10 Powerful Strategies for Art

Room Organization

Alecia Eggers (AOE Team)

AOE Winter Conference 2014

“Organizing is the act of giving yourself more time and peace of

mind.” - Peter Walsh

“[An uncluttered classroom] can help you and your students think

more clearly.” – Michael Linsin

The following are ten strategies that you can start today that will help you save time, improve your effectiveness as an educator, increase student autonomy and responsibility, and free your mind and physical space of clutter! The small amount of work invested in the establishment of these strategies doesn’t even begin to compare to the time and peace of mind you will save every day after their implementation!

“And as much as possible, utilize the storing capacity of your computer.” – Michael Linsin

Digitize Your Daily Plans

Cut, copy, paste, and compare with ease!

#1

Use Google Drive

NEVER worry about USBs or e-mailing files to

yourself again; store your handouts, rubrics, PowerPoints, photos, and more digitally so

they may be accessed anywhere with an

internet connection or through the app!

#2

Have Two Folders for Each Class & Keep a “Special Supplies” Box

¡  one folder for current/incomplete projects; the

other to store their completed work for easy

distribution, work selection for art shows, and parent-

teacher conferences

¡  store teaching materials for current projects with each

grade level’s folders – never search and frantically gather

materials again!

#3 and

#4

Display a Pictorial “Work Goes” Sign

Students look to this sign for easy, streamlined,

clearly directed clean-up

#5

Assign Helpers on a Rotation (Table Helpers )

Develop a simple system to involve your whole class by assigning jobs

and tasks that help with daily routines and responsibilities, saving you tons of time on clean-up and

prep

#6

Sort Things by Color

This may seem a little over-the-top, but creating such an accessible, sorted system is efficient and effective, prevents

scrambling, helps with inventory, AND it’s student-friendly

#7

Create a Student-Friendly Materials Shelf or Storage System

Using labels and an easy grab-and-go system for supplies

reinforces the idea of student responsibility, ties into their assigned

tasks (Tip #6), and again…saves time for both you, the teacher,

and the students, especially between

back-to-back classes

#8

Have Alternative and Enriching Art Activities

Keep students engaged with art

activities as they finish projects early, rotate through centers, play

art-related games, and they’re perfect for

subs!

#9

Have a Sub Tub

Not only is this great for emergencies, but

once in place, it’s rare you would ever write

sub plans again because they are all in the tub and the “Read

Me First” binder you create would explain

everything a sub would need to know coming into your art

room!

#10

BONUSES! !!! Table Baskets, Sorted

Sharpie System, Individual Clean-Up Poster Tasks

BONUSES! !!!

Vocabulary Card Pockets & Sorted Art Books

“If you can eliminate the excess from your classroom and keep the top of

your desk clear of clutter, you will lower your stress level and become a more efficient – ergo, more effective

– teacher.”

– Michael Linsin

“A neat and appealing classroom environment communicates to all

who enter, your commitment to lead a first-class educational experience

for your students.”

– Michael Linsin

Share YOUR tips and tricks with us on Twitter! #aoeconference

You can follow me @cliveartroom or email me at aleciaeggers@theartofed.com

Quotes from:

Linsin, Michael. Dream Class: How to Transform Any Group of Students into the Class You've Always Wanted. San Diego, CA: JME, 2009. Print.