Getting Your Classroom Organized

As a new school year commences, I have begun the task of organizing my classroom for the school year. I have always been a fairly organized person. My parents and siblings can all attest to that. But organizing a classroom can seem quite an overwhelming task. Honestly, it takes several years of experience to even know the minute details of your instruction and classroom that needs to be organized. Then it takes a series of trial-and-error attempts to perfect your system.

Every teacher and teaching situation is unique and there are factors that have to be independently considered. However, there are some tips that I would offer my brand-new as well as veteran colleagues in organizing their classrooms.

1. Attack your task of organizing in layers. Conquer the main things first (i.e. set-up of student desks, location and position of teacher desk and work area, bulletin boards, etc.). Then consider school and class procedures (i.e. where should you place your school/class rules, time-out area, clipboard/roster for fire drill for easy access). Then consider your instructional strategies, storage areas, supplies, learning centers, etc.).

2. Organize all forms, charts, and directories into designated folders or notebooks. and place them in a convenience location for yourself.

3. Keep a calendar for your own professional deadlines, meetings, events, etc. Make sure this calendar is posted or kept in one area consistently for easy access.

4. Establish a routine to throw away unnecessary papers regularly. Personally, I do this at least one day a week. A messy desk and work area breeds confusion, frustration, and feeling overwhelming. Keeping your area neat gives you the feeling that you are in control, not the other way around.

5. Work on staying focus on one task as much as possible. That is nearly impossible for teachers, since we have to be master multi-taskers, however starting and finishing a task before moving on to the next task reduces the likelihood of becoming unorganized.