Be sure to download your freebie at the end of this post!
Even with the digital age rapidly marking its territory throughout our profession, the reality is that paper, and the clutter that comes with it, is still very much present within our classrooms and workspaces. As teachers, we handle and process numerous forms of papers each and every day. From important administrative documents, to student assessment tasks, lesson plans, worksheets, resources, handouts, notes, and the list goes on… paper clutter is well and truly a pesky gremlin within the four walls of many classrooms, no matter how many years you have been teaching for.
In fact, paper clutter can be one of the most significant challenges for teachers, often leaving them feeling overwhelmed and disorganised each time they set foot in their classroom.
Picture this: it’s Monday morning, you’re on your way to your classroom, stacks of photocopying for upcoming lessons in hand, when a colleague stops you and asks if you have had a chance to read over that draft permission note that they gave you last week. ‘Sure did!’ you reply, smiling. However, it doesn’t take you long to realise that you have no idea where you actually put the dang thing… despite knowing that you definitely remember reading it!
As you enter your classroom, you attempt to make some sort of pile with the papers in your arms amongst the existing stacks on your desk that have outgrown your once organised ‘in tray’… You begin desperately searching for that draft for your colleague, flicking through an assortment of assessment tasks, meeting notes, and lesson plans, only to be interrupted by the morning bell, as if to punctuate the point of the constant time battle that you face as a teacher, every single day.
I think we have all found ourselves in a similar scenario at some point in our teaching careers. Not only with the never-ending to do list, but the uphill struggle with managing and organising all of the various papers that come with the gig.
Although it may seem overwhelming at first, beginning to sort through and purge your classroom paper clutter can eventually lead to that long sought after feeling of relief and calm, knowing that you can walk into your classroom every day and know exactly where everything is, right when you need it.
In fact, getting on top of your classroom paper clutter extends beyond this feeling of relief, allowing you to experience:
- Improved efficiency: By decluttering your classroom, you’ll streamline your workflow, making it easier to find the materials you need right when you need them. No more wasting precious time searching through piles of paper! With an organised system, you can easily identify and locate urgent tasks, deadlines, and important documents that require your attention. Furthermore, decluttering and organising your classroom papers effectively can help to ensure that you never misplace or overlook time sensitive tasks or important action items.
- Increased productivity: By decluttering and organising your papers, you can set yourself up to be better able to locate and access the documents and resources that you need, saving you valuable time and energy. No more crazy searching through random piles of paper! With a clutter-free workspace, you’ll be able to focus more effectively on what matters most – teaching and learning.
- Elevated professionalism: When you purposefully declutter your papers leaving only the essentials in your space, you can experience greater confidence knowing that you will easily be able to locate and retrieve these as necessary (ahem, that draft for your colleague..!) Additionally, this can also help to ensure compliance with administrative requirements, retention policies, or particular guidelines that you need to follow in accordance with your school or educational system.
So, not only will decluttering your classroom paper clutter bring you a sense of relief, but it will also unlock a whole new level of efficiency, productivity, and professionalism in your teaching practice.
Now, I know it’s all well and good for me to point out what may already be some quite obvious benefits of tackling your classroom paper clutter – but how can you actually begin to take action and finally do something about all of the paper taking up valuable real estate in your classroom and workspace?
I’ve got you!
I created a free guide with 51 (yes, 51!) types of papers that you can immediately begin to sort through and declutter from your classroom and workspace, today. I myself was even shocked at that number as I was writing the list. It really is quite ridiculous the amount of paper that comes into our possession as a teacher, and we certainly do not need to keep it all.
Download your free guide and checklist with 51 Types of Papers to Immediately Declutter from Your Classroom and Workspace below and take your first steps towards a more organised, functional, and calm classroom space for both you and your students.
I can’t wait for you to get started.
ALL my best,
