Organizing Your Classroom

 

This section of Teacher's Zine is dedicated to ideas which will help us in the classroom. From starting a class library to organizing our class. If you have any ideas please send them in to share with fellow educators.

 Organize Your DESK:

Need to get organized? Start with the top of your desk. Pull up the trash can, manila file folders and a marker then divide your desk into four sections. Throw away all junk mail, label file folders and file away only papers you need. Put all pens and pencils in your top drawer (if they work). Work your way through all four sections until you are done. If you have gathered student papers which have not been graded and are beyond 2 months old, FILE THEM INTO YOUR TRASH CAN!

 If an item is not used daily, don't put it on your desk.

Get a 3 or 4 inch Binder to to keep all of your important "stuff" together.  Binder dividers can include Schedule, Lesson Plans, Memos, Technology Usernames and Passwords, Technology Program User's Guides, Parent Contact Log and Curriculum Guides. This should be the only binder on your desk:-)

Use one of your desk drawers for your paper clips, stapler, markers, tape dispenser, pens and pencils. Your desk will be uncluttered.

Organize your Filing Cabinets:

I have seen teachers who have collected so much "stuff" they needed four or more filing cabinets! Here is the problem, too many copies of the same worksheet and stuff which is so old that it is not used. Go through each file folder, if for some reason you have more than 2 copies of the same worksheet, throw away the extras or share with your coworkers. File it with like worksheets, better yet, scan in PDF format and keep it in your computer. If you still have the "purple" duplicating copy workbooks which have the answers on them, it is time to throw those out. I think the new copy machines are here to stay. Besides, I'm sure that your campus doesn't even have the old "purple" copier. Stuff you have not used in the past 2 years should either be passed on to someone else, recycled or  thrown away.

 

Always prepare your lunch the night before, it will save you time and money.

 

Eat lunch in your classroom instead of in the teacher's lounge, you won't have to listen to all of the negative talk!

 

Complete your lesson plans for the following week by Thursday, it will free up weekend time.

 

Check with your principal or secretary to find out about the faculty meeting agenda, so you can be prepared with suggestions and solutions.

 

If you want to be left alone during planning time, turn off your classroom lights and others will think you are not in your room. Imagine all of the work you can get done!

 

 Organize your classroom:

If you don't have enough closet storage space, you can put place you boxes or plastic bins under a table then use a table skirt around the table to cover the boxes.  It makes everything look nice.  Look for table skirts at your local Dollar store.

Keep a plastic dustpan and small broom or brush to scoop up math manipulatives, puzzle pieces, etc..

 

At the end of the school day have a 5 Minute Pickup Sprint, set your timer and have students put away their clutter for the day.

 

Label storage places such as shelves, closets, and drawers. This way students know where classroom items belong.

 

Manage your Paper Desk Piles. Designate one spot for important mail which will prevent it from being scattered all over the place. When you get "stuff" in your teacher mailbox, sort it right there. Trash junk mail and take only useful or informational mail to your classroom!

 

Get a handle on your everyday challenges of who-what-where-when with a computer calendar or organizer. (I use iCal on my Macintosh computer at school. PCs come with Windows Calendar.) Note all meetings, times, locations and to-do's. Having everything in one location will eliminate frantic searches for your post-it notes.

 

Use those old 4.5 floppy disk storage units to store CD software, they are the perfect size!

 

Do you want to organize your classroom? Well, you should try color coding everything. It really works! Color code by subject areas. For example, use blue book covers for math books, students all have a blue notebook folder for math work and all math assignments are turned into the blue bin or box by your desk. All of your math handouts are in a blue folder on your desk and you won't have to look through all of your handout stacks to find them! Talk about saving time!

 

For your color coding, I also color code paper copying, especially for worksheets and homework, when you are looking for a specific worksheet for grading you can go to the color pile.... Contributed by Mrs. B

 

Do you need a class library, but don't have much to spend? Buy books for your class library at thrift stores, Goodwill stores, Salvation Army Stores or garage sales.

 

Look for websites which gives teachers freebies such as posters, stickers, books, maps, supplies and teacher guides. Many of these websites are listed in Teacher's Freebies.