Kick Off the New Year with an Organized Classroom
- Published
- 02/07/2023
- Author
- coreInternal c
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
A new year always presents itself as a time to update goals for a teacher’s classroom. Now that the holidays are over, teachers and students can renew their efforts for a productive year filled with the possibilities of what everyone can achieve.
The last school days of the previous year may not have left classrooms at their tidiest, but that is quite okay. A new year means tackling cleaning out the old and refreshing with the new. Classroom organization should begin with a strategic plan and there is no better place to start than with a lesson planner and academic calendar. They are valuable tools for making to-do lists and supply lists, highlighting important dates including holidays and student birthdays, and structuring each segment of each day for the most significant impact on learning.
Tidy Up and Deep Clean
•It is difficult to think about anything regarding an organized classroom until desks, floors, and other surfaces are cleaned of debris. So, grab your trash bags, latex gloves, disinfectant wipes, mop, broom, and dustpan, and get to work!
•Start high so any trash or dust can drop to the floor. Clear shelves, desks, tables, chairs, and any other horizontal surfaces of any loose debris like paper or used tissues and broken bits like pencils, erasers, and chalk. Take a look at lockers or cubbies to ensure that nothing remains that can be tossed away.
•If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything it is the value and practicality of disinfectant wipes. Grab a few and wipe down all surfaces that come in contact with dirty, sticky hands or the remains of numerous sneezes. It is easy to remember to address the big furniture pieces, but do not forget to wipe the little things like light switches, doorknobs, sink handles, and other small supplies.
•If your shoes make a crackling noise as you walk across your classroom it is easy to surmise that the floor is probably a sticky mess like other parts of the room. After sweeping the floor make sure you run a wet, soapy mop all over it as well.
Piles of Paper and Pencils
•After the deep cleaning chores are completed and the room looks and smells a lot fresher, it is time to organize teacher and student supplies. Create lists of what you have and what you will need for the upcoming term. Bins and baskets can be a teacher’s best friend when sorting paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, markers, sticky notes, scissors, and rulers. Label each bin with color-coded identification.
•Put the classroom books in order alphabetically or by topic. Tidy bookshelves are inviting for students to peruse books and pick an interesting one to read for pleasure. Add a couple of cushions or bean bag chairs for a cozy reading area.
•A teacher’s desk is a hub of activity but can easily deteriorate into a jumbled mess if not organized like the rest of the classroom. And remember – children emulate the grown-ups in their lives. If a teacher’s desk is tidy, they may feel the urge to keep their areas clean as well.
•Make sure that the walls are used for helpful information like maps and charts. Most of us are visual learners, especially young children. An interesting chart or image can do wonders for reinforcing what students need to remember and learn.
Academic Planners and Wall Calendars for Teachers and Students
•Students will feel ownership of their classroom and take pride in its appearance if given chores to complete, especially if they come with a little prize incentive upon their completion. Utilize wall calendars indicating student names and their tasks for each day or week. Make sure they are readable and accessible as well as emphasize that every student has a responsibility as part of the classroom team.
•Academic planners are also helpful for students to know what will be studied during the week and what assignments will be given. The planners can also indicate dates for quizzes, tests, and other projects.
•A teacher’s academic planner or calendar is essential for tracking all the above for keeping the classroom a well-oiled machine. Think of it as the hub from where all activities and responsibilities originate. Keep it on a location on your desk where it can be looked at regularly and updated constantly.
A classroom is a safe space for knowledge, inspiration, and friendship. One that is clean and well-organized with its supplies and academic goals will always be a source for the educational standards everyone, including teachers, students, and parents, expects from their schools. Beginning the new year with a classroom prepared for the best teaching and learning environment for everyone.
Where do you stand with your classroom? Does it need a little extra TLC to start the year right? House of Doolittle has an exceptional variety of lesson planners and calendars for your classroom organization needs.