As the year begins to end, we need to be thinking about ways to clean your room to prepare for a new school year. Setting up your classroom for a new school year will be a breeze if done correctly. So let’s get a head start on cleaning and organizing your classroom for the next school!
I like to give this Mindset Survey for Students to learn about their mindset and how they feel about math class. Students who feel successful in math class are happier and more engaged in learning. Students who feel successful in math class are happier and more engaged in learning. Check out The Bonus Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys for students to use in your classroom to cultivate a positive classroom community in mathematics.  You can also sign up for other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
Every year when I had to report back to school in the fall, there were so many meetings and things to do that I kept getting sidetracked. One minute I would be hanging up a bulletin board, and then the next, I would hear about a new program we needed to start. It was so overwhelming. Finally, I realized that I felt more focused and productive when I spent a little time planning out my classroom beforehand. With this simple end-of-the-year cleaning system, I could enjoy my summer and be ready for a new school year!
Idea 1: Planning – How to Get Ready for a New School
Putting in some time at the end of the year to plan for next year might sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.  If we begin to think now about what worked and what didn’t work this school year it can save us time later.  Sit in your classroom and look around. If possible, try to make a list while your students are in the classroom. Did you like where you kept your books? Were your math supplies easy to reach? Could your students see the word wall?  Â
preparing-for-a-new-academic-year
How to Organize Your Classroom to Maximize Learning
Students need opportunities to work in whole groups, small groups, and independently. So thinking about the arrangement of the classroom is essential. This is where drawing a classroom setup diagram comes in handy.
I like to think about the best place to put my table to pull small groups, an area for a rug to have our discussions, places to store our math manipulatives and centers. First, add in these elements. Then, decide on your classroom table setup.Â
You also want to make sure materials are easily accessible and in a place where students can help put them away. Now, create a map or, if possible, move the furniture to try out the new arrangement.
Classroom Displays
When setting up your classroom, it’s essential to make sure you have a numeracy-rich environment and a literacy-rich environment. For example, we need to include word walls, anchor charts, number lines, and other reference charts for both subject areas to support students. In addition, it is important to have all your displays for each subject area grouped. This makes it easier for students to find what they need. For example, If possible, have your math supplies and posters in one spot so students know that it is the math area.
This Problem Solving Steps in Math Poster is excellent to display in the classroom for students to reference.
In addition, your classroom should be a happy and positive space for students to learn and grow. If you are looking for some Free Growth Mindset Posters with positive messages to hang on your walls, Click Here for 6 Growth Mindset Classroom Display Free Posters.
Action Steps:
- Plan out your classroom. Draw a map of your classroom for the new school year. Think about what changes you want to make. Â
- Plan out the displays in your classroom. Print and laminate these posters now so you are ready to go the first week of school! Mindset Posters and Problem Solving Steps.
Idea 2: To Clean Your Room
The end of the year is usually a whirlwind of activities with band concerts, field days, and state testing. When possible, use some of this time to try to clean out cabinets, closets, and your desk! I like to set a schedule for a particular part of my classroom each week in June. Throw away things you no longer need and take some time to organize each space. Even in 5-10 minutes, you can make huge improvements in cleaning your classroom. I always discover new things in my cabinets that I forgot I had!
Organizing Your Classroom
Finding ways to store all your materials and supplies so they are easily accessible can eliminate delays and disruptions and encourage students to use them. For example, in poorly arranged classrooms, students spend a lot of time waiting for materials. Â
Try focusing on finding creative ways to take your storage vertical. For example, instead of getting a low shelf to the ground, find a taller one and use the top shelves to store things that students don’t need to reach daily. In addition, clean out any old or broken supplies.
Instead of having every activity and tool available for students from the beginning of the year through the end, try rotating supplies based on the taught skills. Having different tools to use can bring some new life into the classroom.
Organizing Math Manipulatives
I like to have all my math supplies stored in clear plastic bins with labels in a cabinet in my classroom. This way, I can easily find what we need and am more likely to use the materials.
In addition, I like to have my students sit in groups with a 3 or 4-drawer plastic storage cabinet in the middle. Then, I place math tools within these drawers. This saves time passing out supplies, and students have what they need. You can also put a bucket on top with materials for the day’s lessons or other materials they need.
Take some time to sort your math tools to be ready to go at the start of the new school year. Then, as you finish using the tools for the school year, have students help organize and get them ready for the new school year. Think about what tools you need for the start of the school year and clean out any unnecessary tools to clean your room.
Organizing Math Centers
Classroom centers and their success come down to careful planning and proper organization. First, a central place to store these materials is needed. Second, depending on the grade level you teach, you may want to limit how many are available to students at a time. Finally, you may just want to put out a few games and centers at a time. Â
The math center often requires several manipulatives, which makes organization very important. Students need to clean up these games and centers on their own so having a system is vital. There should be very clear instructions for how students need to clean up when they are done to keep supplies from being lost or put away in the wrong places.
It might mean having a laminated picture of which supplies go in which places or some modeling time at the beginning of the day to walk through clean-up procedures for younger students. Color coding materials can also help to clean up.Â
Action Steps:
- To Clean Your Room: Organize and clean out your closets, cabinets, and your desk.
- Organize your math tools and centers.
Idea 3: Prepare for Growth Mindset in Mathematics Lessons
Research shows a link between a growth mindset and math success. Kids who have a growth mindset about their abilities perform better and are more engaged in the classroom. In addition, people with growth mindsets believe that they can develop their skills, talents, and abilities over time with hard work, effort, and perseverance.  Get ideas here on 5 Powerful and Easy Lessons Teaching Students How to Get a Growth Mindset.
Resources to Cultivate a Growth Mindset Classroom
☀Download this BONUS Guide with everything you need to create a growth mindset classroom and positive classroom community. Â
âž•Includes definitions, lesson ideas, mindset surveys for students and teachers, and printable posters.
🧠💪Research shows a link between a growth mindset and math success. Kids with a growth mindset about their abilities perform better and are more engaged in the classroom.👉Includes everything you need to start cultivating a more positive math classroom and students who love math. Download and get started today! Click here to download the Mindset Guide & Survey.
Growth Mindset Classroom Resources
Teaching students the concept of a growth mindset and how they can harness its power can positively impact student achievement. They need to learn that they can achieve in all areas and that struggling is part of the process. We need to help them understand the connection between effort and improvement. Grab these 5 ready to use Growth Mindset lessons to use at the start of the school year.
I like to give this Math Mindset Survey to students as a starting point before I start talking about growth mindset. Then again, at the end of the year, see how their mindset changed through practice and effort. Start with sharing the growth mindset definition with students and what a growth mindset looks like in the classroom.
If you are looking for some Free Growth Mindset Posters with positive messages to hang on your walls, Click Here for 6 Growth Mindset Classroom Display Free Posters.
To read more about this, you can also check out 5 Powerful Ideas to Help Students Develop a Growth Mindset in Mathematics.
Action Steps:
- Find books and activities to use to teach about having a Growth Mindset at the beginning of the year. Read this post for ideas on what to teach 5 Powerful and Easy Lessons Teaching Students How to Get a Growth Mindset. Or print these ready to use Mindset lesson plans.
- Print the Math Mindset Survey.
Additional Resources for Preparing for a New Academic Year
- Classroom Organization: The Physical Environment
- 50 Organization Tricks
- 5 Powerful Ideas to Help Students Develop a Growth Mindset in Mathematics.
- Problem Solving Steps in Math Poster, Bookmarks, and Labels
- Tips to Clean Your Room
Things to Do Before a New School Year
Taking some time as you pack up your classroom to organize and clean, you will set yourself up for success at the start of the new school year. Don’t wait until the last few days of school to do this because you are already thinking of your summer plans by then.
Taking a few minutes to make a plan will help you stay focused, less stressed, and have a beautiful and productive classroom.
Don’t forget to try this Math Mindset Survey for Students to learn about their mindset and how they feel about math class. It is a great tool to use during the first week of school with students. Check out The Free Ultimate Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys to use in your classroom.
I am a very organized person, and I believe having a clean and organized classroom is important for productivity and a positive environment. Give me some new organizers, and I am so happy. What do you like to use to clean your room for a new school year?
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