K-6 inventory and ordering template over on my TPT!

05/25/2026

Comment END and I’ll send you my FREE End of the Year Art Class Checklist ☀️💕

Future you will be VERY thankful for a little prep before summer break 😅 I made this free checklist to help elementary art teachers organize supplies, prep for back to school, and make the end of the school year feel a little less overwhelming.

Comment END and I’ll send you my FREE 7-page End of the Year Art Class Checklist 💕The end of the school year is a lot 😅 ...
05/24/2026

Comment END and I’ll send you my FREE 7-page End of the Year Art Class Checklist 💕

The end of the school year is a lot 😅 My last day isn’t until June 17th, so I’m right there with you! Taking a little time now to prep and organize really helps future you when back-to-school season rolls around.

This free checklist includes end-of-year cleanup tips, inventory reminders, student helper ideas, back-to-school prep, and clickable resource links for elementary art teachers.

Elementary art teachers… a little end-of-year prep now can save SO much stress when you walk back into your classroom ne...
05/20/2026

Elementary art teachers… a little end-of-year prep now can save SO much stress when you walk back into your classroom next school year ☀️

These are some of my favorite ways to stay organized before summer break after 25 years of teaching elementary art and Managing the Mess 🎨

Comment SUMMER for more end-of-year art teacher tips and my YouTube playlist with even more ideas for organizing your art room before summer!

*Link in commentsTrying to make the end of the school year a little less chaotic? 😅 I put together a playlist of my favo...
05/18/2026

*Link in comments

Trying to make the end of the school year a little less chaotic? 😅 I put together a playlist of my favorite end-of-the-year art teacher videos all in one place — packing up the art room, inventory and ordering, easy end-of-the-year projects, organization tips, and more. Hopefully it helps make your end of the year feel a little more stress-free and organized 💕

Comment ORDER and I’ll send you my editable inventory + ordering template for art teachers 🎨📦 I’m also sharing the exac...
05/16/2026

Comment ORDER and I’ll send you my editable inventory + ordering template for art teachers 🎨📦

I’m also sharing the exact supplies I reorder every year for my elementary art room, plus some of the systems that help me stay more organized during ordering season. From paint and paper to glue, markers, weaving supplies, and my favorite classroom tools… these are the things I keep coming back to year after year because they actually hold up in a busy art room 💕

05/14/2026

Things I say in my art room every single day that would sound completely unhinged out of context 😅

Art teachers… what’s something completely wild you said today that somehow felt normal in the moment? 😂⬇️

05/12/2026

One of the biggest time savers in my art room has been labeling student artwork by seat number instead of alphabetically. It makes sorting, passing back projects, grading, and hanging artwork SO much easier.

Comment LABELS and I’ll send you the video walkthrough plus the editable labels I use.

Elementary art teacher horror movies 🎬😂Honestly, the mystery moisture and wet paintings stuck together might be my final...
05/09/2026

Elementary art teacher horror movies 🎬😂

Honestly, the mystery moisture and wet paintings stuck together might be my final straw.

What art room horror movie did I miss? 👀🎨

Part 2 👀You all had a LOT to say on part 1, so clearly art teachers have strong opinions about supplies 😂These are some ...
05/07/2026

Part 2 👀

You all had a LOT to say on part 1, so clearly art teachers have strong opinions about supplies 😂

These are some more art room tools and systems I would skip… and what I’d choose instead after 20+ years of teaching art.

Are we agreeing?
Or are some of these about to start an argument in the comments? 👀😂

Want the supply links from this post?
Comment THIS and I’ll send them to you.

Looking for the gradebook and printable labels? Search Managing the Mess on TPT.

The clay cutter isn’t on Amazon, so message me if you want that link 😉

05/05/2026

Be honest… was this you today? 😅👏

If cleanup feels chaotic, I’ve got you.
Comment CLEAN and I’ll send you my best tips 💕

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