Classroom Cleanup

Happy New Year! As I finish up winter break, I like to take stock of what bargains I can snag from year-end or holiday sales that will help me for the rest of the school year. Think outside of the box and you'll find yourself saving money while planning ahead.

And, as we head back to school next week, many of us are thinking about how to restructure a few things in our school day. Have you thought about how to restructure your cleaning routine? Are you heading back to a classroom full of piles and dread? 15 minutes a day, dedicated to one specific area at a time will have your classroom back in shape in no time!

It is time to reset my routines. I lost my favorite pencil topper on this pen a couple of weeks ago because I was letting myself be too busy and too distracted. After I found it, I realized I just need to get my system back on track in my classroom. So, here I am! Tuesday: Day 2 of my Classroom Cleanup System. Even though I skipped Day 1, I can jump right in because of how easy it is. This zone is actually in good shape so I need to touch it up with my maintenance cleaning.

It's my first week of school!! Finding a home for the abundance of supply donations and a new system for keeping devices in classrooms this year will both be a challenge I have to take on soon. And then there's the never ending pile of paperwork already!

Ready for the 25-26 school year in 5th grade!

Fridays in July mean no school for me! Summer school only runs Mon-Thurs. So, this week, you can find me at the beach instead! I firmly believe in setting a timer and cutting yourself off after 15 minutes to avoid burnout. There is always something more to do when it comes to teaching. Allow yourself much-deserved down time.

Fridays in July mean no school for me! Summer school only runs Mon-Thurs, so this Friday you can find me at the beach instead. I firmly believe in setting a timer and cutting yourself off after 15 minutes to avoid burnout, even if an area isn't 'finished.' There is always something more to do when it comes to your classroom. Allow yourself much-deserved down time.

During summer school, I have a smaller class size so I'm utilizing the back fourth of my classroom for an extra co-teacher's space instead of student cubbies. This means I have to allow for some of her belongings back there for a few weeks. Be flexible if your cleaning routine needs to be adjusted from time to time.

Wednesday! My classroom library is in zone 3, so I spend time checking each book box for anything that seems to mysteriously make its way in them. What's the most common item you find hidden in boxes? For me, it's pencils or pencil pieces.

Zone 2 in my classroom includes my whiteboard and the front fourth of my classroom. Today I'll be wiping that clean, as well as wiping down the phone and my desk area. I haven't been in school long (summer school for 2 weeks) so there isn't much of an accumulated mess yet. My system helps me keep it that way!

I'm teaching summer school, so it's a perfect time to start those routines back up! If you are still enjoying your summer vacation, comment with what you're doing today!

How many of you are already back to school? It's a perfect time to set up your classroom cleanup routines. If you're not back to school, what are you doing today?

I spent 3 hours setting up my classroom. Much of the work was already done because I have year-long routines in place for organization and cleaning. I stopped when I got to the point that all I have left to do is hang posters and put up my decorations. If you want to get your classroom to the point that cleaning up and setting up every year is a breeze, check out my Classroom Cleanup system. You can start at any point in the school year.