(almost) Strategy Saturday.

Lord knows that procrastination is my middle name, and Sunday is almost Saturday. So, on to this week's topic: 

Classroom Organization

This week has been big for organization - I showed you how to create your own planner (with help of very talented Etsy creators), and now let's talk about how to organize your classroom. 

Classroom organization - the literal layout of your room - can make or break your year. If supplies are not easily accessible, students and you will be frazzled looking for stuff. Chaos breeds chaos and that includes all aspect of classroom management, even the organization of the room. 

There is a lot of literature out there for organization, with regards to a specific content area. For example, Debbie Diller and Laura Chandler have some great books about literacy centers and organization tips for literacy centers and instruction. Laura Chandler also has some literature on creating math centers and what organizational frameworks you need to implement that successfully. 

The over-reaching rule for organization: The system should work itself. Your classroom space should be so well planned and laid out that your students can easily find their way without your direction. 

Here are some tips to create the best environment for learning (in no particular order:) 

1. Label. Label, label, label - whether you create your own labels or use some ready-made cuties from Teachers Pay Teachers, label your stuff. Label cabinets, drawers, stations, paper trays - anything you expect students to use without direction needs a label. Having a designated, identified place for homework papers, exit slips, markers, and scissors will make the daily routine easier for everyone. If Johnny needs a glue stick during centers, he can grab one from the supply drawer without disturbing your guided reading or math group. 

2. Create collaborative groups when designing seating arrangements. This seems like common sense these days, but it cannot be reiterated. If you expect students to assimilate new information, they need to discuss it with peers and synthesize this information. Students should be arranged with at least one other student, preferably a small group of three or four to exchange ideas and use as a support system for learning new information. Collaborative arrangements help out if your preferred teaching model is gradual release or the 5 Es - having small groups makes we do, few do, and exploring easier without a headache of finding partners. 

3. Make your library fun + inviting. If you want students to use it, make it usable and that's so important when it comes to a classroom library. Classroom libraries will be a totally separate post, but just a small piece of advice: make it inviting. Put a lamp, a cheap rug, and some bean bags down and make it the best part of the classroom. Reading should be fun and should be an escape - it's our job as the teacher to facilitate that. If the literal space for reading is enjoyable and pleasing, the act of reading will be too. 

4. Practice. Practice your routines, whatever they will be, with fidelity. If you want students to pass papers left, then right and then forward, practice it. If you want them to put their homework on your desk before sitting down in the morning, practice. Whatever you want, practice and enforce it - you have to practice and expect excellence or you will get mediocre and none of us have any time for that. 

5. Mix it up. After winter break, change it up - move those seats! Routine is fun and necessary, but everyone can benefit from a change and it will freshen up your room quickly and easily. 

Those are some easy tips for classroom organization - I will post a more in-depth post once I set my classroom up this week. Organization is so necessary for real and meaningful learning to take place, and it's up to us, as the teacher, to make sure our rooms run smoothly and efficiently for our babes. 

Until next time loves, 

- xo