| There is an abundant variety of teacher supplies to | | | | Keep student desks away from high traffic areas like |
| help you keep your classroom organized. Teacher | | | | near the door, the student closet or student supply |
| supply stores are a great place to look for ideas and | | | | areas. This will keep bottlenecks from wasting valuable |
| items that will help you achieve your own special | | | | learning time. |
| remedy for organization. | | | | Arrange cabinets or shelves where student supplies |
| Step 1: Filing Paperwork | | | | are kept for easy access and clean up. Organize craft |
| As a teacher, you will constantly be juggling a steady | | | | supplies and other student supplies in neat stacks. If |
| stream of paperwork. From student homework and | | | | you're a very organized person, you may want to label |
| newsletters to school memos and lesson plans, | | | | where each item should go so that the students can |
| paperwork comes with the job. | | | | practice reading while they clean up. |
| In this vein, one vital teaching supply is a good filing | | | | Step 4: Student Jobs |
| system. Whether it's a drawer filing system or a | | | | Start from the premise that your students want to |
| portable file, have files and folders clearly marked for | | | | please you and help you whenever they can. Come |
| each type of paperwork that you shuffle around. In | | | | up with a list of tasks that students can perform that |
| addition, create a folder for paperwork that requires | | | | will allow you to spend less time on organization. It also |
| your immediate attention. This folder should come and | | | | teaches responsibility and makes the students feel |
| go with you each day. | | | | "big." Some examples of classroom tasks that |
| Step 2: The Well Stocked Teacher Supply Cabinet | | | | students can perform are watering plants, collecting |
| An essential area of teacher organization is having the | | | | and passing out homework and worksheets, erasing |
| teaching supplies on hand when you need them. Make | | | | and cleaning chalkboards, pushing in chairs neatly at |
| a list of all the teaching supplies you need to have in | | | | the end of the day, and organizing learning centers and |
| your cabinet. Then, take a monthly inventory of your | | | | book shelves. |
| stock and purchase additional supplies as needed. | | | | While it may not seem like much, all of these little |
| These steps will help you be certain that your most | | | | organization tasks add up. It will save you time and |
| essential teaching supplies are only a few steps from | | | | frustration over the long run if you teach the students |
| your desk. | | | | how you want them to perform each job and give |
| Step 3: Arrange Your Classroom for Good Flow | | | | them constructive feedback on their performance. |
| In order to make each day run as smoothly as | | | | Well-planned classroom organization will make your job |
| possible, there are a few things to consider when | | | | as a teacher much easier. Having the appropriate |
| arranging your classroom furniture. Arrange the desks | | | | teaching supplies on hand and a good filing system for |
| so that all of your students can make eye contact | | | | paperwork, in addition to thoughtful classroom |
| with you, easily see chalkboards and bulletin boards | | | | arrangement and assigning student jobs, are four |
| and other teaching visuals. This will help to keep their | | | | steps in the right direction. |
| focus on you and the lesson. | | | | |