What comes to your mind when you think about classroom organisation? Does it include neatly placed, alphabetised books on pristine shelves? How about gleaming tables and spotless carpets? Of course, these are the sort of images that most people would think of. But, if your thoughts end with the simple aesthetics of an organised room, a large part of the puzzle is missing.
Classroom organisation is deeper than you think
An age-old, arguably overused saying is: ‘tidy space, tidy mind’. You may roll your eyes at the cliché, but, sometimes, clichés are repeated over and over again for a reason. If you find yourself in a messy, disorganised room, your mind is more likely to be influenced—and not in a good way.
As teachers, we spend most our time in our classroom, and, ideally, it should be a reflection of our teaching style. However, if you find your classroom organisation to be slipping, don’t worry! Believe it or not, you’re only human.
Teaching can be a chaotic beast that’s difficult to tame. Particularly during the first years of teaching, so many plates are being spun, one or two are bound to drop here and there. The important thing is how you react to these smashed plates.
Fortunately, there is support out there that can help you master your classroom organisation and establish productive habits going forward.
Former Principal Dr Melissa Caudle now author, writes that, Teacher in Control by Sylvia Skinner is an example of an effective handbook that any educator can refer to, regardless of experience.
In this book, you’ll not only be shown actionable steps to establish and maintain an organised classroom, but you will come to understand the philosophy behind organisation in teaching.
It will be made clear to you that classroom organisationclassroom organisationcupboards and shelves. A tidy room is just the foundation, and if the foundation has a few rusty screws, the entire structure may come crashing down.
Classroom organisation leads to classroom management
Organisation is the bedrock from which we can build our pedagogy upon. After all, a cluttered room leads to a cluttered mind, and a cluttered mind means disjointed teaching.
Your students feed from your energy, as well as the energy from their environment. If they get a sniff of disorganisation, their attitude, and approach towards their learning journey may follow suit. On the other side of the coin, the cultivation of productive, organised habits will shine through. You will feel the impact, meaning that your students will be more likely to align with your rejuvenated energy!
Don’t be afraid to seek support. Making these fundamental changes to your life is a personal journey, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek helpful resources and useful advice. Effective classroom organisationclassroom organisatione classroom management.
Start from the ground-up, then everything will fall in place. Don’t let disorganised drawers and scattered worksheets impact your students’ learning. Teaching is a stressful enough job as it is. Introducing simple, yet significant, adjustments will make a world of difference.
Saved time means stronger teaching
Time is one of the most precious commodities that teachers possess. How many times have you looked at the clock and raised your eyebrows with surprise, wondering where the hours have gone?
Utilising resources such as Teacher in Control will add hours to your daily schedule. No more late evenings or wasted weekends eaten up by menial tasks that could have been streamlined. No more wasted hours after school tidying up and attempting to organise, only to repeat the same process the next day. Getting everything done at once, in one fell swoop, will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.
So, don’t hesitate to read this classroom organisationclassroom organisationaking positive changes that will improve your wellbeing in such a demanding profession. Your students will thank you for it- you will thank you for it! Seemingly small changes can make the hugest of differences. Never underestimate the power of organisation, especially as a teacher.
Get organised with teacher in control
The classroom must reflect how an educator intends to organise and teach students, while encouraging both independence and collaboration.
classroom organisation, classroom management, and how the students learn goes hand-in-hand. Those bulging cupboards, piles of neglected books, or disorganised art supplies can dramatically impact student learning.
Educators looking to change or enhance their mindset to create a productive learning environment will find tools, tips, and real-world experiences in this helpful guide.
Purchase the book from my Amazon account. It costs less than a dollar, and a substantial part of the profit from the book directly helps teachers in need in the Solomon Islands.
