Why is a Classroom Calendar Important?

A classroom calendar is an important tool in elementary classrooms. All first, second, third, fourth, and fifth grade classrooms should not only have a calendar posted in their classrooms, but be using it regularly. I know some teachers may have visions of “calendar time” being strictly a primary experience, but upper elementary can benefit from it too. Lower elementary students may answer questions like, “What is the date today?” and “What will the date be tomorrow?” Upper elementary students, on the other hand, may answer questions like, “Juan’s birthday is in 2 weeks and 6 days. What is the date of his birthday?” Calendar concepts often come up on standardized tests, but are not necessarily part of your school’s curriculum.

How to Create a Classroom Calendar in 10 Easy Steps

Below are 10 easy ideas for how to set up a classroom calendar.

1. Identify What You Want on Your Calendar Wall

Make a list of components you want to include on your calendar wall. This list could include things like a calendar, the number of days in school, the date written out, weather, question of the day, etc.

2. Pick a Location for Your Calendar Wall

Pick a spot in your classroom that will be your calendar area. Ideally, it should be accessible from your whole class meeting area so that you can use it as a daily teaching tool. In addition, consider how you will need it to be visible and accessible from the spots where your students will be working in the classroom and will need to access parts of it (like a model of the date written). For example, because my students access the calendar when working on their number of the day activities as well as when using the calendar task cards during our daily math workshop with guided math groups I needed to keep it in a spot that was visible from all around the room.

3. Measure Your Space

Use a tape measure to measure the wall space you will designate for your calendar area.

4. Create a Sketch of Your Calendar Wall

Sketch your dream calendar wall on a piece of paper.

5. Choose Materials

The fifth on this list of classroom calendar ideas is to choose materials. Decide if you are going to purchase a classroom calendar pocket chart or poster board. Read the pros and cons of both below to help you decide which one is best for you.

The Pros and Cons of Purchasing a Classroom Calendar Pocket Chart

For a few years, I had my calendar in one of those pocket charts that are specifically designed with 7 rows to hold calendar pieces. Here are the pros and cons I found:

Pros

1. It saves you time: All you need to do is hit the “add to cart” button and check out. After it is delivered to you, it is super quick to assemble.
2. It can last you several years: It is often pretty sturdy and can last a long time if you take good care of them.
3. It is easy to hang: It is super easy to hang on cork bulletin boards using push pins and white boards using magnets.

Cons

1. It’s expensive: They can cost upwards of $20-$30 for a basic one.
2. There’s no place to write the date: It does not include a place to write the date and if you are like me and require your students to date everything, it is really important to display a model.
3. It can get worn down over time: The pockets can tear or stretch out over time, especially when you have students changing out the cards each month.

The Pros and Cons of Purchasing a Classroom Calendar Poster Board

After a few years of having the calendar pocket chart, I ditched it and bought a poster board calendar instead. Here are the pros and cons I found:

Pros

1. It’s a cheap solution: You can find the poster board for as cheap as $3 or $4.
2. It is easy to hang: It is light, so you can use staples, tape, or small magnets to get it to stick to your wall.
3. It is customizable: You can add ribbon, washi tape, and colorful tissue paper to have it match your classroom theme or color scheme. You can find so many ways to tie in themes ranging from black and white to cactus. It’s amazing!

Cons

1. It requires more time: It depends on how much you customize it. It can take as much or as little time as you let it.
2. This option may need to be replaced after a few years: Consider laminating it if it isn’t already to help it last longer. Over time it may bend or rip.
3. It often does not come with everything you need: You may need to scoop up some number and month cards. You can find ones that fit your classroom theme or color scheme.

Once you have selected the materials you are going to use, head on down to the next item on the list of classroom calendar ideas to consider.

6. Purchase Materials

The sixth on this list of classroom calendar ideas is to purchase the materials you need. If you don’t already have them, you’ll need to purchase a calendar pocket chart or poster board, washi tape, stapler, donut magnets, tissue paper, bulletin board paper, etc. Be sure to consider funding options: Donors Choose, school’s math budget, personal budget, etc.

7. Print Resources

Print all of the resources you purchased and gather all the materials you purchased and need. Don’t forget to grab things like staplers, tape, and scissors that you need so you can complete the project uninterrupted.

8. Hang the Bulletin Board Background

The eighth on this list of classroom calendar ideas is to hang the backdrop of the calendar area. You could use bulletin board paper, a bed sheet, or a shower curtain. You’ll also want to use a border to define the space.

9. Post All of the Components from your Dream Calendar Sketch

If your calendar wall is magnetic, consider using donut magnets. One of my classroom walls was a retractable wall that allegedly has the ability to open up to the neighboring classroom to create one giant space, but has always been treated as a permanent. It’s magnetic and for a few years I had my calendar on that wall and used number cutouts with donut magnets hot glued onto the back. This made changing them each month super easy.

If your calendar wall is a cork board, consider using these handy little clips to hang the numbers on your board. They are perfect for displaying paper and because they are attached with a squishy adhesive of sorts the clips can be repositioned, removed, or reused. Attach one clip to each day.

10. Add Finishing Touches

The last idea on this list of classroom calendar ideas is to add the finishing touches. Take a step back and look at your calendar wall as a whole. Add finishing touches as needed. For example, to spruce it up I used party streamers to create ruffles around the perimeter. I actually sat with some of my students during a rainy indoor recess and they made the ruffles for me by scrunching up the streamers and stapling them at the bottom to hold the ruffle together. I then stapled them to the calendar and attached ribbon to hide the staples and give it another pop of color to match my classroom color scheme.

In closing, we hope you found these classroom calendar ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• 60+ Classroom Decor Themes for Elementary Teachers
• How to Teach Calendar Math in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Classrooms
• How to Set Up Your Whole Group Meeting Area

The post Classroom Calendar Ideas for Setting Up Your Learning Environment appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is a Teacher Desk?

A teacher desk is a piece of furniture in a classroom that is designated to the instructor. It’s a workspace that teachers often use to house files, supplies, and much more.

5 Reasons to Get Rid of Your Teacher Desk

Below are teacher desk ideas to consider when determining if you are going to keep your formal workspace in your classroom.

1. You will most likely only sit down during the school day when you are working with students.
2. The actual desk, your chair, and the space needed behind the desk to move the chair in and out takes up a lot  of square footage. Having more space to spread out your students means more opportunities for lessons and activities and potentially less distraction and behavior issues.
3. It puts you at risk for clutter and wasted time. Teachers often find themselves and their students dropping papers onto their desks throughout the day.  Desk drawers make an easy hiding place when you need to tuck things away quickly. You may find yourself in a continuous cycle of cleaning off your desk top and searching for things that have been stuffed into drawers.
4. Times have changed. While lecturing from a desk to a row of students was once the norm, teachers are now expected to be up and moving all day long. Technology has advanced. A desk was necessary for housing bulking desktop computers and monitors, but now teachers often work on laptops and tablets.
5. A desk does not provide ample surface area for teacher tasks. A table is more conducive to projects, lesson planning, making charts, etc. If you often find yourself moving away from your desk to do your work after the students have been dismissed, then you may not need to keep the desk in the classroom.

What Can I Use Instead of a Desk?

When I stopped using my desk, I began using the small group instruction area as my workspace. I set it up so there were shelves behind the table housing all of the texts. It was much more conducive to my needs. I had space to work. Also, I was able to welcome colleagues in to plan lessons collaboratively at the table with me. I even used it to conference with parents.

Best of all, I often had children working around it, so if I did take a few minutes to grade assessments while my students worked on independent work or did their daily reading and an administrator walked in, I never felt like I was “caught sitting at my desk.”

What if I Can’t Remove the Desk?

Some schools will not take away the desk for you and will require you to keep it in the room. I was told the desk needed to be available to any future teacher who may be in my classroom if I left and that there was nowhere in the school to store it. Fair enough.

I solved the problem by pushing the desk all the way into corner so it took up as little space as possible. I used the drawers to store extra supplies, housed science supplies underneath it, and utilized the surface as a place to store all of the writing center materials my students needed to access.

But, What if I Love my Teacher Desk?

Well, then by all means keep it! The most important thing is that you are able to do what works best for you.

In closing, whether you keep your teacher desk or you get rid of it, it’s essential that you have strong organization systems in your classroom to ensure that you limit distractions and maximize student learning. My classroom organization workshop is a great tool to help you do this! We hope this post with teacher desk ideas was helpful! If you enjoyed it, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Classroom Organization Ideas for Elementary Teachers
• How to Declutter Your Elementary Classroom
• How to Set Up a Listening Center in Your Classroom

The post Teacher Desk Ideas for Those Looking to Refresh their Space in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is a Small Group Instruction Area?

A small group instruction area is a zone in your classroom that is dedicated to small group learning. It typically includes a teacher chair, small table, and 4-6 student chairs. Guided reading and guided math groups can meet here for differentiated lessons that target skills that all of the students need practice with.

What is the Purpose of a Small Group Area?

While some teachers conduct their small-group instruction sitting on the floor with the kids, it is helpful to have a large table for this purpose. It is where you can work with students to fine tune their learning. It allows for differentiated learning and for enriching the students who are ready to move ahead. Having a table for a group to sit at also lends itself to other opportunities. Here are some of the common uses.

• guided reading groups
• assessments
• guided math groups
• writing focus groups
• reading conferences
• editing student writing 1:1
• art projects
• book talks / literature discussions
• hands-on word study lessons
• puzzles and games
• cooperative learning 
• science experiments
• looking at maps
• assembling interactive notebooks
• creating lapbooks

8 Ideas for Setting Up Your Small Group Area

Below are 8 ideas to consider when setting up your small group instruction area.

1. Determine How Many Small Group Areas You Need

Most classrooms have one designated small group area. However, if you have other adults (Title 1, reading specialists, math coaches, student teachers, parent volunteers, etc.), you’ll want to consider having more than one area set up for small group work.

2. Take Into Consideration Who Will Use the Space

Determine how many students you plan to work with at a time. Think about the size of your students. I’ve found that a table large enough to seat 6 students and an adult (with ample elbow room) is ideal.

3. Consider Your Teaching Style

It’s important to consider your teaching style and how you will model lessons. Do you need a white board mounted on the wall or an easel positioned behind the table? Would you rather use a small dry erase board at the table?

4. Think about the Space in Relation to Other Parts of the Room

Plan for what the other students will be doing, and where they will be doing it, while you are meeting with groups. Once you have a better idea of what will be happening in the classroom, you will be able to find a location to position the table so that you can see the remaining students when you are working at the table with others.

5. Determine What Furniture You Have and What You Will Need

Teachers often include a table, teacher chair, student seating, and shelves or plastic drawers for teaching materials. Learn more about selecting these items below!

• a table
• a chair for the teacher or other adults
• student seating 
• shelves/plastic drawers for teaching materials

Small Group Table

Unfortunately, the type of table you will use is often based on what you have been provided with your classroom furnishings, or what you are able to scrounge up from another part of the school. However, if you are given a budget to select your own furnishings, or if you elect to request one be donated, there are many different options teachers can choose from.

1. Option One

PROS: can fit a lot of students; can easily access students’ work

CONS: small work space; not much room to model lessons; takes up a large amount of floor space; teacher blocks sightline between students which hinders discussion

2. Option Two

PROS: good amount of work space; student work is accessible for individual instruction within the group

CONS: close proximity of the front legs limits seating capacity

3. Option Three

PROS: large surface area for games, projects, experiments and activities

CONS: greater distance between teacher and students

Some teachers who do not have access to an actual “teacher table” position trapezoid tables creatively to form an area that is conducive to small group lessons and activities.

Seating

There are so many options for student seating. Some teachers use the chairs supplied by the school, while others get VERY creative in this area. I myself have experimented with quite a variety of them over the years.

When selecting your chair, be sure to find one that is comfortable! You’ll spend solid stretches of time in the seat so you’ll want to make sure you are comfortable.

Shelving

Just like with the whole class meeting area, you will want to have all of your teaching materials accessible when leading small group lessons and individual student conferences. You could use a rolling cart or portable caddy as described in the last section. Another option is to bring in sets of plastic drawers. Often these can fit under the table.

Some teachers even cover the table with a fabric skirt or a table cloth to create hidden storage with the otherwise wasted space below the table.

6. Figure Out What Supplies You Have and What You Will Need

Teachers often include items from this list:

• a caddy to hold student supplies
• dry erase boards and markers for each student
• folders or cardboard presentation boards to use as dividers between students for assessing
• extra pencils, a hand-sharpener, and tissues so that students do not need to leave the area during instruction
• small trash can to be kept under the table for disposing of scraps when students are working

7. Face Students Away from Distractions

Your student seating should ideally be facing away from the classroom so that there is minimal distraction during lessons.

8. Take Into Account Safety Hazards

You definitely want to be aware of potential safety hazards and the liability that comes with bringing in any furnishings not supplied by your school. For example, stools easily slide out from under students if they tip back in them. Plastic crates are not designed to hold the weight of a child when tipped on their side as you sometimes will see in photos online. I highly recommend you obtain permission from both your school and the students’ families if you plan to add any form of alternative seating to your classroom.

In closing, we hope you found this information about setting up your classroom small group instruction area helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Classroom Whole Group Meeting Area
• How to Differentiate Your Elementary Math Instruction

The post Setting Up Your Classroom Small Group Instruction Area in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

Classroom Tables

Tables create my favorite types of seating arrangements for classrooms. Below are the benefits and challenges that come with having tables in your classroom so you can see why!

Pros of Having Tables

In my experience, I have found tables, even in the upper elementary grades, to have many benefits.

• Tables take up less space.
• They provide a community feel.
• They don’t shift and drift apart from one another.
• Children don’t waste time looking for books, folders, and other materials.
• They give you flexible seating options because students can easily relocate to a new table.
• They provide a space for inquiry-based, hands-on learning.
• You’ll never find a moldy snack “in” a table.
• They support cooperative learning.
• They provide spaces for aides / volunteers to work with small groups.
• They’re easy to clean.
• Not all students are naturally organized and have strong executive functioning skills. They won’t have to struggle to organize and manage books and supplies.

Cons of Having Tables

There are lots of benefits of having tables, but they have some limitations as well.

• They limit classroom configurations. 
• Without consistent expectations, they do tend to make for a louder noise level in the classroom.
• You will need to get creative during assessments.
• You must find alternative ways to house the student books, journals, notebooks, and supplies.

10 Tips for Classrooms with Tables

Below are 10 tips for teachers with tables in their classroom.

1. Assign Table Numbers

Assigning table numbers helps everyone navigate around the room more easily.

2. Use Plastic Drawers or Containers on Shelves

Using plastic drawers to hold items for the table mates helps keep everything organized.

3. Color-Code Everything

Color-code each table and then use bins that coordinate with each table’s color.

4. Assign a Table Captain

The table captain is responsible for making sure everything is put away correctly. They are also responsible for getting the materials as needed.

5. Use Chair Pockets

Some teachers like to use chair pockets that slide over the back of each student’s chair. Consider using them for holding individual supplies and books.

6. Use Plastic Shower Caddies

Plastic shower caddies work well for making student supplies available at the table when needed, but off to the side on a shelf when not in use. If you opt to use table caddies, use them to hold individual ”community supplies.” However, in my experience, I have found that children take much better care of the supplies when they are their own. Also, I noticed a dramatic increase in illnesses (cold and stomach viruses) during the years when I used community supplies.

7. Give Each Table a Cup

Place a sturdy plastic cup on each table for the students to keep their pencils in. 

8. Number your Students’ Pencils

Write their student numbers on the top of the pencils. This eliminates conflict over who each pencil belongs to and makes it easy for lost pencils to be returned to the proper cup when found. 

9. Create an Art Box for Each Student

Purchase a sturdy plastic pencil case for each child and use them to store students’ scissors, glue sticks, markers, colored pencils, and a hand-sharpener. You can call them “the art boxes” and each table can have a basket that holds all of the art boxes for that table. Students can easily get their own box for individual projects or the entire basket could be brought to the table if you are working on a whole-class activity that requires those supplies.

10. House All Folders, Notebooks, Journals and Textbooks Together

Keep journals, notebooks, and textbooks all together. If I had a class of 25, I would instruct 5 children to “take 5.” Those 5 students would take the top 5 journals from the container and pass them out to their owners. This process takes less than a minute.

Classroom Desks

Many classrooms have an individual desk for each student. Desks lend themselves to an endless amount of possibilities for different types of seating arrangements for classrooms. If you are working with desks instead of tables, you will have several things to consider when setting up your classroom and planning how they will be used. Read below to get some helpful tips!

Pros of Having Desks

Below are the benefits and challenges that come with having desks in your classroom.

• Students learn important organization skills.
• The classroom configurations are unlimited. 
• You will be able to spread them out with ease for assessments.
• Desks can house the student books, journals, notebooks, and supplies.
• They support independent learning.

Cons of Having Desks

There are lots of benefits of having desks, but they have some limitations as well.

• Desks take up more space.
• They shift and drift apart from one another.
• Children waste time looking for books, folders, and other materials.
• You might find a moldy snack in a desk.
• They’re not easy to clean.
• Not all students are naturally organized and have strong executive functioning skills. They might struggle to organize and manage books and supplies.

10 Tips for Classrooms with Desks

Below are 10 tips for teachers with tables in their classroom.

1. Turn Desks into Tables

I didn’t always have tables. I began with a classroom full of desks and one table. Over time, I accumulated more tables by writing grants, trading with colleagues, and scavenging around the building. Even when I didn’t have mostly tables in my classroom, I always treated the desks as if they were tables. I clustered them in groups of either 4 or 6.

2. Don’t Have Students Keep Anything in Their Desks

Consider not having students keep anything in their desks except for their independent book bags. Although each student can have a “home base” to start the day, they can also then move around the room for guided reading, guided math, and center work. This resulted in no class time ever being wasted by students looking for assignments, books, or supplies in a messy desk. Most importantly, no children ever felt embarrassed because they didn’t have the developed executive function skills necessary to manage a desk full of materials.

3. Move Desks as Needed

It is highly likely you will rearrange your students desks throughout the year. The key is to find an arrangement that works well for this year’s cohort of students. Some classes do best when spread out a bit, while others work well in multiple combinations.

4. Use Small Containers within the Desks

Using small containers in the desks will help your students to compartmentalize items. 

5. Slide Flat Cardboard Boxes into Desks

Sliding flat cardboard boxes in desks that open from the front creates a drawer and makes sorting and organizing easier. 

6. Designate Time for Students to Clean Their Desks

This is an important one! Schedule regular times for desk clean outs. 

7. Create a Poster Showing what an Organized Desk Looks Like

Show what a clean desk should look like by drawing a diagram of an aerial view, a cross section, or both. Label the contents. Instead of a drawing, you could take an actual photo of a neatly arranged desk. Project this image when the students are doing a desk clean-out or print a large version to display as a reference. 

8. Print a Photo of an Organized Desk

If you have students who require extra support, print an individual photo showing how the desk should be arranged and allow the student to keep it in his or her desk to reference regularly.

9. Print a Desk Organization Checklist

Another idea for students who need extra support is to create a written checklist to be used when organizing.

10. Partner Students Together for Additional Organization Support

A third idea for students who need additional help is to assign a peer to help keep the child on track. Not all students are comfortable accepting help from classmates, so always check with the student first.

In closing, we hope you found this information about types of seating arrangements for classrooms helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in the resources in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers Store, as well as these posts:

• Flexible Seating Ideas for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Whole Group Area in Your Classroom
• How to Set Up Your Small Group Instruction Area

The post Types of Seating Arrangements for Classrooms at the Elementary Level appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

How to Set Up Your Classroom in 10 Steps

Below are 10 steps for how to set up your elementary classroom.

1. Analyze Your Space

The first step for how to set up your classroom is to analyze your existing classroom.

Gather Supplies

You will need a phone, tape measure, ruler (or something to draw straight lines), and piece of paper.

Take Pictures

Stand in the middle of your classroom and take a picture of each wall. Open up cabinets and closets and take a photo of each of those as well. Stand in each corner and take a photo of the room from that angle. These photos will help you plan your space while you are outside of the classroom.

Create a Diagram

Sketch out each of your walls as well as an area view as if you were looking down at your classroom from the sky. Include details such as bulletin boards, outlets, and computer hook-ups.

Measure and Record

Measure bulletin boards, space between boards, closets, and shelves. You’ll want to record all measurements related to anything that will play a role in your classroom design. Record these measurements onto your diagram.

Take Inventory of What You Have in Your Space

Make a list of all of the furniture in your classroom. This includes items such as desks, shelves, and easels. In addition, make a list of all of the district-issued items that you’re required to house (science kits, reading anthologies, etc).

2. Get Inspired

Great places to get inspiration from are Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok. Definitely follow us on our Clutter-Free Classroom Instagram and join our Clutter-Free Classroom Facebook group. We share tons of tips and ideas for setting up your classroom. Mainly focus on the classroom layout at this stage. Decorating comes later.

3. Plan Out Your Space

The third step for how to set up your classroom is to plan out your space.

Break Your Classroom into Zones

It can be very overwhelming to tackle your whole classroom at once. Instead, break it down into zones. Below are some examples of classroom zones:

• Whole Group Meeting Area
• Small Group Instruction Area
• Classroom Library
• Cozy Reading Nooks
• Teacher’s Desk
• Student Seating
• Computers
• Writing Center
• Math Manipulatives
• Listening Centers
• Science Center
• Social Studies Center
• Arts and Crafts Supplies
• Mail and Communication Station
• Recess Materials
• Math Word Wall
• Lunch Orders
• Job Charts
• Behavior Boards and Charts
• Birthday Displays
• Student Work Displays

Update Your Classroom Diagram

The next step is to update the classroom diagram you created based on what your desired layout is. Be sure to include the location of all of the zones that you brainstormed in the last step.

Plan Out Each Zone

Take one zone at a time. Plan out each zone in great detail.

Choose a Classroom Theme or Color Scheme

Check out this list of 60+ classroom themes for elementary teachers. It includes a wide range of classrooms themes. Some examples are a mountain classroom theme, sunflower classroom theme, and green classroom color scheme.

4. Declutter Your Classroom

This step is one of the most important! Learn how to declutter your classroom and be sure to avoid these 20 mistakes teachers make when they declutter their classroom.

5. Clean Your Classroom

This classroom cleanup system is my favorite! It will guide you through cleaning up your classroom quickly and easily.

6. Move and Position Furniture

Move and position your classroom furniture based on the plans you put together.

7. Make a Shopping List

The next step is to make a shopping list. Identify everything that your classroom needs.

8. Go Shopping

Now that your classroom is sparkling clean, your furniture is set up, and you have a list of what you need, it’s time to go shopping! If you are sticking to a tight budget, consider shopping at your own house, reaching out to friends and family, and going to yard sales. Online yard sales and Facebook Marketplace are other great options. Other stores I love are Target, Walmart, local teacher shops, craft stores like Michaels, Dollar Tree and Amazon. One thing you’ll definitely want to download is a classroom theme or color scheme bundle. We offer 60+ classroom themes to choose from. Download one that best fits your style!

9. Set Up Your Classroom

Start with the essentials. You’ll need to prioritize your to do list because the first day of school sneaks up on you sometimes and you’ll want to make sure you have at least the basics before your students arrive. One of the things you will definitely want to have up there is a bulletin board background and bulletin board trim on all your bulletin boards. You don’t have to have anything on them by the first day, but it will help you create a nice, finished look.

10. Decorate Your Space

The last step is to decorate your classroom! These blog posts may be helpful:

• How to Decorate the Classroom of Your Dreams
• How to Create a Cohesive Learning Environment for Your Students
• Colorful Classroom Decor Ideas For Elementary Teachers

In closing, we hope you found these 10 steps for how to set up your classroom helpful!

The post How to Set Up Your Classroom in 10 Easy Steps – 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

In education there will always be trends and Pinterest certainly fuels that. The latest obsession with teachers everywhere is “flexible seating in the classroom”. But, is an alternative seating classroom best for every student or teacher? Flexible seating success completely depends on a few things. First, it depends on how strong the teacher’s classroom management skills are. Second it depends on the flexible seating design. Finally, it depends on how the teacher presents, implements and maintains it. I don’t want to be the buzzkill on the buzzword! However, it’s important to recognize that there are some problems with flexible seating that need to be discussed.

This post will provide food for thought for teachers who are using or considering using flexible seating in their classrooms. It will point out potential problems and things you may not have thought about if you hopped on the flexible seating bandwagon without weighing all the pros and cons.

Designing your classroom in an alternative manner provides your students with the opportunity to work in a relaxed environment. It sets the stage for collaboration and real world simulation. There are a lot of benefits and when executed properly alternative seating can be beneficial to your students. I caution you not to jump into flexible seating without thinking through all aspects involved and encourage you to reflect on your current classroom design if you have already begun using it. Read below to learn the 6 problems with flexible seating and get solutions for each of them.

6 Problems with Flexible Seating

Below are 6 problems with flexible seating and solutions for them.

1. Kids need structure.

Childhood anxiety is at an epidemic level. It’s important for students to feel safe and secure in their learning environments. Not knowing where they will sit day to day can be a further cause for feeling anxious about going to school. For most children the need to have a defined, consistent space is real. Does that mean they need to stay seated in one spot all day? Absolutely not. However, they do need to know there is a space that is their own.

Solution: Offer a variety of seating and work spaces within your classroom but designate a table or a desk for each student’s exclusive use.

2. Be aware of IEPs.

The second on the list of problems with flexible seating is to think about the students in your class with IEPs. Many student plans specifically include language about ‘preferential seating.’ Some students have disabilities that affect their abilities to see, hear, pay attention to, or participate in activities. Preferential seating means that a student’s seat is placed in a location that is most beneficial for his/her learning in the classroom.  It is not only good practice, but a legal requirement. Make sure your flexible seating design is in compliance with every student’s IEP.

Solution: Collaborate with the SPED team to define what preferential seating means to each student and guarantee those needs will be met prior to bringing in other seating choices. Have a plan that ensures the students with IEPs are not made to feel excluded from those alternative seats.

3. Safety should be a priority.

When I first started teaching my teaching partner removed the legs from a classroom table so it was close to the floor. The kids sat on the floor when working there. This seemed like a fun idea until a classroom aide delivering copies to the teacher tripped over the table and broke her shoulder. Many districts have rules against bringing in outside furniture of any kind. Be responsible and also know the liability you face if a students falls off a stool provided by you and chips a tooth or rolls off a yoga ball and cracks a skull.

Solution: Discuss your plans for your classroom with your principal. If you have his/her support determine how you will communicate the design to your students’ parents. Have them sign permission slips for their children to use the alternative seating arrangements. Spell out exactly what those seats include specifically.

4. Classroom floors are disgusting.

The fourth on the list of problems with flexible seating is the cleanliness factor. Think about how many kids have peed their pants or vomit on those floors over the years. Then add in the sneezes that have made their way down there. Now factor in that kids use the school restroom where little boys have “missed their target” and remember that the same sneakers that were just standing next to the urinals are now walking on your floors. And while we are at it lets also take into account all the other nastiness those shoes walk in daily.

Solution: Have your students each bring a towel or yoga mat from home to sit on when working on the floor.

5. Be cautious with use of the term “research-based.”

If you are telling your students’ parents and your administrators that you have elected to use a flexible seating design in your classroom because it is research-based be sure to look into the actual research. There is a lot of evidence that sitting at a desk all day is bad for the health of children and adults. There is also research that supports the benefits of physical and psychological comfort in the classroom. However, the lack of traditional seating has the potential to cause other issues that research has proven to be harmful. Often when you look at photos from classrooms with flexible seating you’ll see children sitting with their legs in the W position or else slumped over with curved spines.

Solution: Be aware of all the related research. Also, be prepared to speak intellectually if you need to defend your choices. Have articles at the ready to share if needed.

6. Choice seating means the students actually have a choice.

The last on the list of problems with flexible seating is to remember to offer students choices. Some teachers are removing all the desks from their classroom and having the students work on the floor or at the one table that remains. Others have created elaborate rotation boards for the various seating options in the classroom. Twenty-five kids fighting over one beanbag chair is not flexible seating.

Solution: Provide equitable options for seating. As I mentioned I successfully used alternative seating options in my own 3rd grade classroom for many years. I kept things simple though. I replaced my desks with tables, but every student had a designated seat that was their home base. In addition, I kept my counter tops clear so students had the option to stand and work if they wanted. Lastly, I had a class supply of clipboards and the children brought towels or yoga mats from home which meant students also had the choice of working on the floor.

6 Flexible Seating Examples

In addition to repurposing what you already own or doing a quick DIY project, you can get flexible seating tools from the following places: IKEA, Amazon and Five Below. Check out the items below from Amazon!

If you do decide to implement flexible seating, please consider the problems with flexible seating listed above and learn from my experience using storage cube ottomans! In the summer of 2011, I frequently roamed around Target. Not only did I enjoy their free air conditioning, but I also spent the time coveting the storage cubes that line the center aisle waiting to be snagged by college students. 

I NEEDED them for my small group area. But, at $17.00 a pop, it was hard to justify buying six of them for my small group teaching area when I had a surplus of chairs in my classroom. As I started to set up my classroom that year my desire to add the cubes increased. Ultimately I talked myself into buying them based on the fact that I hadn’t spent much on my classroom that summer and instead had repurposed things I already owned.

Well, it’s now 18 months later and they are starting to bite the dust. In the past month or so, three of them have met their demise. There are two things to note: I teach 3rd grade so my students range in size from itty bitty to small adult. Kids can’t seem to sit in them and instead rock.

With that being said, I think 18 months is a pretty good lifespan. They’ve been used all day every day for 1 and 2/3 school years. I still prefer them to chairs because they allow me to fit 6 friends comfortably at my teaching table. Adults have sat in them for 2 years worth of parent teacher conferences. They provide a good amount of hidden storage (I love hidden storage). They are lightweight and very easy for a kid to move around the classroom.

In closing, I hope you found this post about the potential problems with flexible seating and solutions for them helpful. I am a strong believer that by planning for the potential challenges, you will be better equipped to overcome them or avoid them altogether. If you enjoyed this post, you may also be interested in these:

• How to Set Up Your Small Group Instruction Area
• Classroom Seating Arrangement Ideas for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Whole Group Instruction Area

The post 6 Problems with Flexible Seating (and Easy Solutions for Them) appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

3 End of the Year Activities

Below are 3 end of the year activities for elementary teachers.

1. Read Alouds

Read alouds are a great way to celebrate the end of the year. Your students will enjoy listening to the timely stories, discussing them, and reflecting on the school year. Some examples of quality books for this time of year are Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden, Lizzie and the Last Day of School, and Last Day Blues. Check out this full list of end of the school year books!

2. Student-Made Review Games

Student-made board games successfully engage students in learning, create an opportunity to practice and review previously-taught skills, and offer students time and space to use their creativity and problem solving skills to create something of their own. Learn all about student made board games!

3. Memory Books

Memory books are a great way to keep students engaged and continuing to learn at the end of the school year when their minds are set on summer vacation. Learn about my memory books for elementary students by selecting your grade level below. They are an end of school year activities year packet. Students can take them home with them and hold onto them as a keepsake.

We hope you found these end of school year activities helpful! If you haven’t already, I welcome you to join the Clutter-Free Facebook Group for Elementary Teachers. There you will find tips and ideas for how to organize your classroom, manage all those pesky piles of paper, set up and decorate your classroom for the new year and much more. 

The post End of School Year Activities for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

I wanted to feature them on the blog today in case anyone was still looking for them. I love how the black matches so many classroom themes and color schemes. This means it can be used year after year even if you decide you want to change your classroom theme or color scheme. When consulting with teachers on classroom organization and classroom decor, I always recommend teachers buy black or white containers, caddies, etc. so they will not need to repurchase all of those items if they decide to do a classroom makeover in the future. Neutral colors are so versatile!

Read below to get tons of ideas about pocket charts and how to use them in your classroom!

What is a Pocket Chart?

A pocket chart is a tool elementary teachers use in many different ways for instruction and organization. They come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and styles. For example, some are designed for the purpose of holding calendar pieces and others are designed to hold schedule cards. They are often characterized by having clear pockets (although not always) and metal eyelets at the top for hanging purposes.

How to Hang a Pocket Chart

Below are 6 ways to hang a pocket chart.

1. Wire command hooks
2. Clear command hooks
3. Binder clips
4. Magnet clips
5. Scotch mounting tape
6. Pocket chart stand

8 Ways to Use Pocket Charts in Your Classroom

Below are 8 ways to use pocket charts in the classroom.

1. Calendar
2. Daily schedule
3. Lunch count
4. Attendance
5. Student mailboxes
6. Organizing supplies (e.g. white board markers)
7. Organizing tools (e.g. calculators)
8. Instruction (e.g. graphing)

Where to Buy Pocket Charts

Below are 15 places where you can buy pocket charts for your classroom

1. Amazon
2. Target
3. Michaels
4. Office Depot
5. Staples
6. Walmart
7. Really Good Stuff
8. Scholastic
9. Lakeshore Learning
10. Oriental Trading
11. Carson Dellosa
12. Dollar Tree
13. Office Supply
14. W.B. Mason
15. Wayfair

Black Anchor Chart Examples

Below are the black pocket chart items I was able to locate online. You can click on any of the affiliate links to go directly to that product and purchase it.

In closing, we hope you found these pocket chart ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Classroom Calendar Ideas for Setting Up Your Classroom
• How to Create a Visual Classroom Schedule Display
• First Day of School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers

The post Pocket Chart Ideas for Elementary Teachers (Grades 1-5) in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

10 Classroom Backpack Storage Ideas

Below are 10 classroom backpack storage ideas for elementary teachers.

1. Think about What You Will Need to Store

Where you teach will determine what items you will need to store. If you teach in a place where it snows, for example, then you will need to be prepared to store winter coats, snow pants, gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, and winter boots. Similarly, if it rains where you teach, then you will need to store rain coats, rain boots, and umbrellas. Other common student belongings you will need to create a storage system for are backpacks, lunch boxes, sneakers for gym class, and sweatshirts. That is a lot of stuff! As a result, it’s important to develop storage and organization systems to house all of these items.

2. Consider How What You Will Need to Store Will Fluctuate

As mentioned in the first idea on the list, weather impacts what students will need to store. Your students’ items may fit great in the space you provided at the beginning of the year, but will everything still fit when the weather grows colder and their personal items multiply? Remember to account for this.

3. Take into Account Fire Codes and Safety

Follow your school’s fire codes when choosing a spot to ensure the safety of your students. Make sure you do not block any doors or windows when choosing a spot for student belongings. Be sure to check your local fire codes to confirm you are in compliance.

4. Reflect on the Purpose of Having a System for the Items

The purpose of a storage and organization system is to eliminate the clutter of having student belongings scattered about the classroom; make it easy for students to retrieve their things if they happen to be dismissed early; create a systematic and expected routine each and every morning that helps get your day off to a smooth start; and teach the children about being organized without them even realizing it. When planning this space, take all of these things into consideration.

5. Prioritize Accessibility

Make sure your students are able to access their items both independently and with ease. For example, if you opt to use command hooks, you do not want to place them too high so they are difficult for students to reach.

6. Inventory What Furnishings and Supplies You Already Have

Do you have a coat closet or set of student lockers? Do you have anything in your room that can be repurposed as a system for organizing students’ belongings?

7. Make a List of All the Furnishings and Supplies You Will Need

You will need a way to label the organization system. In order to do this, you will need printable labels, paper, tape, and a black marker. In addition, you may need crates, command hooks, or plastic storage tubs if you are not given some sort of coat closet for your space.

If you opt for command hooks and crates, consider purchasing stackable crates and command hooks. Find a wall that has some free space. Hang command hooks on the wall about 1 foot apart from each other. Label the hooks and crates with either student names or student numbers. 

If you decide to go with plastic storage tubs, purchase the kind of storage tubs that have covers and can be stacked. Get the solid color to limit visual clutter within the classroom or clear to make it easier for friends to find what they need. Label the tubs with either student names or student numbers.

8. Plan Out and Teach Related Procedures and Routines

Take the time to plan out what it will look like for your students to put away their belongings in the morning and afternoon. Here’s an example for if you decide to go with the plastic storage tubs. Assign 3 or 4 students to each tub. In the morning, place the bins with the lids off in different areas around the classroom. The reason for spreading them out is to help with traffic flow and limit clusters of friends talking while they wait. Students take out what they need for the day out of their backpacks and put the rest of their belongings into the the tub.

Assign a couple of friends the class job of putting the lids on and moving the bins to the back of the room where they will be lined up and stacked. At the end of the day, those same helpers are responsible for putting the bins back into their designated spots around the classroom and removing the lids. This routine makes it so all students know where their belongings are.

9. Consider the Impact of a Student from a House with Smokers

If you have a student who comes from a home where smokers live, his backpack and clothing will likely have a heavy odor of smoke. If this is the case, you may want to avoid using the predetermined numbers and just put students’ names on the bins. Without drawing attention to the specific students, you can create a bin for students that this would apply to.

10. Anticipate Lice and Bedbugs

This was never an issue in the schools I have worked in, but it may be something to consider. If this is an issue for you then I think it would still be an issue if all 30 students were cramming their belongings onto closely spaced hooks. I think what I would do is get a class set of the XL4 Ziploc Bags or add them to the student supply list (they are about $2.00-3.00 a bag), have the students first place their belongings into their own bag and then into a bin for out of the way storage.

3 Classroom Backpack Storage Ideas

Below are 3 examples of classroom backpack storage systems that you can use for inspiration.

In closing, we hope you found these classroom backpack storage ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Set Up Your Whole Group Meeting Area
• 20 Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Small Group Instruction Area

The post Classroom Backpack Storage Ideas for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What are Classroom Mailboxes?

Classroom mailboxes are a tool to help teachers organize and manage all of the papers that go back and forth between students’ families and school.

Why Do Teachers Need Classroom Mailboxes?

Classroom mailboxes are an essential tool for elementary teachers because they are an organization system that help teachers manage, store, and organize all of those papers that travel between home and school including graded work, flyers and notices, and parent communication.

8 Types of Classroom Mailboxes

Below are 8 types of classroom mailboxes.

1. Folders in Desks

The first on the list of classroom mailboxes ideas is to use folders. I put folders on their desks and passed out all of the papers at the end of the day. Excuse me while I take a moment to shudder at the memory of the daily chaos. OK. Moving on.

2. Plastic Stacking Trays

I invested in plastic stacking trays. And by invested I mean I got a good deal and scrounged up enough cash to buy a class set. This was a decent option. If you have the space (I put them on a counter) and can find a good deal, it’s worth giving a try. My set met their demise when I moved home to Massachusetts from Florida. Incidentally, that was also the demise of my tan, but that’s irrelevant.

3. Boxes

I bought a bunch of boxes from Ikea. I made them all cute with scrapbook paper and colorful labels. What a waste of time! I don’t think they lasted a month and that was with them undergoing some emergency surgery from me and my hot glue gun. Even packing tape couldn’t revive them.

4. Wire Shelving Cubes

The fourth on the list of classroom mailboxes ideas is wire shelving cubes. I had used some of those wire dorm shelving cubes at home to create a system for storing scrapbook paper. I used cable ties to secure them as shelves. Eh… I didn’t care for them in the classroom for several reasons. It was hard to secure a name tag on them and the kids reaching into them made them fall apart. If you do go this route, my partner teacher laminated different colored 12×12 paper with a name label on it for each student to help them keep track of where their box was located. You may want to try that.

5. Pocket Charts

The following year I was moved to Kindergarten where I had two classes (an a.m. and a p.m.) so I needed two sets of mailboxes. I thought these pocket charts would be perfect. They were wall mounted so they wouldn’t take up space. They weren’t all bad. If I was in an older grade at the time they would be doable because the kids could help mail things and because the kids might be tall enough to reach them. In my situation I not only had to stuff everything into the pockets (which was a challenge because they were tight), but I also had to stand there and take everything out and hand it to my little wee ones because they couldn’t reach the higher pockets.

6. Hanging Folders

I repurposed those to hold paperwork and switched to a crate with hanging folders (one color per class with numbers so I wouldn’t need to remake them).

7. Cardboard Mailboxes

So I followed my heart. But, much like the rest of me, my heart is uber cheap. So I bought the cheapo, cardboard version of my dream boxes. And much like when my Payless shoes dye my feet funny colors, I realized you get what you pay for. These didn’t last very long.

8. Wooden Literature Sorters

Back in the day (translation: when I first started teaching), I coveted those spiffy, wooden literature sorters. I knew it would be great. But, I was young and poor and couldn’t justify the cost. Eventually, the skies parted, angels sang and my husband presented me with not one, but TWO of the sorters of my dreams. Well that’s a bit of a lie actually. The one in my dreams would be new and black, and these were a bit worn and that funky, fake wood-looking brown color. But nothing a little paint couldn’t fix. I’ve since made new labels for the new year AND repainted them a shiny, sleek, black and they are now super bee-you-tee-ful!

10 Classroom Mailboxes Ideas

Below are examples of classroom mailboxes from elementary classrooms.

3 Tips for Managing Parent Communication

Below are 3 tips and ideas for implementing classroom mailboxes in your elementary classroom.

1. Use Parent Communication Folders

I like to use email for any non-confidential message that is not time sensitive. However, I request that parents send written notes in for dismissal changes as well as notes that need to be seen immediately as I am not always able to check email during the day. Each student has a daily communication folder that goes home for this purpose. I use it to send home graded work and important notices as well. I used to have a basket on my teacher table for notes, money, etc, but found that students would sometimes forget to turn them in or would misplace them. Now I have them place their folder on my teacher table and I quickly flip through them first thing in the morning and remove those items myself. 

The process only takes 2-3 minutes and I do it as soon as my class has settled in and begun their independent reading. After I check them I have my mail carrier put them into the student mailboxes. This lets me see at a glance who didn’t turn in a folder and I can check in with that student to see if the folder was forgotten at home or is in his backpack.

I use a solid color folder for all students communication folders. By keeping them all uniform its easy to visually tell them apart from other folders.

On Thursday, I send home a folder with school flyers and non-graded, practice work. When I receive the flyers from the office I slide them into one of the empty bottom compartments in my mailbox sorter. I do the same with student work. On Wednesday afternoons after school or Thursday mornings before school, I have student volunteers distribute them along with the Thursday folder into the individual boxes. Parents know to look for the Thursday folder and to return it to school empty on Friday.

2. Create a System for Documenting Written Parent Commication

For paper communication, I have a hanging file in my desk with each student’s number on the tab. I just drop any notes from home along with tardy slips into the folder after I read them. While I don’t typically need to reference them again, I do think it is a good idea to hold onto all of them until the end of the year.

3. Develop a System for Documenting Digital Communication

I like to use email for non-urgent, non-confidential communication. I set up a folder for each student on my computer and move the messages into them in case I need to reference them.

In closing, we hope you found these classroom mailboxes ideas for elementary teachers helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Create an Ideal Class Meeting Area for Read Alouds
• Back to School Parent Survey Ideas for Elementary Teachers
• Ideas to Increase Parent Participation in Math

The post Classroom Mailboxes Ideas (that are both Cheap and Easy) for 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.