Instruct students to place their belongings in their cubbies at the beginning of the day. Outerwear, lunch sacks and other personal items should remain in the cubby unless it is in use. Remind students to return items to the cubbies after use if you notice that they don't do this immediately.
Have designated places for craft items such as construction paper, crayons and scissors. Keep these items in clear storage boxes so anyone can easily find what is needed. Remove the items from their designated storage area just before you begin an activity that uses the supplies. Make returning the items to their storage location the last step in your activity, as well as cleaning up snips of paper and other craft scraps. Enlist the help of kindergartners in the process by keeping a short broom and dust pan where a pupil can easily access it. Give bonus points that can be used for free time or other privileges for students who assist in cleanup without being asked.
Keep all of the materials needed for activities inside the learning center. Place items for a specific activity inside a pocket folder, sheet protector or other organizational system. Code the items according to subject area, difficulty level and learning center. Use colored folders to designate subjects, number stickers for difficulty level and colored dots that correspond to the learning center color. For example, math activities go in red folders with numbers 1 through 6 on the upper left corner and learning center dots next to the number sticker. Require students to return items such as tangram pieces, pattern blocks or other educational manipulatives to their appropriate place. Spot-check the learning centers during the day and send offenders back to clean up if they left materials out or put them in the wrong place.
Require all students to have a pocket folder for worksheets, art projects and notes to parents. Finished papers go in the folder at the end of the assignment and the folder goes to the cubby or other designated holding location. Students place the pocket folder in their backpack at the end of the day. At the beginning of the year, explain to parents they need to check the folder daily and only return items that require a signature, such as permission forms and report cards.
Police the classroom five to 10 minutes before the end of the day. Have students assist with getting things put away and wiping down work areas. Thank them for their assistance and record cleanup points if you use them.