I can tell how effective a teacher is before seeing them in action. I just need a few minutes in their empty classroom during a typical day.
If it’s orderly . . .
- Desktops clear and neatly aligned.
- Zero visible clutter.
- Floor free of paper scraps, broken pencils, etc.
- Learning materials stored away.
- No boxes stacked in corners or atop cabinets.
- Fresh bulletin boards.
- Backpacks in same, unified positions.
- Teacher desk organized.
- Generous open spaces.
Then I know the likelihood of classroom management success is excellent.
Here’s why:
The teacher is observant.
Being aware of your surroundings. Being present and focused on the here and now. Being alert to nuances and changes to energy, habits, tone, and behaviors.
These critical teacher characteristics are revealed in a pin-neat, well-organized classroom. They bode well for the teacher’s ability to supervise and see misbehavior whenever and wherever it happens.
They point to the kind of person who consistently follows through and lives up to the promise to protect their students’ right to learn and enjoy being in their classroom.
The teacher is detail-oriented.
If the teacher is detailed in maintaining an attractive, Spartan-like room environment, which in turn influences good behavior and academic focus, then they’re also detailed in their instruction.
They’re able to clearly set the boundaries of their rules. They can communicate precisely where the line is that distinguishes between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
They can convey what they want and what success looks like in a way that allows students to work toward it and know when they’ve reached it. Details are also compelling to students and keep their attention.
The teacher pursues excellence.
You’ve heard the saying “How you do anything is how you do everything.” It’s a truism perhaps more apropos in teaching than any other profession.
If the environment displays excellence, so too does the teacher. They hold themselves to a high standard, which means they can’t help but to require the same of their students. It’s who they are.
Their standard of excellence transfers to everything they do. They push and learn and work until they get there. And their determination is reflected in the maturity, purpose, and focus of their students.
The Flip Side
Of course, the flip side is also true. I’ve been in very few classrooms where the environment is a mess but teaching and classroom management is solid.
Maybe that’s you. If so, congratulations! You’re a rare duck.
But 99 percent of the time a disorganized environment means unhappy, distracted students and a stressed-out teacher way in over their head.
Tidying up your classroom is the first and best thing you can do to begin gaining control and reversing the tension, bad behavior, low motivation, and poor work habits.
And its obsessive-like maintenance will profoundly influence everything you do.
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Great Reaminder
I totally agree, clear classroom-clear head! It makes life so much easier and saves time. I have to work on this constantly myself because I’m not naturally a very organised person but when a mess builds up my, head becomes unclear and I’m constantly looking for things. Lead by example- if the classroom is tidy the students tend to keep it that way as long as you ask them but if it’s messy it shows you don’t care enough and they’ll leave it messier, that my experience.
I love this honesty, I’m exactly the same.
I love this piece so much, because children will keep up energy from the environment.
Thank you for this!
I don’t know. My room is super organized, uncluttered, neat and tidy, but I am still learning classroom management skills. The other day one student wouldn’t stop screaming about how another girl had written the same word as her and “it was not fair”. She refused to sit in the back to calm down or step out of the room and lost all control. She had been fighting jealously with that child all day and the other child didn’t come to school the next day. Fortunately her classroom teacher came by and was able to take her for a bit, but it really scared the other kids. Should i take on myself all responsibility for my students’ behavior or just do my best?
This article is absurd. I know teachers like this who can’t even let there children put one thing out of place. Balance is the key.
As a substitute teacher I find this to be so accurate. I very often know what type of day I’m going to have before the kids even get into the classroom.
Another solid point, Michael! This one made me smile because I’m a stickler for a tidy classroom. It helps students know you’ve went the extra mile for them on your own time and constantly through the week because they are important. Keep the articles coming. They are a highlight to my Saturday morning (including coffee)…must have coffee. 😊
Question-do you ever do speaking engagements anywhere or at school PD’s? Thanks for all you do!
You know it’s interesting. My classroom is generally very neat or “Spartan,” as you say. But my own desk is messy. I’ve always been a bit cluttered. But I consistently have the highest scoring classes on final exams and I train other teachers in classroom management. While I agree with the vast majority of your content, I disagree slightly in this one. Neatness is important for classroom culture, but a teacher with a messy desk may still be extremely effective. I’m not just talking about myself, but other awesome colleagues I’ve had the privilege of working with.
Keep up the great work on the blog!
Totally agree. There is research out there that says a messy desk is a sign of intelligence. Not saying I’m intelligent, but I more often than not have a messy desk…I can find anything but am very busy. I don’t take the time to clean that daily.
I do pick up my classroom daily though.
I don’t think a classroom should have to be immaculate, but tidy. Not everyone can do this or is this way. Also, I’d much rather have a teacher who puts more into great lessons than a clean classroom. Just my thoughts.
My classroom always looks like a mess. I am the type of person who has to see everything laid out and in order or I can’t think. If I put it away in a box or in a drawer or in a file cabinet….I will forget it exists.
Plus, I teach science. I have two to three different labs set up at all times. If I put them away, my students can’t make up their labs because I don’t have the time to pull them out again.
I’m very organized, but neat and tidy will never describe my room. I also don’t have classroom management issues.
Same! Science labs are a constant struggle especially with different preps. I also travel between two campuses and often look like a pack mule, hauling equipment and supplies between buildings. I try to organize and put away on Fridays and also during the week as I catch my breath. Unfortunately, I don’t have good cabinets for storage so that is something I have to change before next school year. I moved from middle school science to high school science and the students do a better job of helping clean up their spaces which makes it a bit easier.
I completely agree. I have stacks of papers in bins on a countertop but I know what lesson is coming next, and I have activities under that can be used for subs or for additional practice. My room may seem cluttered at times, but I know where things are and they are ready for student learning. Sometimes, a neat and tidy classroom might not have everything accessible to children. Also, when you’re transitioning to different activities/subjects, there is less disruption by having things accessible. I don’t find that a neat and tidy classroom means you’re a great teacher.
This is so true. Never underestimate the power of orderliness.
I would love to have a perfect , clean, classroom. But I have a classroom of kids that do not pick up after themselves, can’t keep up with anything. I’m not going to clean up after them. I’ve tried assigning jobs, and they don’t care.
This does not apply to the Arts–FYI. There are multiple phenomenal award wining teachers in our school, running amazing programs, who have cluttered work environments.
Agree!
I was thinking the same. 180 kids painting all day most days. I think I do a pretty good job of maintaining an orderly classroom under the circumstances but, if someone with OCD should come in they would not be comfortable! That being said, I guess I am doing alright with my SCM because the kiddos enjoy class, are learning and producing quality work.
It’s SO true!!
What if contacting parents after my behavior system has been established, to reach out when the kids have earned past 3 warnings, doesn’t help?? I have been contacting parents all year and nothing changes. The kids don’t fear their parents nor consequences…..
I feel this article to my core. I have ADHD and struggle with organization and waste time and energy during class “looking” for things or managing “things” which takes away from managing the class. I need systems/solutions that are easy to maintain. What source/resource do you suggest to start for this that is easily doable? I have come up with systems but can’t maintain them throughout the year because of all that is thrown my way. No excuses here. I recognize I need help. Thanks to anyone willing to share insight on this.
My recommendation for organizing your space (classroom, bedroom, kitchen, etc) is to start with the places that people DON’T see. Start by opening up a drawer. Or a cabinet. Ask yourself, “are the things I’ve stored here useful? To me or anyone else?” If the answer to that question is NO, then throw the items away. Borrow one of those big barrels from the custodian. And get your cabinets ready to store things that are useful but not needed every day. Label your cabinets purposefully with what is stored inside. Once you have places to store your materials that you do need, then you can remove stuff that is visible and causing clutter. When I have a clutter free environment, I am happier and more productive, and more calm, which translates into a better classroom experience for my students and a better home life for my family.
Thank you for these easy-to-implement ideas. I appreciate you taking the time to reply, too. I agree with your last statement about the results.
I sympathize. I have the same struggles. And I would add my thoughts at to how to tame the clutter monster: I have the most long-lasting success when I approach a trouble area as a project in need of a system. For example, I was always picking up Chromebook chargers that had become a tangled, messy trip-hazard by the end of the day. The solution was to place 4 desks right up along a wall and call those charging stations. I took them out of my regular seating chart. Students sit there when they need to and go back. But I am no longer corralling everything at the end of the day. The same approach can work for intake of assignments, distribution of supplies, etc. You have to be creative and try different approaches, if you want different results.
So true. And having kids help in tidying and keeping things organized helps them feel proud of their space in the classroom. I make sure every child has an end of the school day job (sharpening pencils, trash, wiping tables, etc) so that every child has an opportunity for stewardship in the classroom. Not to mention, if they know they’re going to have to clean it up at the end of the day they tend to clean it up quickly now and help each other clean it up. It’s routine now.
I have gotten many great ideas from “Smart Classroom Management”. I am often inspired. Sometimes the tone is arrogant and pedantic. This is one of those articles. I know it’s the style of the newsletter to use a strong, assertive tone, leaving no room for “wishy washiness.” I am a neat person. I strive for orderliness. I implement routines and procedures for my students. I am also not a robot and neither are they.
Grade 5 – It took me many years of teaching to realize that students need to be explicitly taught some things we take for granted. My students know how to organize their desks with “hards (texts, binders) on the right, softs (folders and flats) on the left.” They also learn how to use a binder, tabs, and filing papers. We have a game of Get Ready to Open/Close, where we open binders simultaneously to get, as they call it, “a satisfying click.” The benefit of this was to allow my students a bit of extra time to put papers back in their place. This “game” fades as they master it. Finally, our daily class Wrap It and Pack It is done by all students. Jobs are projected (like chairs stacked, attendance magnets readied, line up desks) and one student is in charge of removing them as others report when done. When all are done, there’s a “Sit on Desk” sign and we wait until dismissed. It works well for us.
This is a beautiful comment. I feel like all of excellent classroom management can be described as teaching kids to hear the “satisfying click” of a routine executed perfectly.
I agree that orderliness is important, but I also believe – as one commenter noted – that balance is key.
Realistically, no one can predict when the unexpected (or unavoidable) will inevitably disrupt the best laid plans or the most organized of spaces.
A classroom full of children with diverse personalities and needs will, at some point, require an adjustment in structure and strategy, ultimately resulting in some degree of ‘messiness’.
That’s fine, as long as everyone is safe, healthy, comfortable and learning well.
All human beings have good days and challenging days, and those of us who prefer a clean, clutter-free space (such as yours truly) also sometimes have ‘mindfully’ messy days. It’s not a bad thing; it’s called equilibrium.
My classroom has clutter bc we have 27 kids crammed into a small room with no storage. I don’t bother with my stuff on the shelves bc every spare moment, I’m either busy with my students or other teachers who need help. No garbage is allowed on the floor but some kids like their backpacks hanging from their chairs and some prefer the floor. And either is fine. We have a relaxed, happy environment and my classroom management works.
This is so true. I work in a school where I share a classroom. There is another teacher there all morning and I teach in the afternoon. Some years the morning teacher leaves the classroom neat and sometimes not. I used to be very upset about this until another teacher said to me that if the classroom is not neat, and the teacher can’t control that she’s not controlling her students either. I found that to be very true and help put things in perspective for me so now I’ve set up a system where the kids know what I expect and how the room has to look before they go to lunch. If it makes a very big difference.
I’m going to push back on this one – the flip side is that so many demands are placed on teachers on a daily basis and although I see your point- this article is just one more thing to add to our plates and to feel guilty about. My classroom is not always a Zen experience but I do just fine.
I think this looks different at the margins for different people and personalities, but the key is making tidiness a daily routine that students are a part of and responsible for. I teach six different classes of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders every day. Ensuring the classroom is spotless before each period is dismissed is a part of every class’s pack up routine. To eliminate the inevitable kvetching about cleaning up things that “are not my mess,” I have to reiterate the idea that the space belongs to all of us, and follow through by not dismissing the class until the classroom has been returned to its pristine state.
On my end, it requires having a place and system for everything. For example: Kids often won’t pick up someone else’s stuff on the floor, not because they’re lazy, but because they want the person who left the item to find it where they left it and don’t know where else to put it. I eliminated this by putting a lost and found bin in the corner of the classroom and an additional box where kids put pencils found on the floor, which then become property of the class. When I first started that pencil system, I was surprised to find I had more school supplies in my classroom in November than August.
Organization makes it clear to my students that instructional time is sacred. If they need a bandaid during class, they know exactly where to find it and can get it independently, without interrupting learning. Papers they need are located in the same place every single day, so there is no reason not to get right to work. Most don’t make this connection, so I straight up tell them: I keep this room organized so that all of your mental energy goes towards learning.
Kids push back on occasion in the day to day, especially at the beginning of the year, but when I give student surveys to review me periodically, organization is always one of the top strengths they mention. Whether they take the habit with them or not, I feel like I have done my job of illustrating to them that organization is a habit, not a trait — or maybe traits are really just habits — but my first few years in the classroom I was not like this, and I much prefer it this way.
Great read! Your insightful tips on fostering orderliness in the classroom are a game-changer! Thanks for equipping educators with practical strategies for success.