Organizing: A Tip or Two

Wendy Harris

Always alphabetizing papers or folders?

Save time by assigning consecutive numbers to each student in alphabetical order. This number can be written on every folder that a student uses. Students should also write their numbers after their names on every paper.

Alphabetizing a set of papers or folders is simpler when putting numbers in order. Even young students can help alphabetize take-home or seatwork folders by putting them in numerical order.

Having trouble getting students to complete morning tasks?

Attach a colorful row of icons to poster board to help students remember what to do. Explain to the students the task each icon represents and then hang the chart in a prominent place at the front of the classroom. A few minutes before the morning bell, remind students to check the chart and to complete any tasks they have not done yet. After a couple of weeks, remembering to check the chart becomes the students’ responsibility.

Icons could include die-cut or hand-drawn shapes of things like the following: smiley face for beginning the day with a smile, a coat to remember to hang coats up, a pencil for remembering to sharpen them, a ticket for remembering to turn in lunch or milk tickets, and a paper-shape for completing the morning’s worksheet.

Reprinted from Teacher to Teacher, 1999.

Used with permission from BJU Press. For permission to reproduce this article, please write BJU Press.