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Post by ontheway on Jun 4, 2008 16:23:48 GMT -5
How do you guys handle work clutter/mess - especially fellow teachers ? I have been able to maintain my apartment pretty well in past months. I'd rather not let someone in unexpectedly, but could get by with -"sorry things are a bit messy It's the end of the school year and have a lot of work to do at home (ALL true)." It is the end of the school year, and I have to start clearing out my classroom. I admit to having a full classroom - organized sections and labeled pretty well - but cluttered with things that don't find themselves back home (in transit?). I do periodically have students help me with things but it can be very insidious all the stuff needed to make a school experience interesting. I have a lot to do in the classroom. This morning the room looked like this: desk with folders, copies, student works, notes - things that don't belong. Under my desk bags of stuff. Bookshelf with an assortment of teacher books, student reading books, magazines, paperwork, videos, file folders. Computer area piled with printouts, DVDs, paper. Supplies along the window sills. Class library with unlabeled books students don't know where to put (I actually have a large, labeled library of book containers with stickers on them - but as I bring in /buy more books, I don't always label or have students label them as I should  Tomorrow is a work day (no students(- so this afternoon I did what I can't do at home. Ala Clean Sweep technique - I've pulled all this stuff off the desks and countertops and bookshelves and computer and quickly sorted them onto student desks. Tomorrow I will just go from desk to desk and either throw away, sort for students to take home, find a home for it in my cabinets/drawers. And I am going to be ruthless! I already went through some plastic desk top storage shelves and tossed most stuff. I would like to go through my desk and filing cabinet, but that may have to wait till Friday afternoon. Good luck to all you other teachers! I'm Ontheway |
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Post by crazycatlady on Jun 5, 2008 21:17:05 GMT -5
I struggle with disorganization at work. Just this week saw someone else's office that looked so neat and appealing! My desk often has piles all over, and I sometimes lose important papers...sigh!
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Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on Jun 6, 2008 2:02:33 GMT -5
My desk at work was so messy, another employee said it looked like "A Mad Scientist worked There" . I felt a little proud of that. No one ever called me a "scientist" before. m
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troubledmom
New Member
Put one foot in front of the other and soon......
Joined: June 2008
Posts: 26 
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Post by troubledmom on Jun 6, 2008 2:24:37 GMT -5
Although I am not a teacher in a classroom, I collect many educational supplies for my kids. I always figure that home should be an extension of school as far as learning goes. So I have an over abundance of school type supplies for 3 kids in kindergarten, 7th grade and 11th grade. I also tend to keep too much of their actual school work.
One of the things that I have found that works is similar to what it sounds like you are doing. Sort everything into like piles and then sort through the piles tossing and then putting away once the toss is done.
Those banker boxes really come in handy for sorting stuff into and storing the stuff that isn't currently in use.
Our teachers are having to empty their classrooms completely this year because of some changes within the district. When I asked my DD's Kindergarten teacher if she needed help she amazed me when she said "Oh other than getting things moved into the storage room I have it all under control." She showed me how she had already got these lovely large boxes with lids and already sorted through everything and put everything in carefully labeled boxes. So organized, I am envious. She tells me that she expects that she will have everything packed up the first day at school with no children. <see TM's gapping mouth in awe at her organization>
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Post by ontheway on Jun 6, 2008 6:18:48 GMT -5
I am pretty good at setting up organizational systems - it's maintaining them that I have a problem with. I think because I have too much to do - and just don't assign time to DO the maintenance. My classroom library is packed with books - most are in labeled bins - color coded. The students help to put the books back where they belong, but.... I really need to initiate maintenance work. The thing is, I know better. Worked in bookstores as a supervisor for many years and know it is just a matter of systematically and regularly do the dirty work!  Yesterday I did get a lot of things done! Returned many supplies to appropriate rooms (science, library). Bagged up things I plan to take home. Even went through a few desk drawers! And I started do my required paperwork - all this on top of 3 meetings. Loose papers I need to go through are all in one place now, easy for me to systematically go through. Most of the student work to be sent home is now sorted and in folders to be taken home. Supply closet straightened up as well. Hope this inspires some of you! Ontheway |
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Post by skitter on Jun 7, 2008 6:33:02 GMT -5
I wonder if there are any school systems that have storage areas for teachers to keep their out of season teaching materials? I think classrooms were designed for the days when there was a set of textbooks and little else in the room. I recently had to move classrooms a little at a time. I loved the stage where I just had the bare essentials, but still had access to anything I might need in my old classroom. My new classroom was so bright, airy, and easy to maintain. Now most of my things have arrived at my new classroom, and it feels cluttered - and there are still five bookcases to come. Primary teachers are supposed to have a lot of books, but although I have spent a lot of money on clear plastic containers for them, their presence makes my classroom feel so cluttered. I can't even donate them to the school library because they are short on space too. I've given a lot of extra books to the students.
I'm now asking myself, "Can I possibly teach my grade without this item?" I just want that feeling of cleanliness and space so much. Are there any schools that provide storage space out there? I think that schools should provide bright clean but stimulating areas for children. Many of them come from homes that are quite chaotic. They deserve a little beauty and peacefulness in their lives - a safe haven. Why do our classrooms have to be crammed with so much stuff?
Some things that I have done to reduce the clutter in my classroom so far are: get rid of most 3D materials and just keep 2D things like posters. If I really need to I can buy some of the seasonal props for very little at the dollar store. I put books in plastic boxes according to their subject or season. I use hanging file folders for ditto sheets by month or subject unit (math)
If I just have one or two books related to a theme, I file them right in the filing cabinet with the dittos. I give back student work as quickly as possible. I have all of the department of education required materials in one small area, so a substitute can find them easily. I have standing file folders for student records - a writing folder, a testing folder and a general folder. I have a standing file folder for really important items - mandated tests, weekly poems, spelling.
Overall, I have a tiered system. School materials and department mandated items up front and centre. My favourite teaching materials next to them. Other things farther away. It is the last area that is going to have to get trimmed. I find that we get new teaching materials from the department, but nothing to store them on/in. We have one big book that is so large and heavy it could injure a child if it toppled. The only way to use it is to prop it on two adult sized chairs. Oh my!
Have any teachers managed to achieve serenity and beauty in their classrooms without turning their own homes into storage sheds?
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