No doubt you’ve heard the old adage that a “clean room is a happy room.” Well, this applies to our classrooms too. Clutter can have an adverse effect on our mental health. It’s one thing for us to feel that way, but it’s another for our students to be subjected to it because of our clutter. Keep reading for 4 tips that will help you create a clutter-free classroom environment.
Clutter Free Classroom Tip #1
You’ve heard of this one too, I’m sure. “A place for everything, and everything in its place.”
So, this tip is to simply have a place for everything. If we want to create a clutter free classroom, this is where we have to start.
Usually, clutter falls into one of two categories:
- Things that don’t have a home, and
- Things that do have a home, but aren’t where they belong.
So first, take the time to put away the things that have a home, but aren’t already there. Then, we can focus on the homeless items.
For everything that is cluttering up your classroom with no place to go, ask yourself:
- Is this something I need to keep?
- Is this something I need to access frequently?
- What is the best place for this item?
Then take action
Once you’ve asked yourself these questions, it’s time to take action. First, get rid of anything you don’t need to keep. The less stuff you have, the less there is to organize.
But, be mindful of how often you actually use the item. If it’s something you use frequently, then put it somewhere that will keep it easily accessible. If it’s something you don’t need often, then put it somewhere out of the way. In the future, be consistent about placing the items back into their homes.
Declutter Your Classroom
How often do you find yourself putting something down in the wrong place, and thinking to yourself, “I’ll just put this away later?” But we all know what happens next. We get caught up in something else, and later never comes. The item sits there, and sits there some more, causing unwanted clutter.
However, one way to have a clutter free classroom is to not let it get cluttered in the first place. I know, I know. Easier said than done.
My favorite trick to eliminate clutter before it can form is implementing the one minute rule. If it takes one minute (or less) to put something away, then put it away right now.
It’s that simple. This one small change can yield big results.
Make it a habit
When you have something in your hand, ask yourself, “how long will it take to put this away?” This is a habit that has to be formed and worked on. But, it’s totally worth it. This one rule helps to nip clutter in the bud.
How to clean a classroom quickly
The one minute rule is my favorite for keeping my classroom clutter free, but not everything can be put away in one minute. So for those objects, I recommend a 10-minute tidy.
My all-time favorite time-saving trick is batching. (Completing multiple similar tasks in one session.) So, when I can’t put things away in one minute or less, I like to let them pile up a bit, and then put them all away at once.
Usually, this only takes about 10 minutes, hence the name 10-minute tidy.
The 10-Minute Tidy in Practice
My favorite example of this is paper that needs to be filed away. It can be a bit of a chore putting papers away in my filing cabinet. It’s across the room from my desk where the papers pile up. Then, I have to put papers in different folders. I may forget to grab the key for the filing cabinet. Et cetera.
In other words, it rarely takes me just one minute to file away papers. I let them collect in a paper tray on my desk throughout the week, and then every Friday afternoon, I file them away before I leave for the weekend.
Why this works for a Clutter Free Classroom
The key is to have a designated place for things to collect throughout the time frame between your 10-minute tidies. When you have a bin or some type of container to collect the things that need to be put away, you don’t have a cluttered space in the meantime. With everything contained, you also save time searching for the things that need to be put away.
You just start with the container of items, and take 10 minutes (or often less) to put everything away.
Classroom Cleaning Tip
Share the responsibility. You don’t have to tidy alone. I mean, you’re not the only one that uses your classroom. We all have those days where our classroom is just a hot mess at the end of the day. (Have you ever noticed that some of the best lessons are also the messiest?)
Enlist the help of your students.
Did you know that even high school students like to help their teachers? Okay, not all of them, but definitely more than you would think. In fact, there are secondary teachers that successfully implement a whole classroom job system. Just like they do in elementary school.
For special jobs that declutter your classroom, you can ask for just one volunteer to take care of it for you. (This can also become great material for letters of recommendation.)
You’re not alone
For bigger jobs, like putting away supplies, you can involve the whole class by making it part of your classroom systems and routines.
Either way, there are many of them, and only one of you. Having students help you with some of the classroom clean up will save you tons of time.
Just be sure to give students some specific directions. A small group of students can be in charge of clearing debris from the floor. Some students can be in charge of straightening the books on a shelf. Whatever you need. Just make sure they know what you want so you don’t have to fix what they did later.
Want to hear more about how you can keep a clutter free classroom? Watch my video on YouTube.
Wondering what other systems and procedures you could be implementing to make your teaching life easier? Download the free Secondary Classroom Systems Checklist.
