Classroom Organization With Tables

This is my 12th year of teaching.  I made it through about 3 months before the mess of desks drove me crazy.   In my district class size just goes up and up; tables have saved some of my sanity with the 30+ kids.  Shinguards would be required for moving around.  So I thought I would share some of how I organize all the stuff my chickadees use on a daily basis.

Drawers-
This is where students store projects and papers they are not finished with.  They also have mile marker cards (a track walking/running recess thing) and other personal items.  Many of my glasses wearing students keep their cases in this space.

Cubbies-
Bookbags and Reader's Studio items are kept here.   That is all.

Supplies-
All supplies, besides pencils, are stored on the counter.  Students grab what they need and take it back to their table.  I also have three tubs of extras if they can't find the color they need or if someone else in the group is already using it.

Binders, Folders, and Spirals-
This summer my roommate was getting rid of the two binder holding shelves....and I think they have found a perfect new home.  Each student has a binder with dividers for each subject.  (This is a new thing for me this year....I will let you know how I feel about it at the end of the year.)  They also keep their folders for math work on these shelves and spirals for their writing journals.  One side has the girls' stuff and the others has the boys'.

Happy Saturday,

Teacher Area Challenge

Clutter-Free Classroom's Project Week 4 Challenge is the Teacher Work Area. 

Here is the arrangement of my teacher area at the beginning of the year.  It was my small group meeting area as well.  

Before

What I Like:
*The CAFE menu on the board behind it.
*Small filing cabinet for student info and small group materials.
*Blue drawers in the corner are so wonderful.  They are wide enough for posters, charts, etc and deep enough to hold little baskets to sort all the supplies inside.

What I Don't LIke:
*The table is right by the classroom door, so students were distracted easily
*Half of it always ended up collecting papers, books, lesson plans, and clipboards, etc. (as evidenced by the picture)

What I Would Like to Change:
*Condense all the work space.  The table against the wall, the blue drawers, and the kidney table all provide work space....pretty sure I don't need three.
*Have a space to put everything once I finish with it, so it isn't left on the table.
*Want to have a smaller place to conference with one or two students.

What I Changed:
I didn't do too much to the blue drawers, except label the drawers and make space for the paper cutter.  The blue box has all the supplies for making lunch choices and then sending our lunch order to the office.









I found a shelf that was just about the same height and width as the blue drawer.  I need to fit some boards on each shelf so things won't fall through, but on the other hand, having the holes keeps me from putting stuff there:-)
On the second shelf, I put a tub for reading, math, social studies/science/health, and art.  Then when I am done with that part of the day, I return the teacher guides and materials to the appropriate box.  This keeps stuff off the table.

The 3-drawer plastic container is a teacher must have.  There are so many in my room, I could be keeping Sterlite in business.  And bulletin border is the perfect size to cute it up a little!  Next to the drawers are two magazine holders, turned on the long side.  This is where I keep my lesson plan binder and all the student info. clipboards.

The Tables:

I realized that a large part of the problem came from the size and location of the table.  So I simply moved it into the classroom library area.  This has been a brilliant move.  1)  I can meet with a group and have easy access when helping students change books.  (We still have some issues making appropriate choices)  2)  The space is far away from the door and papers don't get left there, because it would be out of the way to drop them off there.





Final adjustment:

Love the giant running records binder!

Move small table to the front of the room.  This is a perfect table for conferencing with students.  And it is still just in front of the CAFE menu.




Some Tips:
*Have a misc folder, for papers, ideas, etc that don't have a home yet.  At the end of the month whatever is still inside, recycle!
*Compete with your students.  Each table group in our class earns points at the end of the day for stacked chairs and clean work areas (only pencils in the basket, nothing on top or under the desk)  Well apply the same rules to yourself and have students award your work area.  My kids LOVE checking and deciding if I get points for the day.

Happy Organizing,
Laurie