Looking to transform the physical appearance of your classroom for the upcoming school year? The biggest task you can do to transform the physical appearance of your classroom will only cost you time and is free! Declutter your classroom and without a doubt, you will transform your classroom.
Clutter distracts you and your students from learning daily. From outdated books to paperwork, clutter will build quickly in your classroom without a plan from you as the teacher. In this article, we’ll look at five common items in your classroom that can produce clutter quickly and discuss how to tackle these areas. With that being said, let’s clear the way for a clutter-free classroom.
What Is Clutter?
Before we list the common items you can clear and declutter from your classroom, it’s important to understand what clutter is.
Clutter is an abundance of materials in a given space that doesn’t serve a purpose for us.
Often clutter consists of items we haven’t used in some time or do not need. While it may be hard to let go of items we have acquired over time, I promise you won’t miss the items!
When I first started decluttering items, I thought I needed to keep the items just in case I needed them down the line. I also thought about the money spent on the items. This was so far from the truth! I never used the items and although my classroom “looked good” on the outside, behind my classroom closets and cabinets was a cluttered mess.
Why Declutter?
In organization, decluttering is the first and most important part of the process. If you are looking to change the physical appearance and organization of your classroom, decluttering has to be included in the process.
While the physical transformation of a classroom will occur when you declutter your classroom, removing the clutter from your classroom has many other awesome benefits. When clutter is removed from a space, stress and anxiety in individuals decrease. Decluttering also allows individuals to save time when cleaning and promotes productivity (I literally cannot focus with a cluttered desk).
You are also creating a calm environment for your students, which promotes academic readiness.
Where To Put The Clutter?
When decluttering your classroom, grab four boxes or bags. You will also need labels or a pen. For each box or bag provide labels or write the following on the bags or boxes: trash, keep, donate, or save for later.
Next, choose a space in your room that is cluttered and needs TLC. Remove everything from that space (It will get worse before it gets better but you can do it).
Sort and touch each item, deciding to either throw away, donate, keep, or save the item for later. If you have a teacher buddy or family members that can help ask them to help you. It will make the process go by so much quicker!
Tip: As you pick up each item, make decisions quickly. Often if you give too much thought to an item, you will hold on to that item and the decluttering process won’t be efficient.
Outdated Books
While books are a valuable resource for teaching, take the time to look through your collection for books to declutter from your classroom.
Many teachers have a class library that is often used to foster a student’s love for reading.
Based on your student’s needs or interests, there may be books that are not being used and can be stored away for late use.
Also, look for books that are torn and no longer in good condition. These are books that you can easily discard.
If you have any professional books that are no longer valuable to you, give the books a new home. New teachers may benefit from the books. Sharing is caring!
If your district has transitioned to online versions with digital resources of textbooks and you have outdated textbooks, purge the old textbooks. Ask if there are specific protocols you need to follow but definitely get rid of the books.
Excessive decorations
I love a decorated classroom! As a former teacher, my classroom was my second home, and I took pride in my decorations. In hindsight,
I realize now that certain decorations and themes in my classroom were overly distracting.
Take a few minutes to do a visual assessment of your classroom. Are most of your walls covered in excessive decorations? Are you using multiple colors to decorate your room?
If so, are there items that could be removed to help promote a calming and peaceful environment?
Tip: When decorating your classroom, focus on 2 prominent colors as too many colors can be overstimulating. Functional decoration is also a plus!
Unused supplies and materials
At the beginning of the school year, stores are filled with school supplies!
The abundance of school supplies often transitions from the stores to where? School classrooms.
Take stock of what supplies and materials you have in your classroom and store away the extra supplies in a designated area. Don’t leave the items in students’ desks or just lying around the classroom.
Students will go through the materials throughout the school year. Set specific times throughout the year to go through students’ supplies swapping out worn supplies with new supplies.
Also, look throughout your classroom for school-issued furniture that is not needed. If you have desks, chairs (save a few), and tables that have not been used in months, ask if you can remove the materials. If you have personal furniture that hasn’t been used by you or your students in months, take the time to remove those items from your classroom.
By removing just a few furniture items from your classroom, you will instantly have more space and clarity.
Tip: At the end of the year allow students to take their materials back home. As a Title One teacher, my parents were appreciative as they could allow their children to use the supplies for the following year.
Excessive Paper Paperwork:
Papers without a plan can become a huge source of clutter in a classroom.
In recent years, students now complete a large portion of their classwork on computers and laptops. However, even with technology, there are times when student papers are necessary.
Create a system that allows students to take their papers home after you have reviewed and assessed student papers.
Another way to reduce papers in the classroom includes alternate methods to assess. Class discussions, group work, whiteboards, and verbal assessments are all ways to assess students and helps reduce clutter.
Reduce the clutter in your personal space by using resources like Google Docs to create and share lesson plans with students, other teachers, and administrators.
Digital Clutter
Lastly, don’t forget about digital clutter. Go through your emails from the previous year. Delete any emails that you no longer want or need. Organize and delete any documents that you will use this upcoming school year (this would be a good time to also organize your desktop on your desktop).
Final Thoughts On Decluttering Your Classroom
Classroom organization is vital for an environment that nurtures and promotes a learning environment. Decluttering books, excessive decorations, unused supplies and materials, and unnecessary paperwork are crucial in creating that space. When you declutter your classroom, you are not only changing the environment you are providing your students with a space that allows them to focus and thrive. Take the time today to declutter your classroom and witness the difference it will make for your students!
Read Next:
Get Ahead Of The Game: Classroom Organization Tips For A Stress-Free Year
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