Megan Helgeson, OWLA Beginning Teacher Chair
French Teacher, Miamisburg High School
Whether a classroom is organized or not can make or break even the best-intentioned classroom management strategies. While world language teachers definitely want to set up their classrooms to promote the use of the target language, there are other ways to be organized that help with efficiency during instruction.
1. Bins in Closets
I have two closets in my classroom: one for students to access and one for items I use. In the student closet, there are small plastic bins for snacks, menstrual supplies, Band-Aids, whiteboard cleaning supplies, candy, scissors, erasers, pencils, rulers, markers, and a DIY bin with colored pencils separated by color.
This closet also has larger metal bins where students keep their notebooks. I prefer that students keep their notebooks in the classroom so there is no excuse for not doing an activity or wasting time going to their lockers to get them. I do tell students that just because we keep notebooks in the classroom does not mean that they are not allowed to take them home to study for assessments.
In my closet, I have bins for staples, paper clips, Post-it Notes, and Sharpies, as well as extra glue sticks, dry-erase markers, highlighters, etc.
2. Agenda
On a whiteboard in the back of my room, I write the agenda for the day for each level. I write general words in the TL, such as Vidéo, Conversations, Histoire, and Lecture. I do not tape off a section of the whiteboard like I see some teachers do, because some days I need more space than others for particular classes.
3. “I Can” Statements
On the top half of a 4-foot-by-4-foot bulletin board, I have “I can” statement posters with what students are able to do at each proficiency level. At the bottom of these posters, I write the language level (French 1, 2, 3, 4, and AP) that each proficiency level corresponds to. Having these posters simplifies the “I can” statement process from an observation standpoint for admin. Because I keep them up all year, I do not have to change them when we are discussing a new topic or fear that admin might walk in and find that the posted statement does not match the lesson.
4. Supplies at the Front of the Room
On a rolling table under my screen at the front of the room, I have mini whiteboards and small plastic bins for dry-erase markers, dry erasers, highlighters, glue, and my bean bags. These are the supplies that my students use almost every day. This is also where I put all of the papers that I regularly use or will use in the next few days. Papers that I regularly use are in a paper organizer, while papers that I will use in the next few days are simply laid flat on the table.
5. Cordless Keyboard
I highly recommend a cordless keyboard for every teacher, but especially for those who have a desktop computer in their classroom. A cordless keyboard has the benefit of allowing you to walk around the classroom while still being able to control the computer.
6. Papers to Grade / Papers to Put Away
On my desk, I have two bins: one for papers to grade and one for papers that I have graded but need to put away in the students’ hanging folders. This keeps my desk as clutter-free as possible.
7. Hook for Bell Schedule, Staff Phone Numbers, etc.
By my desk, I have a hook with sheet protectors with the bell schedule, staff phone numbers, and classroom numbers. I keep the bell schedule facing up at all times in case I need to double-check what time the period ends. (I also put this information on my roster lists that I have on my clipboard as another place to check as needed.)
8. Sub Binder & Attendance Binder
On my desk, there is a designated spot for administrative binders, such as my sub binder, as well as class lists that I have taken attendance on. During class, I use a clipboard where I keep my lesson plans, class lists, and useful phrases that I can easily show students if necessary. At the bottom, under everything else, I have a chart with a quick-reference list for medical notes, IEPs, 504s, and ELL info.
9. Filing Cabinets
Any papers that I do not use often go in filing cabinets organized by topic. That way, whenever I want to find an activity about colors, for example, I know where to look.
10. Tissues & Hand Sanitizer
I keep tissues, hand sanitizer, and lotion by the trash cans, which are by the door and away from my desk. You don’t want students approaching your desk every time they’re sick and need to blow their noses or throw their tissues away. Having the trash cans by the door encourages students to throw things away on their way out, instead of leaving things on the floor because the trash can is on the other side of the room.
Read the blog post “How to Set Up Your Classroom for Immersion” to see how I organize my classroom for things like student supplies for the day, a class calendar, useful phrases, class expectations, and posters reminding students to stay in the target language.