Getting Organized. Organization Tips from Mrs.
McDavid I have had many teachers stop by my room to ask how I keep things so well organized. I have had other teachers to ask if I would consider teaching a staff development course at our school to help teachers become better organized. Truly it's the small details that make the biggest impact. Organizing the classroom takes time, dedication, and determination but once things are put together the classroom will run smoothly.
Materials You Will Need ~ Back to the Top ~ Purge Unused Materials and Non Essential ItemsAs teachers we tend to hoard materials and supplies that we think might come in handy one day. Organizing the Teacher's DeskThe teacher's desk can become a dumping ground for paperwork, papers that need to be filed, correspondence from the main office, items that need to be read or evaluated, and papers that need to be held for future reference. The next step is designating an area to file your paperwork. I use two different To Do Lists. Meacham Organized Teaching. Scroll down for ideas, pictures, and printables!
End of the Year Cleaning I'm a firm believer that, "You helped make the mess, so you'll help clean it up! " Therefore, my first grades always help clean the room at the end of the year. It took me many years to figure out that a visual would help make the process (1) easy to understand, (2) easy to know who's in charge, and (3) easy to see what's left to do. Below are a few pages from our SMARTboard file that I use on our cleaning day. Cleaning Day SMARTboard File or At our school, EVERYTHING is removed from the each room, and then the floors are stripped and waxed. Before: After: Teacher Projects Above - "Teacher Project Bags" ready to go home! In the past, when I've had work to bring home, I'd pile everything into a grocery-cart-type-wheely-thingy. Above- Assorted tables in my classroom "host" my teacher projects. Enter the canvas bag solution! Student Papers I have two "catch-all" file folder systems for student paperwork that needs to be kept.
Organizing Your Desk. I use a 2" binder with programmed dividers.
My daily schedule and lesson plans and yearly and monthly calendar are in the first section. ( I have to turn in my lesson plans by Thursday. My plans are on my computer, so I just print 2 copies and turn in only 1 copy. This way I also have a record to look back on the next year. We turn in our plan books at the end of the year.) The second section is parent communication. The third section is conference notes.
The fourth section is long term planning. The fifth section is faculty meeting notes. Having everything in one place keeps me from constantly looking for something. 26 Tips and Tricks To Simplify Life. I have been collecting all kinds of clever tips to make life just a little bit more simple.
Here are some of my favs! 1. Cord organization tips. I am SO doing this. {link} 2. 10. 19. Simple Lemon water. Want to be eco-friendly but not have to mess with cloth diapers? More From New Nostalgia: