Model from the beginning this is “our classroom”. Have students do things daily like pick up the floor, clean the tables, stack chairs. Assign a librarian to your class library and train them to organize it. Your custodian will appreciate it and your students will become more responsible.
If there is anything a parent volunteer can do at home ask. I have pencil sharpeners, laminators, cutters, and party volunteers. They make it fun and I just give a couple suggestions.
Set a timer for 15 minutes every afternoon and put things away that are left out throughout the day. If time is still left sharpen some pencils or organize a drawer.
Create a weekly schedule and stick to it. Mondays are for parent contacts, communication, sending home weekly and monthly news. Tuesdays I plan with my team. Wednesdays WE tackle copies and resources needed. Thursday and Friday I grade and organize materials for next week. I leave Friday knowing I am ready for next week.
As age appropriate, have some student access to shared supplies. The teacher can’t and shouldn’t do everything.
My library is coded with stickers on the spines. My students manage the classroom library. (4th grade). I may lose a book or two a year, but it does not consume my time.
I agree with Nora that student agency is the key to keeping the classroom organized. After a time of doing it on their own, they will find easier and more efficient ways to do the tasks. For other organizations tasks, I am a proponent of label makers. I label every cabinet and shelf so I am not thinking about where I put supplies and such.
I have classroom jobs. I train the students with their job and also a few substitutes in case someone is absent. This way I am not having to do everything and the students keep everything organized. Here are some of the jobs I have for my 3rd grade class:
Pencil sharpener
teacher assistant
IT person ( passes out and makes sure computers are charged)
Paper filer
Librarian
Clean up
Set up
During pre planning I make sure the room is set up to help these individuals with their job so they can be successful. This really helps me out.
