Furniture placement in a classroom should reflect an educator's teaching style. Teachers no longer opt solely for the standard pattern of desks in straight rows facing the front. If an educator does lots of small group work, she might arrange the desks in clusters to suit that model. A teacher who prefers whole class discussions could arrange the desks in a circle or U-shape. Learning centers, such as a reading nook, listening area or project table are best positioned in spaces that won't cause congestion. Teachers must be able to quickly reach each child, accounting for any students with special needs or wheel chairs.
Students need easy access to supplies and materials. If the children sit in clusters, group leaders can quickly retrieve items, such as scissors, glue and crayons placed in bins. If the teacher designates a student center, kids will know where to go when they need tissues, pencils or work folders for absences, reducing questions and commotion. Items such as math manipulatives and science materials can be housed in pizza boxes or containers that are easy to store. Supplies that are used often should be front and center. For example, calculators can be numbered and placed in a hanging shoe holder. It's best to designate an out-of-the-way space for high-traffic spots such as the pencil sharpener.
Teachers deal with a multitude of papers that can quickly become overwhelming, especially for those who teach several different groups of students throughout the day. Tests, homework and other collected papers can be housed in an "In" box for each group of students. Additionally, a separate "Out" box can hold items such as graded papers to hand back to students. Children can deposit notes from parents in a bin that sits on the teacher's desk. Keeping handouts that will be used in class that day in a container close to the door, students can develop the routine of taking one on their way into the classroom.
It's important to develop a filing system and file pertinent papers daily before they become overwhelming. Keeping each student's work samples and parent correspondence in individual folders ensures easy retrieval for parent conferences. Students need easy access to their portfolios, adding papers to them on a regular basis. It's helpful to have a clipboard that lists students’ names, parents’ names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and dates of contact. Additionally, successful lesson ideas should be cataloged for future reference.
Posting a daily agenda is an effective way to set the tone for organization. It not only shows students that their teacher is organized, but also provides a model for them to follow. The objective and homework assignment should be recorded in the same spot on the board each day for students to copy. If there is room, it's best to keep the entire week's agenda on display.