One way to get children involved with classroom organization is to create subject-focused centers around the classroom. Select various areas of the classroom to designate for each subject and decorate the space accordingly. It is especially helpful to post bulletin boards in each section that you can coordinate with the subject and your specific lesson plans. By dividing areas of the classroom in this way, you will also help students to break down larger aspects of their lives into smaller, more manageable sections as well. Encourage your students to keep the classroom organized by keeping the tools, books and projects that correspond to each center in their respective areas.
Another way you can work with children to improve their organization skills is to help them establish a routine. Start by going through the school day with them while pointing out how certain times in the day are for certain activities, such as a certain subject or lunch time. Then ask them to break down the rest of their day in a similar way, from the time they wake up until they go to bed. It would be best to create a worksheet for students that they can fill in with their activities.
Students can also learn organization as well as responsibility through classroom jobs and chores. Every classroom is likely to have various tasks that keep things running smoothly, such as organizing the bookshelves or feeding the class pet. Set up a table of tasks for your classroom and keep a rotating schedule of students who have these chores. Also, designate a certain time of the day for them to perform their particular job so they can also learn to accomplish things as a team while avoiding distraction.
Another way to instill good organizational habits in students is by having them participate in classroom-wide cleaning days. Appoint one day of the week for cleaning and set aside time in the schedule for desk purging and organizing, as well as school bag clean up. Before or after the cleaning time, discuss with students the reasons why having a clean and organized workspace makes school work and home work so much easier. Then talk about ways they can continue these habits at home.