Too Many Papers Collecting On Your Desk? Try This

In the busy school day, papers can easily be placed haphazardly on your desk and other surfaces.  To help keep papers organized, make files for each topic you teach.  If you run off extra copies instead of throwing them away, keep the extras in your files.  You will be able to use them for students who need extra practice, to lend to another teacher, and to use next year.  Making a file for each month when the year starts will allow you to place seasonal worksheets, ideas, or bulletin board supplies in an easy to find location.  If you happen to find a Valentine’s Day activity in November, you can file it in your February file and easily find it when the occasion approaches.  Also, create a binder for professional development handouts, newsletters, and memos so you may easily refer to them when needed.  Keep student work separated in paper trays by subject or class and immediately clip them together or put them in a folder before removing them to keep them from getting mixed up.  In order to maintain organization of paper flow, make sure to set up your file system before the school year begins so that each paper will have a place.  If the school year begins without a filing system, you are most likely not going to take the time to create one in the midst of the flurry of school activities, and your paper piles will rival Mt. Everest.