This school year has been one big long example of how life sometimes gets in the way. Every time I feel like I have things under control again, something happens to push me back into survival mode. I finally am fighting my way back to a semblance of normal now and one of the first I things I did to help me ensure I stay here was give my classroom a big old fashioned spring cleaning.
5 Reasons Why I Prioritize Spring Cleaning My Classroom
Clear Out Clutter
Like many teachers, I have a hard time getting rid of things that might be useful someday. I have fought back against this urge by ruthlessly pitching things I no longer use each spring. I think this works best in the spring because I can think about whether I have used something at all this school year or if I have plans to use it in the coming weeks. If the answer to both of those questions is no, it gets thrown away, donated or recycled. I also get ride of anything that is broken or no longer works as it should. This year I got rid of a bunch of non-geared mini clocks, a pile of very well loved student sized white boards, 2 boxes of math curriculum our district no longer uses, several board games that are no longer used and some old files on students who are no longer in my school.
 |
| When your flat surfaces are completely covered in books, manipulatives and more you know it's time for a good cleaning |
Save Time
There is certainly some upfront time to spring clean my classroom, but in the long run, I save a lot of time. As the weather gets nicer and I want to spend more time outside, I find myself wanting to be able to leave school earlier in the afternoon and not work so long once the kids go home. When my classroom is clean and organized, I save time by being able to find what I need when I need it and having less clean up that I have to do by myself because my students know where to put things when they are organized.
 |
| The way the heater is supposed to look! I am so much more energized in clean spaces! |
Rearrange and Revitalize
As I spring clean my classroom, I take a few minutes to think about the furniture and arrangement of the room. Is there any furniture that I no longer use that can be removed to make more space? Is there any furniture I am lacking that I can check the storage area for or think about ordering for next year? I re-arrange furniture to better meet the needs and flexibility of the space before I am finished. This year I got rid of a few chairs that were starting to break along the side and dug out a few better ones from our storage shed. I also rearranged some desks along the perimeter of my room to make them friendlier for pairs of students working together.
 |
| This one is a bit embarrassing to share with the world, but this is what a math manipulative shelf can look like after being neglected for a bit. Once things start to unravel, students don't know where to put things so they just shove them anywhere on the shelf. |
Clean and Disinfect
After 8 months of not getting wiped down, my book shelves, walls and those nooks and crannies the vacuum doesn't quite reach all needed a bit of love. I use a bucket of soapy water and some microfiber cloths to give everything a once over. I also disinfect all tables, desks, doorknobs and the sink area to help clear out those winter germs. I also open my windows if the temperature allows it! Getting everything back to clean and fresh makes me feel better every time I enter the room.
 |
| So much easier to put things back where they belong now! |
Make Things Seem New
When I clean things up and move things around some, it makes things feel fresh and new to me and to my students. I am much calmer and my thoughts seem better organized when I am in an organized space. Switching things up with a few months left to go in school seems to help everyone feel more energized as well.
Finding Time For Spring Cleaning
I have three different ways I have found time to spring clean my classroom over the years. Depending on my schedule and other life events happening during a particular year, I may use one strategy over the other.
 |
| This one is almost painful to look at! Here is what it looks like when I have been in survival mode for to long! |
The Dedicated Day
I used this strategy for spring cleaning this year. We had a week off for winter/spring break and my family was not traveling. My mother in law wanted my own children for the day and the weather was terrible. I spent the better part of a day at school alone and totally revamped my room from start to finish all at once. I felt like I accomplished so much and got things exactly as I wanted them. I feel like I have saved 1-2 hours a week in the 3 weeks since then. As the weather gets warmer, those extra hours outside or at home feel great!
 |
| The top of my desk is brown! I also have some empty spots on my shelves which is always a good thing! |
A Little at a Time
If I can't dedicate a bunch of hours together, I try to do a bit at a time. Either choosing one area a day or just setting my timer for 10-15 minutes and cleaning furiously each day are great ways to get a lot done in small chunks.
Recruit Help!
Particularly for teachers who have the same kids in their room all day, spending an hour or so at the end of a school day doing a group spring clean can be a great way to get your classroom sparkling and teach your students about being responsible for their things and their space. It can be a lot of fun to put on some music and work together to things back to the way they belong. It is also a great chance for students who are great at organizing to get a chance to shine!
What are your best classroom organization tips? Please share in the comments below!
No comments:
Post a Comment