Thursday, January 5, 2012

After School Routine Checklist

I think it is really important to keep yourself and your classroom organized.  I was not a born organized person, but had to work hard to develop routines and systems to keep myself organized.  As a teacher nothing makes me happier than coming into a clean classroom with everything in its place.  It can be very difficult some days to leave your classroom as organized as you would like (at least it can be for me).

I came up with this end of the day routine a few years ago when I had a student teacher.  The list I gave her was a bit different than this one.  It really helped because I told her that once everything was completed on the list she was free to go home.  I felt it was really important to model good organizational skills for her as she was about to have her own classroom she was in charge of, and unless you let a student teacher realize that it's all the little things that consume so much of our time, your student teacher will not have a realistic view of how much there is involved in managing and maintaining a well organized classroom.

I do try and follow the routine myself every evening because it gives me peace of mind knowing that I can walk right into my classroom in the morning and be ready to go.  I do not like searching frantically for something or standing in line with the last minutes Charlies fighting for the copy machine.  Entering a well prepared classroom that is ready to go gets my day started off on the right foot.




End of the Day routine:


Write out assignment board for tomorrow.


Clear off desk and straighten top drawer.




Organize computer table.


Straighten daily files and file today’s papers.



Start a TO DO list for tomorrow including list of calls/emails to do.


Pack up laptop and cord.
I always take home my laptop, my Lilly Pulitzer notebook, and my pink file for any paperwork 


Pack up stuff to go home:  coat, lunch bag, computer, and purse.


Check files and put projects in order of priority for the morning.

Turn off lights.
      *Unplug lights under window

Leave desktop in wonderful shape to welcome the morning.
   Next day’s file
   Seating chart/class list binder
   Lesson plan book
   Teacher Text




I actually took some of the photos above back in October.  In the spirit of transparency I will show you how things really looked when I walked into my classroom on Tuesday, my first day back after Christmas break.




I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for you to leave your room all organized for the next morning.  That way if you have an emergency and are running late that morning, you know you are ready to go when you walk in the door.  Even more important is that if you end up having an unplanned sick day (and with three boys that happens here from time to time) at least you know you don't have to head into school at 6:30 AM to get things sub ready.

What is on your after school routine checklist?

46 comments:

  1. I wish you had been my cooperating teacher! I needed to start doing an afternoon routine with myself!! I don't know why I never thought of it before! Thanks for sharing!
    Kate
    http://tothesquareinch.wordpress.com

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  2. Thanks so much for sharing this. I'm currently doing my student teaching, and I'm definitely going to bookmark this for the future.

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  3. I awarded you the Versatile Blogger Award! Drop on by so that you can pick it up. Thanks for all that you blog!

    P.S. I LOVE your end of the day routine. I'm definitely going to have to start doing that so it's not so chaotic in the mornings.

    http://looseshoelaces.blogspot.com

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  4. I agree with you 100% I love leaving my classroom ready for the next day! Great post!

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  5. I love the idea of having folders for each day of the week. I believe I'm going to try to start that next year (since this year is already half over). I also love the color coded lessons. Mine are the same.

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  6. I am absolutely anal about this process. I agree that leaving everything for the next day ready is such a wonderful practice. I use those stackable 3-drawer plastic containers you can find at Target. I teach ELA to three classes and SS to one so my copies for one day are too massive for folders. But LOVE this idea! Thanks for sharing!

    Lara Chapman
    orgteachingaddict.blogspot.com

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    1. You are welcome. I love having everything I need in one place. It saves lots of search and rescue time!

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  7. Thanks so much for sharing this! I find it impossible to stay organized, and I like the idea of not leaving until this is done!

    dede @ 1stgradeevents.blogspot.com

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    1. You are very welcome! I am glad it was helpful.

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  8. My after school check list is simple, RUN!

    Honestly, I do most of the things you do, but you really have it organized and neat. Might have to snatch this list for my own checklist.

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    1. Run-that's something I SHOULD add to my list. ;)

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  9. Just found your blog through this post on pinterest and I am a new follower! Your organization tips are GREAT! I love this idea to have a checklist and I am ENVIOUS of that organized top drawer! I need to do that so badly!

    Erin
    Creating & Teaching

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    1. Welcome Erin!
      I sent you an email about blog design. I know you are swamped, but maybe someday.

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  10. For me, the hardest thing is keeping my desk neat! That definitely needs to go on my daily after school routine! :)

    What lesson plan book do you use? Is it a specific brand? I love how much room it has to write!

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  11. Hi Brittany
    Our school provides the lesson plan books for us. I think this is the model I have (I think mine is a few years old because the calendar was 2009, 2010, and 2011)

    https://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?section=96517&minisite=10264&item=2069489

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  12. Oh my goodness! This is an area of much needed improvement for me. I will have a student teacher in the fall (in 3 weeks!). What an invaluable lesson you shared with yours. It is time for me to step up and be a good model too! Thanks for the checklist idea =)

    Lisa

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  13. I'm wish I had seen this 4 years ago when I had an emergency medical leave and the room was a disaster for my poor sub! Thank you for the reminder as I plan for the new school year!

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  14. I just made my list. Great idea! Thanks!

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  15. Last item to add to the list after "Run": Glass of wine! teehee

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  16. Just made my list... I teach 3rd grade so my end of the day looks a lot different... but having a list will help me get out the door and since I am now dropping my son off at kindergarten before coming to work it will allow me to walk into my classroom at the beginning of the day with everything ready to go. Things on my list include: change date, update behavior chart, lay out materials for following day, check off the work in the class work basket, follow up emails, reset attendance/lunch count, sharpen pencils, and thanks for the idea of clearing off my desk. Added pick up lunch bag too because I always leave it!! Thanks again for the inspiration!!

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    1. Bigreddogan: I'm the last one who should be giving suggestions, but is there any way you could knock a few of those things off your list by having them be a student-helper job?

      The to-do that started me thinking that was "sharpen pencils". As one of my helper jobs (I teach Grade 2), kids can be the "Dullness Destroyer" (many of my jobs are alliterative). I keep a sharp and a dull can beside my new electric sharpener I bought with Scholastic coupons and the DD fits in any sharpening that needs to be done on his/her way out for recess, lunch, etc.

      If the work basket checking is just tracking and not marking, maybe you could have a student secretary job with some class lists handy.

      This past year, I made a quicker way for me to change my date. I made sets of cards for the months, weekdays, dates, years, and cycle days (we are on a 10-day cycle). I printed them onto bright, colourful card stock & laminated them. I was dreaming of a long single-strip pocket chart to hold them, but in the meantime, I just used stick-tac and stuck them in a row across the top of my SMARTBoard's frame. The stick-tac stays stuck to the frame and my cards come right off, making for a super speedy date change each day. Since it's already made, if you want the file, send me your email address as a direct message on Twitter (@technolit) and I'll send it to you (or anyone else who may want it). If I had a slightly lower location, date changes could also be done by students.

      Didn't mean to hijack this awesome blog post! Just hoping to fine-tune your procedure even more than you already have. Now, . . . if I could only get my own stuff organized, I'd be all set. :~)

      Sandra

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    2. Hi sandra, love this post! Would you be able to send me the date stuff please? Paulaspeers at hotmail dot co dot uk. Thanks in advance

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    3. I would LOVE your date stuff too! That is a part of the routine I always forget and would love the kids to be able to do it. mrsrobinson@hotmail.com

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    4. Your ideas are amazing! I also utilize students to do some of those easy tasks. I would like to see your date cards. I was going to make my own, but if you already have some made up, that would save me a bit of time. :-)

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  17. This is SO TRUE!! I try to always have things in order for the next day before I leave. It makes for such a better day the next morning. If I ever leave it messy I regret it so bad the next morning.

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  18. i am not a teacher, but i am going to use your ideas to organize my family's and my lives. i work midnights as a nurse and my husband runs the morning routine. these ideas can be included in my routine at night to make their lives easier in the morning. thank you.

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  19. I am in my final 10 week practicum and I love this.
    My cooperating teacher isnt the most organized and neither am I but I am trying my hardest to become organized but a disorganized organized <3 loved your tips and will implement into my full time 6 week teaching 100% of the time on the 25th of this month! <3 thank you <3

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    1. How exciting that you will woo be taking over. Good luck! Glad the routine will help you.

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  20. I've pinned this to my latest blog post, and realized I hadn't started following you yet! Well, now I am your newest follower :)

    Rae
    Check out my latest post!

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  21. I pinned your organization pictures! I really need to figure out how to organize and stay organized. That's the tricky part. You're awesome!

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    1. Thanks so much! Let me know if you have any questions.

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  22. About how long would you say this routine takes you? My desk/guided reading tables are the WORST at the end of the day. Piles of paper, everything in disarray. I need commit to this next year. However, I have only a limited amount of time at the end of the day because I have to pick up my son from daycare by a certain time. Do you correct papers at home?

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    1. This routine probably takes 10-15 min. It's leaving your classroom sub ready every night, so the next morning there is nothing to do, but start teaching. You don't have to wait until after school ends to start the routine. As the day progresses you can organize things whenever you get time. We end the day with homebase where students work on homework. I would often write out my board the last couple minutes before the bell rang. I could also get my day files and file papers at that time. It's really about leaving your room ready so you are not scrambling around the next morning.

      I rarely correct papers at home. I teach math and the only papers I correct are tests and quizzes. I do these during my prep or while the next class is assessing.

      Here are some posts on organization http://7thgrademathteacherextraordinaire.blogspot.com/search/label/Organization I did a couple posts on organizing papers. I know what you mean about how your desk can be a disaster at the end of the day. That's what happens to me when I have a ton of students working on retakes.

      Good luck! I have three boys and remember the days of rushing out of school at the end of the day to pick them up from daycare/the sitter.

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  23. This is a very helpful post on organization. It simply cannot be stressed enough! I don't have an actual list I go off of, more like my own mental checklist, but I cannot stand leaving my room in disarray! I should probably just type up a list and work on getting it done much quicker!

    If you have time, please stop by my blog!
    Www.wherelearningisfun.blogspot
    Jen

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    1. I would love to know your list! I am working on organizing after school instead of coming in early every day (what if there is an emergency?) Thank you!!
      Audreyann127@gmail.com

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  24. There is nothing like coming into a clean, organized classroom. I write out my learning targets, bell ringers, agenda, and date on the board for the next day. I clean off my desk and get supplies/materials ready for any activities. I have my copies made and laid in neat stacks, and my chairs are up on the tables ready for my custodian to vacuum. On the days I can't get organized, I feel frazzled and out of sort when I arrive. Thanks for sharing! :)

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    1. You're welcome. I feel the exact same way about starting the day off with a clean and organized room. It sets the tone for a productive and calm day.

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  25. just found this and will be using it in the new year

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  26. ALWAYS make a copy of your lesson plans and bring it home with you! You can type up an effective sub letter when you have the plans right in front of you!

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    1. All the teachers I know make up their own day plan books. Mine has my whole daily routine written on it and it's printed out and photocopied. Then it makes writing it up pretty quick each day, and if a sub comes in and we don't have time to prep we have an emergency bin with lessons and materials ready to go to plug in to all the non routine blocks.

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  27. Where did you get your organization system for the top of your desk?

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  28. Your end of the day routine is very thorough. I also have a routine. Instead of daily folders, I use a tower of plastic drawers with a drawer for each day of the week and one for the weekly homework. I find that works better for me because some times I need a little more space and the drawers keep small books corralled better.

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  29. I really love all these ideas! I need to come up with something that is going to work for me this year. My routine needs to be simplified at school, so I don't have to run around like a chicken without a head. Since arrival of my daughter, I certainly do NOT have the time to waste any more. I need to get organized, these ideas will certainly help get me organized. Thanks for a great post!

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  30. We need more people like you in education. I hope to intergrate many of these ideas

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  31. Yes Yes Yes! Great list! I totally agree! My most important "to do" at the end of each day is to clear off my desk. I need to come in the next morning to an empty desk.

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