I've been teaching for 2 years in 4th grade (small groups). This my first year in 3rd grade with 22 students. I really worried about organization and I'm afraid I don't have that skill on me. can you please your tips on organization, specially on large group, since I know is only going to get bigger?
I picked up a pretty handy book called "The Organized Student: Teaching Children the Skills for Success in School and Beyond." It is written by Donna Goldberg. I have not finished it, but it seemed to be pretty good so far.
I use folders that have each day of the week on them. They are laminated and have something cute on the front that says each day of the week. Everything that I need for Monday goes in the Monday folder. This works great when I have a sub. I also have a pencil caddy that has everything in it that I possibly could need: scissors, pencils, pens, erasers, paperclips etc. This would definitely work in small or large groups as well. Also, you might want to consider extra tubs. My year starts out super organized but keep in mind that I have 32 kiddos so it is a bit of a task to stay organized. Hope this was helpful
a tickler file. I have a folder in a hanging for each date of the month 1-31 and a hanging file for each month. This way I have all my materials ready in the morning. Sometimes when I have extra time I try to plan for the whole month, then if we don't get to a particular project I just move it to the next day. I also use a matrix for attendance, homework, behavior, etc... on a clipboard. On one of the most recent posts there was an in depth discussion of a MOOSE and FROG binder. The binder helps the students stay organized. I think the post was about two or three weeks ago.
I bought a metal shelf with canvas baskets from Lowes. The baskets are labeled Monday thru Friday. It's really cute too, the baskets are different colors. When I make my copies for the week, I just put them in the correct basket and it's ready to go. Everything is in the basket on the day that I need it.
I have stackable plastic drawers labeled for each subject. I copy as much as I can in advance, and then I can easily store the material in the drawers. This way, I'm not limited to things on for one week. I also keep a "junk" drawer of random activities that can be used in a pinch. This has been really helpful to me in organizing myself, esp. since I am NOT an organized person.
It's certainly not my strength, but I've had to work on it quite a bit since I've had my own classroom. Here's a few things that have helped me:
-I found an old file file paper sorter (kind of like the ones we use for handing back kids' papers, but about 1/2 the sz.). I have one shelf for each day of the week that I put in the copies for that day. The other shelves I use for papers to grade, work in progress, and files for units we're currently working on. I found mine in a storage closet and it works perfectly.
-I have a basket on my desk that's my mailbox. If the kids have things to bring to me in the morning, they know that's the place to put it. I try to go through it in the morning to check for notes and other things. This helps keep things from getting lost on my desk with other papers!
-When the kids turn in papers they have a specific basket for each subject. That way after they're all turned in they're already (mostly) sorted. I try to paperclip assignments together at the time so that I don't have to sort them when I go to grade.
-I got the Target magazine bins to help organize student supplies and keep them out of their desks. (Less to play with and less to get in the way and make a mess.) I got one for each child and we're keeping them on shelves in the back of the room.
-I always get bogged down with the papers I get in my school box.) I keep a binder of the papers and just stick the important (or ones I think I'll need later) in there in order.
Hope that helps... Look on here and at teacher's websites for other ideas. Some have really good pictures that can give you ideas too.
I have a little trouble with organization too and I have 30 students in my class, which makes it more challenging. Other teachers at my school and I always talk about the best way to begin the day to save time. How do you manage your morning with so many and do you have centers? I used to when we had 20 to 1, but it's a little more difficult to manage with 30+ students and a small classroom.
Here are some organizational tips I have found helpful:
--There is a table near the door where students enter the room. On that table are tongue depressors with the student's names, and three containers labeled hot lunch #1, hot lunch #2, and cold lunch. As students enter, they place the tongue depressor with their name in the correct container. From this, I am able to do lunch count and attendance (tongue depressor is not in the container, but still laying on the table).
--There is a table in front of my desk. On it, I place several baskets. Each homework assignment goes into a different basket. Thus, I can just count the papers and figure out whose work is missing. Then I can paperclip the assignments together for correcting. Students then place their assignment folder in a basket on this table. It is very handy at the end of the day, and no one is digging through their desk to find it. [Some teachers have students put their student number (#1, #2, #3, etc.) on their work so all that is needed is to organize by number to find out whose work is missing. I may try that this year!]
--I correct assignments every day (if possible)...no waiting until the weekend...no waiting until the pile is impossible to complete in a reasonable amount of time. This takes a lot of using my time wisely during the school day.
--When students arrive each morning, there is a list of things to do on their desk. In this way, they know exactly what to do and in what order it should be completed. Students check with a partner to show them they have completed each thing on the list...no discussion, just showing...and then are allowed to check-off that item. This makes my students very accountable and it is good practice for following directions. For some students this is very easy, while others struggle for a few weeks. Eventually, everyone succeeds, and it really helps me too. (Some teachers put this list on the overhead.)
--At the end of the day, my class spends five minutes doing their jobs or organizing areas that need organizing. After my bus duty, I return to my room and make sure everything is in place. I do not leave until my room is in order, even if I have a meeting to attend. I hate coming in the following morning to clean-up yesterday's mess. If you take these minutes to get things organized, tomorrow will go some much more smoothly.
--I have students mailboxes near my desk. At the end of the day, students pick up their assignment folder from the table in front of my desk, and grab materials from their mailbox. Any work that has been corrected is placed in these boxes and any homework needed for that night is there too. This way, I do not spend time returning papers. They are automatically placed in the mailboxes and off my desk. If we work on something during the day that can go home, students automatically go to these boxes. This way, students desks do not get cluttered with materials that should have gone home two weeks ago.
--My students clean out desks once per week. It is the second-last thing we do on Friday afternoon. Pencils for the new week are sharpened and all those off-task toys students bring to school are returned home. In this way, Monday begins with organization.
--My students have a folder and spiral notebook for each subject. They are color-coded and labeled with the subject and student's name. I might say something like "Take out your blue math folder and place your number grid in the left pocket. Your partner will check to be sure you have followed directions." Next time a certain item is needed, it is in the correct place and no class time is used hunting for it.
07-25-2008, 06:33 AM
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