I have been teaching for 6 years now, and every single year, my goal has been to become more organized. I try, and every year, I fail miserably. I am a go-getter where my teaching is concerned, very student-centered, up on my feet, moving around, checking work, helping out, etc. The problem is, that while I am doing all that, things are piling up, and I am so absorbed, that I don't even notice. So, you ask, why not clean it up after school? Well, I stay at school until 6 almost everyday working on grading papers, my school's website, lesson planning, decorating, copying, and all that other stuff that just never seems to get finished. So my question is to all you neat, organized teachers out there, how do you do it??? Any suggestions, ideas, tips would be greatly appreciated, and at least tried, in my quest to become Ms. Organization.
After lots of years, I've gotten pretty organized, but what I do won't necessarily work for you. I'd start by thinking about exactly what is piling up. Is it student work? Create a designated place for them to turn it in. Is it things to read/go through? Make a spot for that. This year I have a magnetic file on the side of my desk that will say "to office" so I can put everything that needs to go downstairs there, get it off my desk, and find it instantly. I've really tried to streamline. Also, when I get a stack of papers that I'm going to take home to grade, it immediately goes in my bag, not on my desk...that helps too. When I check my mailbox, I try to deal with things immediately if possible, either filling out info and putting it where it belongs, or pitching it if I can, to avoid any more papers on my desk. Good luck with your quest!
There are a lot of things that you can do - but again it depends on you.
I set out 4 binds for students to turn in their work. Each with a subject(s). For example MATH/SCIENCE, ENGLISH/WRITING/READING, etc. All work that my students turn in is in one place. I also explain to my students that the work must be in these binds in order to get credit - not on my desk or anywhere else in the classroom.
I also label sections in my file cabinet with each subject then I break each subject up (with file folders behind the main subject folders) by topics. It took me a while to set these up and I add to each section as I locate, update, or change information, whcih is all the time. I don't pile it up I put it away right away. If I do not have a specific file for that topic that I locate information for - I file it the main subject folder until I have time - which is usually when I need it. I do keep a pad by my desk with things to do - and add for example, folder - OIL SPILL (Science), so that I can make myself a folder and file the information when I find a minute.
On my desk I also keep a set of folders with the days of the week on them. I put anything that I plan on doing in these by day - yes I take out of different days and change things - but I know where to find my assignments and attachments for the week. I also put notes or reminders in them.
I also keep a large calendar on my desk, and as I know of meetings, deadlines, anything that I have to do... I write them on it.
I also strive every year to be more organized. But other teachers say my room is neat and most of the time I can find what I'm looking for or what other teachers may need.
I try not to accept ANY single sheet papers unless it is a test. Most tests are weekly and graded and filed. The students keep all work in a notebook for the different subjects. As they compete assignments I check them and mark them. At the end of the week I collect notebooks to add to electronic grade book.
I don't like stuff on my desk. So my homework bins which are also weekly are far from my desk. Reading packets are also collected weekly.
Having old students from previous years come help file papers, or clean room may also be an option.
i struggle with the same problem... i once had a parent tell me that my classroom looked like learning was happening. ( a nice way to say it was a mess). anyways, last year i bought 2 crates and hanging file folders for every week we are in school. inside each of these hanging file folders i place a regular file folder labeled with the day of the week. this sounds like a lot of folders, but it was so nice because i could copy things for the whole year like poetry and homework and then place them in the daily folder. it made it easy when i had a sub as well because all of my copies were organized by date and they were easy access.
I'm an organizational nightmare. We are getting a new principal, and he came in close to the end of the school year and made that EXACT comment "It looks like learning happens here!" And yes, I knew the translation. His wife was our literacy coach this year and she is THE most organized person on the planet. I'm doomed!
I'm getting better, and here are some things I do:
But I'm working on it. I try to keep everything electronically if I can, because I'm better with organizing computer files than paper files.
For my student files, I have ONE binder. Each student has a tab. Behind the tab, I have their contact info sheet, their IEP (if they have one), any relevant testing (we use DRAs, plus any more informal testing I do), at-a-glance sheets, medical information, and any behaviour contracts or anecdotal notes, records of parent contacts, etc. I don't worry too much about what order things are in in the section. If a parent walks in, at least I know everything relevent to that student is in one place.
Things like my extra file folders are in their own bin, and sit on top of my filing cabinet. I like everything to be right where I need it, without digging.
I have an In Bin, and same rules as another poster had apply - all work goes inside NOT on my desk. I'm very strict about this.
I have a file holder on top of my desk for "current" work stuff. So anything I need to get to SOON goes in there. Usually stuff related to the extra responsibilities (enrichment lead, curriculum lead, etc) that I have at school. I try to make sure this is always cleaned out, because anything that goes in there is an ASAP item!
One thing that has helped me A LOT is using my SmartBoard. I don't keep paper copies of ANYTHING I've done on here, because I can attach the associated handouts to the SmartBoard file. This has been a lifesaver for me!
My desk is often cluttered at the end of the day, and I'm making it a goal this year to make sure that it's clean before I leave for the day. We shall see.
I'm really trying to anticipate where I went wrong last year, and set up systems to help with that. We'll see how it goes.
I am out-of-control organized. Anally so. I can't stand when my classroom is a mess. So everything has a place. Anyway, here are a few ideas that may get you started:
* I have a chart posted that shows the student exactly how their desk should look. They must keep the desk looking like this before they are allowed to go home. The first few times they have to stay after school to clean their desks are enough to make them keep it clean.
* Kids must clean the classroom daily. We do a 60 sec. clean up. Basically they have 60 sec to clean the floor. They are silently moving around the room picking up trash.
* On my desk I have File trays. "to be filed", "to grade", "for review". All student work that needs to be filed or graded gets put in its respective tray. School/office papers for my review get put in that tray. This way, there is nothing just laying on my desk.
* I tape the Weekly Bulletin to the corner of my desk. This is out of the way and easily accessible/noticable. The tape also keeps it in place! I highlight things that are of importance to me.
* ALL student work gets turned in to the Inbox. This keeps everything in one place so I can easily grab it. Also doesn't confuse the kids.
* All work to go home gets put in the Outbox throughout the week (anything I am not going to save ie: hw). On Fridays the kids line up, are given a stack of paper, and place the papers on the desk of the person it belongs to. This is done silently and all papers get returned super quickly (and I don't have to file!)
* Those that do need to be filed are done daily by my Controller. During the classroom clean up, the Controller goes to the "To be filed" tray and puts it in the student files.
07-19-2007, 10:43 PM
So, you ask, why not clean it up after school? Well, I stay at school until 6 almost everyday working on grading papers, my school's website, lesson planning, decorating, copying, and all that other stuff that just never seems to get finished. 
So my question is to all you neat, organized teachers out there, how do you do it??? 
Any suggestions, ideas, tips would be greatly appreciated, and at least tried, in my quest to become Ms. Organization. 
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