How to create an organised classroom in 3 simple steps

Regardless of whether you’re in your first teaching job or you’ve been doing it for years, it can be tricky to get the hang of creating and maintaining a perfectly organised classroom. Letting your study space fall into disarray can be chaotic and unsettling not just for you, but your pupils too, so it pays to think carefully about how you can keep your room neat, tidy and clutter-free. For some handy hints and tips, keep reading. 1. Use effective storage solutions You can’t expect to maintain an organised classroom if you’re not readily equipped with effective storage options. It’s vital that everything in your space has a place to stay when not in use, and it’s just as important that you know exactly where to find the things you need. The good news is, there are a plethora of different storage solutions that you could incorporate into your classroom depending on what it is that you need to stow away. For example, bookcases and cupboards are ideal for storing textbooks, while trays and drawer units are perfect for keeping stationery supplies. At Furniture at Work™, we offer a range of high quality education furniture in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you shouldn’t struggle to find storage that fits your space and satisfies your precise needs. 2. Create an effective filing system As a teacher, you’ll appreciate that there is much more to your role than giving lessons and marking homework. It’s likely that you’re expected to complete stacks of paperwork on a daily basis. While you no doubt try your best, it can be tricky to keep on top of the administrative side of your job, and it’s easy to let your space become cluttered and untidy. So, to make sure you’re staying on track at all times, you might find it useful to create your own filing system. From class schedules and lesson plans, to useful resources and materials, to pupil registers and reports, this is a great way to maintain order in your study space. How you set up your system is up to you. You could go all out and dedicate an entire filing cabinet to staying on top of things, or you could arrange your essential documentation in plastic boxes or trays. You might even want to create sub-folders or colour code your work by category to make sure you’re ultra organised at all times.   3. Rethink your furniture layout   If the layout of your classroom furniture is all wrong, it’s likely the whole room will suffer. Failing to think about the arrangement of your furnishings can make the space look and feel chaotic, and you may struggle to make the most of the room you have. In turn, this can have a negative impact on your teaching and on your students too. So, if you’re keen for your lessons to flow smoothly, it pays to organise your furniture in an effective manner.   The size and shape of your classroom may influence how you arrange your desks or tables. Whether you choose to organise these furnishings in rows, clusters or in a circular shape, the configuration you use should enable you and your pupils to move around the room with ease, and it should also complement your teaching style.   As long as you’re fully prepared, creating and maintaining organisation and order in the classroom isn’t as difficult as you might think.