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The Importance of Classroom Organization

classIt is very important to keep a classroom properly organized.  For a start, if kids are in a room that is full of disarray, then there will be a sense of chaos.  There are many aspects that need to be considered.  Teachers who do not organize their classrooms ahead of time, will ultimately end up falling further behind throughout the year.  It is thus vital that teachers understand the importance of setting up an organized  and knowledge-enriching classroom for their students. 

Even if properly organizing a classroom takes a long time, it will be worth it.  Ultimately it will end up saving the teacher time.  The more organized the room, the easier everything will flow and teachers will be able to keep up with their workload.  By ensuing the classroom is stocked with the right supplies, has the furniture organized in an appropriate and comfortable manner and has the best possible set up for good acoustics, children will have a better opportunity to thrive and teachers will be more relaxed.

Another way to keep a classroom organized is to have calendars, whiteboards, daily and weekly lesson plans, etc.  All of these contribute to an improved learning environment.  If this system of order is maintained, organization throughout the academic year is more likely to be accomplished.  Indeed, for those teachers who start this process before the school year, it is even more likely that the classroom will be organized efficiently.

 

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Importance of Classroom Resources

welcomeKristi Johnson Smith who works in new teacher support and is a LEARN Fellow, shares her experiences with what happens when there is a lack of organization in the school system.  She explains that while she was fortunate enough to have her own classroom, this was not the case for every member of staff since the school building was simply too small enough.  Thus some of her teaching colleagues had to move rooms every period, transporting their materials with carts and others – at different schools – had to make the best of rented trailers when additional students enrolled.

Thus staff at these schools could not even think about entertaining the possibility of giving each kid their own computer and computer table.  This really is quite unfortunate given the fact that this is the way the world is heading – into digital mode.  But the reality is, if kids are in schools like the one at which Smith taught at, they would be seen as lucky to have a regular classroom, let alone a computer.

Clearly in areas such as these, there needs to be many more resources than what currently exist.  With a lack in resources, the classroom can also  become chaotic and disorganized – certainly not the correct environment whereby students can thrive.

Nonetheless, there are things that can actually be done, that do not need to cost so much  money.  For example, Smith explains that she put up pictures, moved desks, added plans and organized the board space.  She then created student folders, a filing system for her materials and even hung a “welcome” sign on the door.

Of course money helps.  But as this teacher discovered, without it, a lot can still be done.

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Cracking Down on Graffiti in Schools

Graffiti_at_First_Elementary_School_in_Gdynia1

Graffiti has long been a problem in schools.  It is in all sorts of places, and is especially prevalent in areas where students have more access than the staff, like in the privacy of school lockers, or in the playground.  Interestingly, in September 2013, to bring awareness to the issue in the UK, Rushmoor Borough Council and Hart District Council (that makes up the Safer North Hampshire community safety team) held a ‘Graffiti Focus Week.’   Aimed at letting people know that graffiti is illegal, the initiative aimed to encourage as many people as possible to remove as much of it as possible. In addition, the community safety projects officer, Richard Denham said that “as well as graffiti removal, there will be education sessions in schools, a ‘most wanted’ tag poster and increased patrols of hot spots.”

Graffiti in schools – apart from being criminal damage – is almost most unsightly and can cause a whole slew of problems for the school. For example, if prospective parents or donors are looking around and see graffiti throughout the school – in lockers, on podiums, in the gymnasium, at the cafeteria, in the playground etc. – then it immediately changes the entire reputation of a school.  Even if the school is known for high academic scores, excellent staff and being an educational institute that is home to kids from good homes, the unsightly graffiti can completely change that impression.

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How to Organize Your Classroom

One of the many responsibilities of a school teacher is
keeping the classroom and its materials organized, in order to provide their
students with a structured, distraction-less learning environment. Keeping the
classroom space organized will also help teachers set up their classes, monitor
student progress and maintain and regular schedule.

Classroom organization starts with the layout, including
school furniture, desks and chairs, as well as cabinets and storage space, and
ends all the way at the individual students’ drawers, lockers and backpacks.

Art teachers have an especially difficult task, with their
less traditional spaces, and various art supplies and materials. Charity
Preston with the Organized Classroom blog offers some great tips for art
teachers here:

 

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ADD and Classroom Organization

locker

If you are raising a child with ADD, you are undoubtedly used to the copious amounts of clutter that line the walls and furniture of your home. A big problem parents struggle with is that this haphazard attitude extends beyond the home- in fact, most ADD children struggle in school since they lack the ability to organize their space, school books and homework.

The best way to help your child organize his own school environment is by helping him or her set up a system that suits his needs. For example, his school desk should be clean and completely void of clutter and distractions. Attach a small basket on the underside for paper scraps and food wrappers, and designate a specific spot for pencils, pens and highlighter markers so they can be easily accessed during class.

Next, children with ADD may need help organizing their school lockers. Start by adding hooks, shelves, dividers, a mirror or any other feature that will help the child manage their school supplies with minimal stress. A child is better able to avoid distractions when he feels confident that he will be able to find his school supplies and homework without hassle, and a routine will help him or her stay focused on school-related tasks.

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Keeping a Classroom Organized

classrom

Not only are teachers expected to plan interesting and informative classes, but they must be highly organized and help their students be organized. The way classroom furniture, including classroom tables and classroom desks, are organized, can make a huge difference in the amount students learn, and in the way they feel in class.

One expert teacher organized her classroom into several useful sections: a student supply station; her desk, which was at the back of the classroom and where she kept her files, a microwave, and other equipment; a board at the back of the room for special assignments; a whiteboard, agenda board and a document camera, all at the front of the room; and a homework/absent work station. All these classroom elements helped her students know exactly what was expected of them and where they could get what they needed for class, and where to put homework and other assignments. This clarity
of space allowed for clarity of mind.

This expert also has a highly organized way of dealing with all the papers she collects from her students; keeping track of absents and make-up work; organizing school lessons and materials; and documentation of parent communications.

There is certainly a lot a teacher needs to stay on top of, and being organized helps everything flow more smoothly, not just for the teacher, but for the students as well.

 

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