Before you make your classroom cute, set up the systems that run it. Here’s the simple test for which routines actually save you time all year, plus the four to build first.

Feeling overwhelmed by end-of-year classroom chaos? This post walks you through six teacher-tested strategies to purge, organize, and prep your space before summer. From what to toss to how to get students involved (without losing structure), you’ll find practical tips that save time now—and next fall. Includes a free printable checklist to guide you step-by-step.

Have you been looking for ways to keep your students on task and increase their independence? My Editable Daily Agenda Slides are the answer! They’ll keep students on task, help them develop independence and autonomy, and reduce the amount of writing you do each day.

Are you searching for a way to keep your students on task and increase their independence? What if you could accomplish both and save yourself HOURS of time each week? You can achieve all of the above by using one simple resource.

An organized classroom doesn’t have to be a dream. Yes, organization comes more naturally to some teachers. Just like classroom management or highly interactive lessons come more naturally to some teachers. If organization isn’t your superpower - yet - that just means you need to get intentional about what’s in your classroom. And where it is in your classroom. It’s time to create digital files.

Task cards are incredibly versatile. In fact, they are so versatile that there are probably ways to use task cards you’re not familiar with. Let me share 10 ways to use task cards in your upper elementary classroom.

How can you survive teaching in December with your sanity intact?
I have five FREE resources, tips, and strategies to share with you that will help you get organized and keep things running smoothly during the month of December.

You can’t turn your current space into an organized classroom with systems that work without first going through all you have and purging what you don’t need. A classroom purge that puts you on the road to an organized classroom has three main steps.

Start with these three priorities to get - and stay - organized this school year. Learn ways to organize your “stuff” and your “systems.”

Over the past several years, I’ve heard from hundreds of teachers looking for advice on how to get organized and stay organized all school year long. Many have tried getting organized in the past, but can’t keep it going. Sound familiar?

If you’re trying to unlock the mystery behind getting organized, simplifying your teaching workload, and/or how to work less as a teacher - the key is managing your time. Get control of your time and it will lay the foundation for streamlining every other part of your teaching life including getting organized and staying organized for good.

Systems. The key to achieving order and flow in the classroom. They’re also a foundational need to simplify your teacher workload, saving you time, and staying organized for good.

But what is a system and where should you have one? Let me share with you where I implemented systems in my classroom and how they changed my teacher life.

The Best Six Tricks to Keep You Organized for Good | Feel like you’re drowning in paperwork and classroom materials? Can’t find important resources when you need them? Utilize these simple steps to organize your teaching resources and keep your classroom organized for good. | everythingjustso.org

Determine Importance: Time to Drop What Doesn’t Work | The first step in simplifying your workload as a teacher is to determine importance. Deciding importance will guide all of your decisions as an educator - what you teach, how you teach, the teaching resources you use, and how you spend your time. Dropping what doesn’t work not only simplifies your workload, but also improves your performance as an educator. Guide sheets included help you through the process. | everythingjustso.org

As teachers, we often try to function as islands at school. Doing everything ourselves instead of asking for or accepting help. However, this superwoman mentality can only lead to isolation and burnout. Rather than trying to do it all yourself, utilize these three sources of help to simplify your workload and maintain a work-life balance.

Join me for a blog series on organization. Each week I'll teach you different ways organization can simplify your work life and help bring balance. Learn how to organize daily schedules and routines; teaching resources, and classroom supplies; and how to use best practices for lesson planning. Series includes guide sheets to help you organize it all.