Organization Hacks for Teachers by Menachem Moscovitz

Teachers are creative but they also believe in smart work as well. No amount of storage is enough for teachers to keep their stuff, so here are some great teacher hacks to help you some time by Menachem Moscovitz. Check out the following tips:

 

Hang it Up Session

You would be surprised how many organization dilemmas can be solved by simple and creative wall hangings.

1. Use removable wallpaper painted with chalkboard or whiteboard paint to create writing spaces anywhere in your classroom. Menachem Moscovitz says that smooth surfaces work best- let us think about doors, windows, tables, etc.
2. Take a wire wall hook and affix a clipboard for a good spot for lesson plans — or class list, sub plans or important papers — keeping things easily within the reach.
3. Use glue to attach a thumbtack to a clothespin to hang up clean and used papers. Add some flair by covering the clothespin with a strip of tape.
4. Designate a bulletin board (you can use sticky notes handy) to encourage students to write out questions and own discoveries about a subject matter. It is a very easy way to post questions about what you’re working on in one place.
5. Make a "NO NAME" clipboard with hot-glued to a strip of wood. Display unsigned work by folding papers hotdog style for students to claim.
6. Use painter's tape on your white board to make distinguishable areas for homework information or school announcements.
7. Decorate with dust jackets from picture books hung banner-style or illustrations from old subject-related books. Make tape "frames" for hanging on the wall.
8. Use a thrift store wine rack with plastic cups to store supplies such as markers, extra pens, and small scissors or glue sticks.
9. Take a gallon Ziploc bag with a binder clip attached to one corner and hang on damage-free wire wall hangers for headphones storage.

Keep Students on the Task

 

There are some tricks of the trade to make sure student supplies are in neat order — and that little hands do not leave your classroom a train wreck every day.

1. Remember, a dish drainer filled with manila folders becomes a magical thing when there are review games, matching challenges and review work inside for those needing an extra challenge.
2. Tape together a tissue box with another empty tissue box so students can instantly dispose of used tissues into the empty box.
3. Buy a box of golf pencils for unprepared students at the tops. It decreases the likelihood of them walking off a class. In the first weeks of school, assign the task of taping the pencils to first finishers.
4. Put dice in small clear Tupperware containers and shake as an alternative to having dice fly off the table.
5. Take old DVD or video game cases, slip a white piece of paper in the pocket, and they can be used as mini-whiteboards for classroom games.
6. Use a jar with every student name on a stick for a good way to quickly create groups. It is also an easy way to choose who will go first with presentations or randomly select students for helping in the classroom.