Spring Cleaning Tips for Classrooms
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Spring is known for many things, but one of the more reoccurring themes is renewal – a time to start fresh with new ideas and clean spaces…
After playing host to a room full of children for months, chances are your classroom could use a good cleaning. Stacks of books, sticky desktops, piles of papers, and dusty bulletin boards seem commonplace in the classrooms as the school year nears its end. Here are some tips and tricks which will make your classroom shine, and invigorate you and your students for the rest of the year. Make it a fun project and get your students involved in the cleaning too!
1. Devise a plan
Get students involved and decide which areas of your classroom need the most attention. Then, determine the order in which you want to tackle them. Divide larger projects up over the course of a few days and strive to accomplish small tasks all at once. Devote your first day of cleaning to constructing a schedule that you and your students will stick to throughout the month.
2. Get rid of the clutter
Get rid of broken, outdated, or unused items that take up valuable space in the room. Discard broken crayons, dried out markers, and loose papers. Sift through cupboards and filing cabinets to get rid of old, unused lesson plans. Finally, categorize and label the remaining items to keep them organized and easily accessible.
3. Create piles
This part is crucial to re-establishing organization in the classroom. Create piles of items to donate, return, hold a garage sale or dispose of.
4. Work from the top down
Once the clutter is under control, you’re ready to start the actual cleaning. Take a large duster and start with dusting off the ceiling tiles. This will give you a clean ceiling and a reason to do a new, fun spring craft project with your students’ that can be hung down.
5. Wipe down walls
After the ceiling, move on to the walls. When you clean these, it is also the perfect time to take down old posters and replace them with new ones. Also, change bulletin boards and dust off those letters hanging above the whiteboard.
6. Involve your students
Once you have completed the major tasks, create a few fun cleaning games and include your students in the final stages of the project. Challenge students to collect as many scraps of paper from the floor as possible in one minute. Hold a sweeping contest and see who can collect the most dirt in a dustpan!
7. Disinfect and deodorize
Have you ever wondered just how many germs there might be on that computer mouse or door handle? Using disinfectant wipes, ask students to swipe across the areas in the classroom that are touched by multiple people multiple times per day.
8. Redesign
Once the dirty work is done, reward yourself and your students with a fun redesign to conclude your spring cleaning. Rearrange the classroom to create a refreshing atmosphere that will help both you and your students enjoy the final push to summer. Bulletin boards are the perfect place to start!
9. Maintain
Now it’s time to maintain cleanliness throughout the rest of the year! As an incentive, consider holding a weekly cleaning competition or rewarding students who set an example and clean on their own accord.
10. Discover the magic of fresh air
The amount of stale air that accumulates in a classroom can be astounding.Since many students have allergies, installing an air freshener or using a room spray may not be an option. The best way to make your classroom smell fresh again is to open the door and windows to allow for new air.
Finally, don’t overlook the actual learning part of Spring cleaning! Instead of a drudgery, this season can be turned into a fun hands-on activity for your students to get involved! Remember, a fresh, clean working environment can get everyone more excited to work.
Like this article for teachers?
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