When organizing items in your room, consider the following: Are the books in your room catalogued in any way? If students can remove them, is there a system for checkout? Is there a set of rules for operating computers? Are there rules for printing? Is there a place to put disks, scissors, paper, labels, etc.? Do students know where and when to hand in work? Are materials readily accessible and near where they will be used? Where will students put personal items such as backpacks or lunches? Do you have items on your desk for student use? For instance, a stapler, or a hole punch? What are the rules surrounding use of these items? Are there play areas or activity centers in your room? How are they contained? Materials that you can use to begin organizing your room include: Plastic bins Labels Floor tape to mark off areas Caddies for paper clips, thumbtacks, markers, etc. Small bookshelves After you have set up your room, monitor the organization at least twice a year. Ask yourself the following questions: Is it easy to see what is available? Are materials easy to access? Does my room flow well? Are there any traffic jams? Are there any visual obstructions? Do I need to work on noise levels? Is this a pleasant place to teach and learn?