Home Light and Air Colors Sound Smell Placement Clutter Tabitha Miller M.A.

Declutter that class

Clutter is an enemy of Feng Shui, because it represents too much yin energy which brings feelings of confusion, tiredness and procrastination .The condition of our classrooms can mirror the condition of our lives. If we're feeling torn in different directions and overwhelmed, our classroom begins to reflect that. No matter how may times we pick-up stuff or organize, if we have too much clutter our efforts can be in vain. 

Four types of clutter are outlined in the book: Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston

1. Things you do not use or love
2. Things that are untidy or disorganized
3. Too many things in too small of a space
4. Anything unfinished

Your classroom is filled with clutter of all shapes and sizes. This is why you are unable to keep it clean. You have too much STUFF. All I ask is that you set a timer and spend 5 minutes a day decluttering. That's it.  

• The Perfect 10 Boogie
  
  We do this assignment as fast as we can. Take a garbage bag and walk through your classroom and throw away 10 items. Do not stop until you have collected all 10 items. Then close the garbage bag and pitch it. DO NOT LOOK IN IT!!! Just do it.
  
  Next, take an empty box and go through your learning environment collecting 10 items to give away. Deepak Chopra says "If you want more love you have to give more of it away, if you want more money, give more of it away." This will help you realize that if you ever do need something , there will be someone there to give it to you. This will change the energy in your classroom and bring about good feelings. Every time I do this I feel better and my classroom is becoming decluttered in the process. As soon as you finish filling the box, take it to the car or other person's classroom. You are less tempted to rescue the items.
  
  Rule of thumb: if you have two of any item and you only need one, get rid of the least desirable.
  

• The Hot Spot Fire Drill
  
  Here is a problem that we all have and continue to struggle with - Hot Spots. What is a hot spot?
  
  A hot spot is an area, when left unattended will gradually take over. My favorite analogy is of a hot spot in a forest fire, if left alone, it will eventually get out of hand and burn up the whole forest. This is what happens in our classrooms. If left unattended, the hot spot will grow and take over the whole room as well as making the room look awful. When you walk into a room, this is the first thing you see. CLUTTER ATTRACTS CLUTTER!
  
  Do you have areas like this that continue to grow if left alone? Does the rest of the class see this as a place to put things when they do not want to put them where they belong? It is our job to nip this in the bud! Get rid of that pile, find the surface underneath and stop this Hot Spot from becoming a raging clutter inferno! 
• Resources: www.flylady.net and http://k-6educators.about.com/od/classroommanagement/a/clutter.htm

Classroom Organization

• Color code everything. Use the same color for all materials for each subject or unit. If you can, color code assignments and handouts by using colored copy paper. If you don't have access to colored paper, then use colored labels. Use colored labels on resource books for students so they'll return articles to the right notebook. Use different colors for student records in each class.
• Put everything in binders. Place your teacher resource books in three-ring binders using plastic sleeves. Once again, color code these binders according to subject. Use binders to store articles that you'd like to keep.
• Store items in boxes. Use plastic tubs or cardboard file boxes to store holiday projects, art projects, special books, and supplies. Be sure to label these boxes with the name of each project or unit.
  

• Assign numbers to students. Assign the same number to each student that you used in your gradebook. Have each student write his or her number on every assignment. Use corresponding student numbers to label all student materials, including mailboxes.
• Use an online gradebook. Online gradebooks allow you to automatically give out online assignments and record grades. Check out http://mygradebook.com for an example.
• Make labels with each student's name. Have your students write their names and numbers on labels, which you can peel off and use for all folders, notebooks, and other materials that need student identification, including forms. This is a real time-saver.
• Be prepared for new students. Have packets of information for new students prepared ahead of time so that when a new student enters your class in the middle of a lesson, you're ready.
• Create a seating chart. As soon as your class list is final, create a seating chart from your perspective at the front of the class. This should help you learn students' names and help keep some order in the classroom.
• Create an assignment basket or tray. Use a basket or tray for students to turn in assignments. You can have a different basket or tray for each class or subject. Then train your students to turn in assignments in these places.

• Establish classroom rules and policies. During the first week of school ask your students to suggest class rules. Chances are, the rules that they suggest will be similar to those you have in mind. If not, you can guide them. ("Should we have rules for getting ready for lunch? What should they be?") Include general classroom standards such as cooperation and routines, including restroom use, assignment turn-in, and work standards.
• Go over district rules with students. These might include suspension and school behavior codes.
• Explain class organization to students. Tell students where they will find supplies and how they should put supplies and materials back. Give them rewards or credits for following directions.

• Plan field trips in advance. Take a large envelope (10" x 13"), glue a checklist to the front and laminate it. On the checklist include the following:
  
  • group list
  • directions
  • consent forms
  • emergency treatment forms
  • name tags
  • anything else that you might find necessary
    
    On the day of the field trip use a wipe-off pen to check off which items are inside. Enclose what you need for the field trip and place the envelope on a table so the volunteer drivers can pick it up as they come inside.
    
    
• Make Back-to-School Night packets. On the day of Back-to-School Night, have your students create a packet for their families. Include the following:
  • a welcome letter
  • the school calendar
  • your homework policy
  • a copy of your daily/weekly schedule
  • important phone numbers
  • enrichment activities for parents to do with their children at home
  • a calendar outline of your curriculum for the upcoming school year

• Create a substitute teacher folder or binder early in the year. Use it to file class lists, fire drill rules, seating charts, times and schedule change information, and a general plan for the day for substitutes to follow. You might also include the names and numbers of teachers' aides, helpful teachers, office procedures, and classroom rules and policies.
• Provide substitutes with class subject information. Include notes on students to assist in certain areas.
• Label your cabinets. Itemize the contents of each cabinet so that substitutes can easily find any supplies or materials they need.

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