Don’t you love those mornings when you walk in to an
organized classroom with tidy desks and a CLEAN floor?
We all know that doesn’t ALWAYS happen,
but HELLO HAPPY when it does!
but HELLO HAPPY when it does!
My students and I consider our classroom our little home
away from home and I remind them often that one of their
jobs is to keep their “room” clean. Ha!
away from home and I remind them often that one of their
jobs is to keep their “room” clean. Ha!
Here are some ways I’ve found to help keep my students
and their spaces clean, organized and running smoothly!
and their spaces clean, organized and running smoothly!
Teach Students How To Be Organized
Show your students how you expect their space to look.
What looks organized to a 7 year old may look like a
hot mess to me! I teach my class that everything has a home
and there is a home for everything. And…we need to
keep our house tidy because you never know when
company is going to come! Ha!
hot mess to me! I teach my class that everything has a home
and there is a home for everything. And…we need to
keep our house tidy because you never know when
company is going to come! Ha!
Teach your students at the beginning of the year where
to keep things in their desks. We stack our folders and journals
on one side with our supply boxes on top. The books
students are reading go on the other side.
to keep things in their desks. We stack our folders and journals
on one side with our supply boxes on top. The books
students are reading go on the other side.
These go in the middle and one pencil goes in the “pencil tray.”
Find A Place For The Little Stuff
I make sure each student has a 5″ x 7″ size pencil box. I shop
the clearance aisles and even garage sales to collect these
little gems so I always have a secret stash in my cupboard for
students who need one.All of the “small stuff”, crayons,
glue sticks, scissors etc. “live” in the supply box.
the clearance aisles and even garage sales to collect these
little gems so I always have a secret stash in my cupboard for
students who need one.All of the “small stuff”, crayons,
glue sticks, scissors etc. “live” in the supply box.
Organize On Top As Well As Inside
As every primary teacher knows, the younger the grade level,
the more “stuff” we AND our students have! Unfortunately,
we need and use EVERY BIT of it! My desks are arranged
in groups we call teams. Each team has a table box.
We keep important odds and ends students use
on a daily basis in these.
in groups we call teams. Each team has a table box.
We keep important odds and ends students use
on a daily basis in these.
Use Foam Shapes As Coasters
At the beginning and end of our school year, our Arizona
temperatures can climb well into the 100’s. My students
often bring frozen or ice filled water bottles. I like them to
be able to drink water whenever they want to
temperatures can climb well into the 100’s. My students
often bring frozen or ice filled water bottles. I like them to
be able to drink water whenever they want to
without leaving their seats, but those frosty water bottles
can make a BIG SOPPY MESS! Here’s a simple solution
can make a BIG SOPPY MESS! Here’s a simple solution
I came up with to keep our desks and papers dry….
I use craft foam shapes from Dollar Tree or Michael’s on
each student’s desk. Students know that this is where their
water bottle lives. Since my teams are color coded
each table gets the coaster that matches their team color.
each student’s desk. Students know that this is where their
water bottle lives. Since my teams are color coded
each table gets the coaster that matches their team color.
This also serves as a visual for me when calling teams to line up.
Make Neatness Part of Your Daily Routine
Each day before dismissal have students do a quick check
of their desk and floor to make sure everything is tidy and
picked up. I make a big fuss over how nice each team’s
space looks and what a fresh start
they’ll have the next morning!
of their desk and floor to make sure everything is tidy and
picked up. I make a big fuss over how nice each team’s
space looks and what a fresh start
they’ll have the next morning!
Acknowledge Your Students Efforts
Acknowledge your students’ clean desks and organized spaces.
Download these FREE Desk Fairy Coupons!
I hope you can use some of these tips to make life run
more smoothly in your classroom! If you’ve enjoyed these
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Stephanie @ 3rd Grade Thoughts says
April 12 at 2:10 pmYour organization ideas are absolutely perfect! Thanks for sharing so many tips– the foam "coasters" are genius!! I'm pinning away to remember all of these fantastic ideas 🙂
~Stephanie
3rd Grade Thoughts
Emily Liscom says
April 12 at 2:11 pmLInda,
I love your post! It is beautiful:) I like the idea of teaching organization from the get-go! I agree 100%!
Emily
Courtney B says
April 12 at 2:44 pmLove, love, love! I love the idea of using the foam as coasters and I love the team table boxes. I need some of your organizational skills!
Mrs. Lofgren says
April 12 at 3:40 pmI love your team table boxes! Are the labels available on TPT? 🙂
Learning in Wonderland says
April 12 at 3:43 pmI also use pencil boxes to sore all those little things we need to use often. My mentor teacher called it a "toolbox" because those are our tools for learning. So I still call them that now 🙂 I never thought about keeping their whiteboard markers and erasers in a separate bag! I love this idea! Thanks for sharing all these great tips:)
Gladys says
April 12 at 5:41 pmI love the team table boxes! I need to get that going next year. Thanks for sharing your "bright" idea! 🙂
Rachel Lamb says
April 12 at 9:52 pmbrilliant! I'm anal about the desks, too! Everything has a home! I'm def. going to use the foam circles I have! love it Linda!
vicky1970 says
April 13 at 1:54 amI love it Linda! Years ago I use to draw a desk and how the books, etc. would look in it…I think it was 1996 eek! Anyway it was like an anchor chart before there were anchor charts. I haven't done it in years…you got me thinking I should again. Love all your ideas! Thank you.
hugs,
Vicky
Teaching and Much Moore
Jennifer Ayers says
April 13 at 12:54 pmHi Linda. What do you kids put in their AR folder?
Linda says
April 13 at 1:50 pmThe coasters are a sanity saver for sure! I'm so glad you found something you can use!
Linda says
April 13 at 1:54 pmThank you, Emily! Teaching my kiddos to be organized from the start helps it to become second nature and just part of the daily routine. It save a ton of time in the long run as they aren't always spending time looking for things!
Linda says
April 13 at 1:56 pmHi Mrs. Lofgren! Unfortunately they aren't, but I have a decor set on my to do list for the summer. Thanks so much for asking!
Linda says
April 13 at 2:02 pmthe AR folders have their library bar code for check out on the front cover and inside we keep an AR reading log where students record the title, author, book level, points, etc. there is also a large card with all of the AR levels possible on it. I highlight with a different color each quarter the zone they can choose from. This gives them a visual and makes it easy to check to see if a book is in their level. They also keep in the other pocket papers and things the library teacher does with them. Thanks so much for asking Jennifer, I hope that helps!
Ginger Snaps says
July 22 at 3:50 pmThis post is super fabulous! Loving that little Pack and Stack Chart!
Karen says
September 21 at 3:37 pmI love your post about organization! Great tips! You posted on your pack and stack poster they Color their behavior chart? What does that consist of or look like, and do they have it in a folder as well. Thanks so much for all your knowledge!
Linda says
September 29 at 1:06 pmHi Karen,
I’m so glad you found some ideas you like! Students have a homework folder that goes home each day and inside is their behavior chart. You can see the one I use here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-Editable-Behavior-Clip-Chart-Management-Plan-With-Forms-2644126
I hope this helps and your year is going well so far!