As the weeks of summer come to an end, I start to think about the upcoming school year. One of the first things I like to do is decide how I want to organize my classroom. I think about what I did last year that worked and I think about things I want to change.
Teacher Area
One of the first classroom organization decisions I make is where I will put my teacher area. I look for a space that fits my desks and bookshelves. I like for the space to be off to the side. That way it does not interfere with the placement of student desks. I think about where I want to put materials I frequently use and where I will put my teacher resources. I want my teacher area to be a space I enjoy using.
Student Areas
The second thing I do is decide what areas in the classroom I want to organize for student use. I look at how much classroom furniture I need to put in each area. I think about what I want to use the area for. I usually have a reading area with a bookshelf with books for students to borrow. If there is enough room, I will make a place for students to read by using a rug or bean bag chairs. I also like to have a place set up for students to turn in work. I usually use a counter since most rooms have them. Student materials like markers, scissors, glue, etc. are also put on the counter.
Student Desks
The last thing I do is place student desks in the room. I save this for the last step because I know how much space I must work with after I have figured out the teacher and student areas. I start off the school year with students in groups. I usually do groups of four but that can change depending on the number of students I have in my class. If you do not know how you would like to organize student desks you can look on Pinterest for ideas. It is also good to get someone to help you move desks and try different desk organizations. Create a picture of how you want to organize your classroom. That way you can see it on paper and make changes if you need to.
Classroom organization is an important part of getting ready for the new school year. It is good to take time and think about how you want to organize your classroom before you go back to school. When you go back to school on the teacher workdays sometimes you get so overwhelmed with information overload you forget about classroom organization. Try to make sure to take the time this year to organize your classroom the way you want it to be organized.
