At the halfway point of the school year, many teachers take time to reflect on what’s working and what’s not working in their classroom. Many factors can throw off an otherwise great lesson plan or learning experience. One of those is organizational problems. Having an organized classroom is a teacher’s dream, but it takes time and a little know-how. The following organizational items and tips can help you put things in order so you can spend more time focused on teaching and less time searching for things.
Organize Your Lessons
Memorizing lesson plans or textbook passages is unrealistic and unnecessary to being an excellent teacher. Three simple organizational items can revolutionize your lessons.
- Post-It Notes – Jot down phrases or mini-outlines to use as prompts and reminders during lessons.
- Tabs – Easily find textbook passages or daily lessons by marking them with tabs.
- Flags – Colorful flags help you highlight and organize specific parts of your lessons. Use color-coding to further organize lessons. For example, use green flags for noteworthy information during the lesson and blue to highlight specific examples you want to share with students before assigning homework.
Makes Sense of Storage
Storage closets tend to become catch-all’s after a while. Get yours back in shape so you can quickly find what you need for each lesson.
- Storage Totes -When weekly lesson plans are complete, place necessary supplies for each lesson in a specific storage tote so you can grab the tote and get started with all supplies on-hand.
- Storage Bins – Organize supplies so you can easily find them by using stackable bins or clear storage bins that can be labeled.
Smart Use of Wall Space
Don’t overlook wall space as you organize.
- Command Hooks – Hang items within sight, leaving shelves and floor space free.
- Hanging Organizers – Multi-pocket hanging organizers can be used to store games and flashcards for students. Use them to collect different assignments, marking each pocket with the assignment and due date.
See Your Desktop Again
Finish your classroom organization with your desktop. Multi-compartment desktop organizers can help you store and find writing utensils, files, office supplies and notes. Use the organizer to keep everything neat and in its place so you can work at your desk again.
Reap the Benefits
Once you’ve put your classroom in order, you and your students will immediately reap the benefits. Maintain your organizational efforts by always putting things back exactly where they belong when finished, and teach your students to do the same. As you continue to keep your classroom organized, you’ll find that you have more time to spend with students, on lesson preparation or enjoying a little relaxation. Check out some of the items listed to help you achieve your organizational goals.
