organization

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2001 : December : 15

organization
By Carolyn

I confess to having piles on my desk on occasion. This is a standing joke between my principal and me, because he does the same. (Did you find my lesson plans for this week?) He found something he meant to give me a year
later, and we both had a laugh over that. You do have to maintain a sense of humor on the job.
I think that you should have a set time for organizing things, and you need the materials to do it. I have a pocket folder for every subject I teach. I also have file folders where I stick stuff that needs attention until I can get to it. "Active" file folders remain in my table bin.

Inactive ones are in the file drawer where I know I can locate them quickly. I also buy colored file folders which have special significance for me by their colors. Anything to do with science, for example, is in a blue pocket folder or file folder. I also keep run-offs that I plan to use again in the future, possibly next year, in a binder. My math binder, for example, is divided into sections by subject matter: measurement, geometry, etc. This is very useful!

I think that the main problem is our hectic day and not much time for a break. I only have a half-hour planning period each day, so I have to use it strictly for planning. That leaves after school for doing the other stuff (those nuisance forms that always come our way).

What I do to maintain organization is stay after school on Friday. Everybody beats a fast path to the door after school. I, personally, like my room to be neat and orderly when I come in on Monday, so I dedicate the time to doing this. It also helps me unwind, relax, and reflect upon the week. Nobody is around, so it's peaceful and I can get a lot done in a short amount of time without distractions. I even open up a can of Diet Pepsi and turn on some quiet music.

Maybe you need to set aside a certain day after school when you stay late, as I do. I always stick to that day, and I only devote it to organization. Organization takes time, which is just so precious and hard to come by. We just have to force ourselves to set aside the time to do it.