There is an abundant variety of teacher supplies to help you keep your classroom organized. Teacher supply stores are a great place to look for ideas and items that will help you achieve your own special remedy for organization.

Step 1: Filing Paperwork

As a teacher, you will constantly be juggling a steady stream of paperwork. From student homework and newsletters to school memos and lesson plans, paperwork comes with the job.

In this vein, one vital teaching supply is a good filing system. Whether it's a drawer filing system or a portable file, have files and folders clearly marked for each type of paperwork that you shuffle around. In addition, create a folder for paperwork that requires your immediate attention. This folder should come and go with you each day.

Step 2: The Well Stocked Teacher Supply Cabinet

An essential area of teacher organization is having the teaching supplies on hand when you need them. Make a list of all the teaching supplies you need to have in your cabinet. Then, take a monthly inventory of your stock and purchase additional supplies as needed. These steps will help you be certain that your most essential teaching supplies are only a few steps from your desk.

Step 3: Arrange Your Classroom for Good Flow

In order to make each day run as smoothly as possible, there are a few things to consider when arranging your classroom furniture. Arrange the desks so that all of your students can make eye contact with you, easily see chalkboards and bulletin boards and other teaching visuals. This will help to keep their focus on you and the lesson.

Keep student desks away from high traffic areas like near the door, the student closet or student supply areas. This will keep bottlenecks from wasting valuable learning time.

Arrange cabinets or shelves where student supplies are kept for easy access and clean up. Organize craft supplies and other student supplies in neat stacks. If you're a very organized person, you may want to label where each item should go so that the students can practice reading while they clean up.

Step 4: Student Jobs

Start from the premise that your students want to please you and help you whenever they can. Come up with a list of tasks that students can perform that will allow you to spend less time on organization. It also teaches responsibility and makes the students feel "big." Some examples of classroom tasks that students can perform are watering plants, collecting and passing out homework and worksheets, erasing and cleaning chalkboards, pushing in chairs neatly at the end of the day, and organizing learning centers and book shelves.

While it may not seem like much, all of these little organization tasks add up. It will save you time and frustration over the long run if you teach the students how you want them to perform each job and give them constructive feedback on their performance.

Well-planned classroom organization will make your job as a teacher much easier. Having the appropriate teaching supplies on hand and a good filing system for paperwork, in addition to thoughtful classroom arrangement and assigning student jobs, are four steps in the right direction.

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