5 Truths About Organizing Your Classroom

Organization is kind of my thing. I enjoy it. But, organizing isn't easy. More specifically, organizing a classroom isn't easy. Before you get started, there are some things you should know so you don't get overwhelmed.


The number one benefit of having an organized classroom is reduced stress levels. The long term effects of stress are not fun: anxiety, high blood pressure, and more. An organized classroom means you spend less time looking for what you need, less time scrambling around, and more time checking tasks off your to do list. In other words, you become more productive and feel at ease.

If you're looking for some tips to help you get started with getting organized, click HERE to read more.

So now that you've been reminded about the importance of an organized classroom, let's take a look at some truths behind the organizational process.

#1-THERE IS A POINT TO ORGANIZING YOUR CLASSROOM
The point is to simplify and tidy your space. The space that is in many ways your home away from home. Taking the time to organize your classroom isn't meant to be busywork. It's meant to improve the quality of the time you spend in your classroom. A clean classroom means you can be more productive as you move through your space to prepare to teach every day. And, it creates a calm environment. Clutter and disarray can cause unnecessary stress and contribute to anxiety. Teachers don't need that kind of negativity in their lives.

#2-ORGANIZING YOUR CLASSROOM IS AN ONGOING PROCESS
Once you organize a space in your classroom (or the whole room), just know that you will revisit that space over time. Often. Organization isn't a one and done type of thing. There is always something new to organize, or old systems to tweak. When you finish organizing a space, it may seem perfect, but once you start using and interacting with that space, you might find it isn't as perfect as you thought it would be. Making changes along the way is simply a part of the process.

#3-ORGANIZING WON'T ALWAYS BE FUN
Some organizational tasks and jobs are downright daunting and annoying. The process won't always be fun, and it won't always be easy, but it's totally worth it. Organizing is always most daunting when you are tackling an area for the first time. This is why maintaining your organization (see #5) is so important.

#4-ORGANIZE YOUR MATERIALS BEFORE YOU BUY ALL THE STORAGE THINGS
Matching bins are a sight for sort eyes, no doubt. But do yourself a favor and wait to buy them until you know what you need. First, organize your stuff. Look, I like tubs just like the next teacher, but you may not need a one size fits all tub. Twelve of the same exact storage bin may not suit the materials you need to store in the space that you have. Your student clocks will take up more storage space than your task cards. They may not need to be stored in identical sized bins. You might need a variety of sized of bins to store your items in order to maximize your space.

#5-KEEP YOUR ORGANIZED CLASSROOM MAINTAINED
It's easy to organize an area, or several areas, only to find that they get sloppy over time. That's because as you use the space, it can get disorganized...if you ignore it. Be firm with yourself and make sure you keep your tidied spaces tidy. Remember, everything has a place, and everything in it's place. Repeat this mantra however many times you need to. It will save you tons of time in the long run. And, remember, if it takes less than two minutes to put something away, then do it.

FINAL THOUGHTS 
There is no one size fits all approach to organization. It truly boils down to what works for you. Maybe you prefer to keep all of your things in plain sight. Maybe you like to keep your things behind doors and in drawers. Whatever your style, know that it will take some work to find a system that works for you. But once you find that system, stick to it.

Do you have a truth about organizing? Share it in the comments. We'd love to hear what you have to say!

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