When you have a space used by dozens of kids, it’s inevitable it’s going to be a bit chaotic. Classrooms that are properly organised are easier to tidy and a lot less stressful to work in, so here are some tips for organising your classroom and getting it looking its best.
Get the right furniture
The right classroom furniture can make a big difference to the space. It means the layout is practical, and that students have space to work and thrive in comfort. It also means tidying up and organising is so much easier. If you’re looking to overhaul your space, consider Grocorp’s school classroom furniture, which has a wide range of styles to suit different spaces. In addition to chairs, tables, and display areas, you should make sure you have storage space, such as:
- Drawers for the children’s work
- Pegs for coats and bags
- Lockers
- Shelves for books
- Organisers for stationery
- Lockable storage for teachers
You can then ensure everything is put in the right place at the end of the day, meaning the classroom is ready for the next day ahead.
Go paperless
Going paperless can help you to keep things organised. Nowadays, kids need computer skills, so getting them to work on laptops for some of the day can save you needing to print worksheets. However, they’ll still need to do creative projects on paper. You can create electronic files for your own paperwork, and even scan in the kids’ work to keep digital files, instead of needing to keep hold of everything.
Get students involved
When you’re trying to take care of more than a dozen students, you can’t also be a cleaner for them all. As soon as kids are old enough, they should be able to tidy up after themselves. Younger kids respond well to reward schemes, such as giving them a gold star for tidying up their stuff. At the beginning of term, set out your expectations for the students, and give them daily tasks to keep everything tidy.
Concentrate on health and safety
Health and safety is one of the most important reasons to keep things tidy and organised. There’s even government advice on health and safety in the classroom, which will help you to identify any hazards and ensure they are taken care of. Things like the right storage space can be helpful, as they keep aisles clear and help you avoid trips and falls. Also, you need to make sure that electrical sockets are out of reach or covered, and that when you’re using anything potentially dangerous, you’ve carried out a risk assessment and properly explained it to the kids.
Classrooms are often a little chaotic, and it’s natural for them to get a bit disorganised during a busy day. But if they get too disorganised, you risk creating an environment that’s distracting and potentially dangerous. By sorting out your classroom, and ensuring you have proper furniture and storage, you can turn it into the ideal place for learning and encourage your students to thrive.
