I am a teacher. How can I become better organized?

Question

I teach Kindergarten

Answer 1

I teach kindergarten also. I'm not the most organized person myself, but here are some things I do. I give each child a number, usually 1-20 (depending on the number of students). I usually put these numbers on any papers I give out. So if students can't write their names yet, I don't have to spend so much time doing it, the number is there. Later on in the year they write their numbers on their papers along with name and it makes it easier to file papers.

I also have folders for each child. Keep folders for yourself too, to organize things. For example...Lesson plans....Parent Notes, Morning Work, Homework, etc. Whenever you have a great activity always keep an extra copy and file it, so you will have it for the next year. Make folders for activities done on certain days of the week, or certain months.

I hope some of these ideas help. I know they are in no order, but like I said I need to work on being more organized myself! Good Luck!

Answer 2

As a first grade teacher I completley understand your pain. I have several areas in my room that help keep me organized. I have one area in my room that holds all those pesky required assessments that the state is now handing out as well as all the others that are required of me through the year. They are stacked in the order that I will use them. For homework I have seven of those stackable paper (in-boxes) trays and I put my papers there that I plan to hand out for homework. I can plan up to seven weeks in advance. This way it is easy to figure out if I need to add something or move somehing around. Finally behind my desk I have a portable hanging file (or you could use a crate) In it I have hanging files for each day of the week (m-f) I use 1 hanging file folder and then put manila folders in for each day. I place all the day's activies, handouts, plans, overheads, materials... into the folder. When I complete a week I reload for the next week. I can also put several "weeks" in the crate and plan way ahead if I so desire. It also makes it really easy to have a sub, they just pull the day's folder and away they go. That's how I stay organized in a nutshell.

Answer 3

Two words, manila folders. I use these for EVERYTHING. Unit work sheets, lesson plan ideas, student work, documentation, etc. The list is endless. Also I try to (try being the key word) set out my daily lesson plans and materials before I start the day. When I have leftovers I either decide to pitch it, if its something I cant use again, or file it (it takes about 20 seconds to grab a manila folder (love them) label it and stack it on your desk. You can file them or sort them later.

Oh and the never ending "to-do" lists and "to-get" list and "general remember" lists are wonderful too. Post-Its are great.

And no, nofx, they dont teach that in college.

Answer 4

Oh, boy! I wish you knew my daughter. It helps if you are a firstborn!! Color code items that go together. Plastic boxes of different colors help. After your color coordinate, alphabetize. Write things down...one book for this, one for that, etc. Wish I knew what grade you teach. Use file folders that don't allow the papers to fall out, and label them. Labels, labels, labels!

Answer 5

* Get a diary or teachers daybook and USE it.
* Organise your programs / plans on your PC into folders for each subject area. When you print them off, have a folder for each subject area to place your documents in.
* Teaching is all about organisation - good luck!!!

Answer 6

Limit Yahoo Answers until AFTER your desk is clean! LOL
I'm in the same boat!

Answer 7

just make sure u have containers to put stuff in and always keep ur desk organized

Answer 8

they didn't teach you that in college?