Elementary, Dr. Watson…

Easy for a Sherlock to say, not so much for an elementary school teacher. Whether you've been in the trenches for a while or you're new (or new-ish) to the teaching world, there are some lessons everyone could stand to learn. And it may not be detective work, but on some days, handy tips like these ones can make all the difference. So grab your magnifying glass, and away we go.

1. A change of clothes can mitigate sticky—or uncomfortable—situations.

In our list of tips for kindergarten teachers, we recommended keeping a spare change of clothes on hand for children who have accidents. And come to think of it, that's not such a bad idea for elementary teachers to consider, too.

However, the person we really think you should keep a spare change of clothes around for when you're teaching the early years isn't your wayward desk-wetter (at least, by third grade, we hope not). It's you.

Grades 1-5 can be messy, and you never know when you might need to change a shirt or a pair of pants following a painting accident or a snack time spill. Comfy shoes for those moments when narrow-toed loafers or high heels (super-fly though they are) start to irritate your overworked feet can be nice, too. Comfort is key, particularly in stressful moments, so do what you can to ensure yours.

2. Papers with no names do not have to be the bane of your existence.

Students of all ages forget to put their names on papers, but this is especially true of younger students who haven't yet gotten wise to the drill. Save yourself oodles of class time—and teach your students to put their names on their work—by having a dedicated bin, board, or clothesline where you can stack, tack, or pin papers that have no names.

When you hand work back, encourage students who didn't receive their work to check the no-name zone, find their papers or projects, add their names, and resubmit them. Sometimes that special space (and, for kids, the fear of getting tacked onto the anonymity line) can be just what it takes to ingrain the name-writing habit for good.

3. If you have don't have time to talk with other teachers, you need to make time to talk with other teachers.

It can be tempting to go it alone. After all, there's so much to do, and so little time to do it all, that finding time to chat with other teachers about what's going on in your classroom and theirs may seem impossible. In the end, though, it will save you not only time, but also a measure of sanity.

For one thing, you're bound to get a few good ideas from other teachers—veterans and newbies alike—who are facing similar challenges, teaching similar content, and working with similar students. And for another, simply knowing that you are not alone and that you have a few peers whose brains you can pick (and whom you can turn to for empathy) will help you feel more confident and supported in what can sometimes be a difficult and isolating job.

4. Pencils in an elementary classroom are like gasoline in the original Mad Max movie: hard to come by and constantly getting scooped up and used by someone else.

We've heard this from numerous elementary teachers, and we've also heard a few great tips for making pencils last without having to visit your local office supplies store every other week. Here are a couple of ideas:

• Use painter's tape (or masking, if that's simpler) to label one pencil for each of your students. Write the student's name on the tape and apply it to the top of the pencil. At the beginning of each day, pass out the pencils, and at the end of each day, collect them again. You'll still experience some losses, but not nearly as many.
• Attach "pencil cups" (à la this Tricks of the Trade post) to each student desk and create a policy and a process to ensure that each pencil cup always has two pencils, present and in good condition.
• Institute a "Great Pencil Challenge" like the enterprising teacher behind Ladybug's Teacher Files. Nothing like the word "challenge" to keep your supplies around.

5. Get into the habit of writing the next day's schedule on the board at the end of each school day.

Not only will having the schedule already on the board when you come in each morning make you feel prepared and confident about your day—it will also help your students feel prepared and confident. And having the schedule written out in advance will also help keep everyone on task and ensure that you have advance notice of special events and out-of-the-ordinary happenings. No more "I forgot the test was today" excuses.

Bonus! It's worth your time to scroll through the clever and creative tips in this BuzzFeed article. It includes many innovative uses for binder clips, great strategies for containing paint and minimizing messes, and a few excellent bathroom pass ideas. And what could be better than a good bathroom pass idea? Our thoughts exactly.

And, yes, we just recommended BuzzFeed.