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Even though teachers are summoned back to school a couple weeks before students, odds are you are still scrambling to get everything in order in your classroom. It is always a tough transition back to school, even though it is an exciting time. Students are transitioning too, which can increase the chaos in the classroom for the first quarter. Here are some classroom organization ideas that can help you to keep things in order.

• Use color-coordinated classroom organization bins. A system of color-coded bins is one of the best classroom organization systems out there. It is versatile enough to be useful in any classroom, and is perfect for elementary homerooms where you need to keep supplies in order for different subjects. You can use different colors for different topics. If you only teach one subject, color-coordinated bins can still help you out. For example, say you teach laboratory science. Different bins can hold supplies for different period classes or different types of activities. Color-coded bins also brighten the classroom!

• Address stickers. Tired of classroom organization supplies and textbooks mysteriously wandering out of your classroom? Brand them using return address stickers. This is a cheap, simple, fast way to mark everything your classroom, and will discourage theft. If items are misplaced outside the classroom and found by someone else, they will know where to return them to.

• Organize your teaching methods. This is more for your direct benefit. You need to come up with a note-taking system that allows you to keep track of the lessons you gave and their effectiveness. One teacher recommends placing letters for different types of teaching and learning styles with each lesson (V for Visual, K for Kinesthetic, etc.) as an example. If lessons labeled “V” are continually effective, you know to do more of those.

• Fix the décor. The average school classroom is not really designed with comfort or concentration in mind. Purchase some table lamps and turn off the fluorescent lights to provide friendlier lighting. Cover dull walls with paper and allow students to write and draw on the paper when they wish, keeping to a classroom theme. This makes the classroom more personal and also helps to instill esprit de corps. Consider hanging some pictures and even setting out some interesting and educational decorations. If you teach natural science, some rocks, pinecones, and shells can intrigue students and make a room friendlier.

Odds are that you actually have a fair amount of leeway with your classroom design, so long as you stay within the approved guidelines set by your school board. All that freedom can actually be overwhelming, since you know that at all times, you are in charge of coming up with an ideal setup that encourages learning and order. Once you learn some simple tips and tricks though, classroom organization can be a creative and fun activity. A comfortable and organized classroom is a great place to be, and will keep your students happy and productive.