3 Tips For Keeping A Clean and Sanitary Classroom

It may seem like summer just started yesterday, but the school year will be here before you know it.  Most people focus on how much work parents and students have to do around this time of year, but people rarely talk about how much teachers must prepare as well.  Teachers don’t really have “the summers off” like most people think.  They spend their summers making lesson plans, and spend their time before the beginning of the school year preparing their classrooms.

Teachers want to their classrooms to be fun, but they also want to make sure that it’s as clean as humanly possible.  Aside from wanting it to be functional and aesthetically pleasing, you always want to try to keep away germs that so easily spread among little kids.  It can be difficult to keep a room full of 20-30 kids clean and organized, but it is possible with the right planning.

Always have disinfectant wipes handy

Cheap disinfectant wipes can be a teacher’s best friend, especially around cold and flu season.  Did you have a kid sneeze on their desk?  A quick swipe with a disinfectant wipe can help keep germs at bay (and help calm down the kids about how “gross” it was).  Is there a flu outbreak going around the school?  Give your doorknobs a quick swipe at the beginning and end of each day.  They can also help easily clean up any spills and messes.

Create an end of the day routine

The easiest way to keep a classroom clean is to get your kids involved in the clean up.  Set aside 5-10 minutes at the very end of the day to clean up the classroom.  Make a rule that everyone has to stop what they’re doing at the set time, and start their “chores”.   Keep a rotating schedule of different groups to ensure that nobody has always ends up doing the same job, and to also ensure that everyone gets to learn exactly what it takes to keep their classroom clean. You can request that they simply clear them of paper, pens, and other school supplies, or have them wipe off their desks and school chairs with a rag and disinfectant. 

Institute a hand washing policy

Germs and viruses can spread easily among kids, especially kids that spend the day touching everything around them.  You can disinfect your classroom to try to keep it clean, but if you want to really ensure that your classroom stays clean and healthy, make sure that your kids wash their hands.  Have them wash their hands before lunch, and after they handle classroom toys, art supplies, or books.

4 Tips for Surviving the Classroom Set-up

After a year of tests, grading, and countless snow days, teachers were more than ready for this summer break. However, "break" can sound like an oxymoron to most dedicated teachers. The vast majority of educators will spend the summer tweaking their lesson plans and preparing for the new students coming in the fall, and potentially even working part time at a summer camp to pay bills. All too soon, however, even that break will be over and it will be time to set up the classroom again. There isn't a teacher alive that looks forward to setting up the year's supplies and décor, but one of your most dreaded tasks doesn't have to be difficult. Follow these tips when you set up your classroom, and you'll be surprised at how easy unpacking can get.

Enlist help

Unlike packing up the classroom at the end of the year, you don't have bored students that you can offer extra credit to in exchange for help. This means that any assistance is going to have to come from somewhere else. If you have children who are old enough, you could offer them additional allowance money or some kind of other appropriate reward for helping you out for a day or two. If you have a spouse, they could always take part. Better yet, if you have any really good friends, you could bribe them with a dinner and drinks party in exchange for their much-needed efforts. A little help can go a long way, and a few extra hands could make the difference between having another day to yourself and having to clean.

Organize and label

If you haven't done so already, now is the time to label everything that's going into your classroom, both new and old. Invest in some sticky notes and color-coded stickers and make sure that you have a good idea of where everything is going. Also, make sure that you are placing like with like in the boxes – otherwise, you and any helpers will be spending all your time walking back and forth and dealing with questions instead of unpacking.

Don't forget shelves, furniture, and closets

Many teachers assume that janitors will keep their classroom dirt and dust free during the summer, but if you want your classroom to be extra clean you should take some time to wipe down your shelves and closets. Most janitors will make sure that floors are clean and that dry erase or blackboards are clear, but that's all you really can expect. You may have to do some simple dusting when you get in, or you may need to take time to really clean your shelves and storage space. Also, give your classroom furniture a nice scrubbing. Your students may have wiped them down before they left, but all of your desks and chairs should be cleaned at the beginning of a new year.

Pack a first day box

Unless you have a lot of time to get your classroom together before the students start classes, decorating and preparing your classroom can be difficult. To make setting up easier, you should pack a box full of things you usually need on the first day. Thumbtacks, bulletin board borders, scissors, staplers, and other décor supplies would be good to add. This way, when you come back in September you'll have everything you need.