14 Tips For Organising Your Classroom For The End Of The Year

Decluttering desks and storage areas is a great way to streamline your classroom as the school year wraps up! 

Take a moment to go through stacks of papers, excess supplies, and student work that may have piled up. Recycle or toss out items you no longer need, making space for the essentials you’ll want in the new year. 

By reducing clutter, you’ll not only feel a sense of accomplishment but also set the stage for a fresh, organised start. Plus, clearing out these areas now can save you precious time when you’re ready to reset the classroom for next year’s group.

Sorting through student work is a key task to tackle before the final week of school. Whether you’re creating portfolios to send home or simply organising a few key pieces of student work to return, getting this done early can really lighten the load. 

Take the time to review, file, and organise the best work to showcase your students’ achievements throughout the year. By sorting and preparing these items in advance, you’ll avoid the last-minute rush and ensure that everything is ready to go when it’s time to send it home.

 Plus, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on your students’ growth and accomplishments!

As the year winds down, it's a great time to focus on classroom organisation to make next year easier.

First, give everything a good clean! Wipe down surfaces and materials before storing them away. After all, kids touch just about everything in the classroom, and a fresh start can help keep germs at bay and give everything a nice, neat finish.

Next, take pictures of your classroom setup. If you’ve created a bulletin board or set up a space that you’re particularly proud of, snap a picture! It’s a great way to remember exactly how you want things to look when setting up your room next year. This little tip will save you time and stress in the future.

Lastly, ziplock bags are your best friend when it comes to storage. From bulletin board pieces to small classroom supplies, having different sizes of bags to neatly organise your materials is a lifesaver. Label each bag so you know exactly what’s inside. Sandwich and Large Ziplock are especially useful for keeping everything tidy and easy to find when you need it.

Instagram Organisational Ideas to Inspire You

Here are a few clever organisation tips from Instagram that you can use to keep your classroom in tip-top shape:

Make Clean-Up a Group Activity

Turning clean-up into a group activity is a great way to get the classroom ready for the end of the year. Many students love to help and enjoy being given the responsibility of sorting out the classroom. Assigning small tasks not only lightens the load but also builds teamwork and responsibility. Here’s some ideas on how you can divide up the tasks:

• Organise Classroom Toys : Ensure all toys are placed in their correct bins.
• Puzzle Pieces : Check that all puzzle pieces are in their correct boxes.
• Dust the Shelves : Give your shelves a good dusting to keep everything clean.
• Go Through School Supplies : Sort through markers, glue, scissors, etc., discarding any damaged items and cleaning the ones that are still usable for next year.
• Label Removal : Have students remove labels from desks, chairs, and walls, and scrub off any sticky residue. (Students love this task!)
• Organise Books by Level : Group classroom books into boxes by reading level. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—finding a few misplaced books isn’t a big deal when school starts again.
• Wipe Down Desks : Clean the outsides and insides of desks to start fresh for the new year.
• Clean Out Cubbies & Book Boxes : Tidy up any containers where students store their belongings.
• Organise the Classroom Library : Repair or replace any damaged books and make sure all books are reshelved in the correct spots.
• Organise Supply Bins : Check for broken items and return misplaced supplies to their correct bins.
• Remove Old Labels : Take off student-specific labels from desks, cubbies, and mailboxes.
• Clean Center Materials : Wipe down items like whiteboards, headphones, keyboards, and any other materials in your learning centers.
• Sharpen Pencils : Ensure all coloured and regular pencils are sharpened and ready for the next class.

When You Need a Few Minutes for the Tasks Students Can’t Help With

Sometimes, there are tasks that your students just can’t get involved in. When you only have a few minutes to finish things up, we’ve got some great activities for you to keep things running smoothly while you complete those last few jobs! 

As the year comes to a close, it’s a great time to organise your digital files. Start by sorting through your files, deleting any duplicates, and creating clear folders for easy reference. 

This will make it much easier to find what you need when school starts again. Don’t forget to back up your important files to an external drive or cloud storage, ensuring that nothing gets lost. Taking the time to tidy up your digital space now can save you valuable time and stress later!

On the same note, it’s a good idea to keep any extra worksheets or activity templates that were particularly useful throughout the year. Store them in an organised filing system, categorised by subject or topic, so they’re easy to access when needed for future classes. Having these materials ready to go will save you time and effort next year, allowing you to focus on delivering great lessons without scrambling for resources.

At the end of the term, it’s important to plan ahead for storing students’ personal items. Prepare storage tubs or bags for things like pencil cases, books, and other belongings. Send these home with students as the term ends, making it easier to clean and reorganise desks for the new year. This will not only help free up space in your classroom but also give students a fresh start when they return. Plus, it ensures that everything is safely stored away and ready for the new term.

Keeping emergency supplies up to date is essential for a safe and prepared classroom. Take some time to check your first-aid kits, safety tools, and any other emergency items to make sure they’re fully stocked and in good condition. 

Replace any missing or expired items, and ensure everything is stored in an easily accessible spot so you can quickly grab what you need if the situation arises. 

A well-prepared emergency kit offers peace of mind and keeps you ready for anything the school year may bring.

This next organisational idea is critical to my sanity at the start of the year! A month before school ends, I set out an empty box on the back counter of my classroom. Throughout the month, I prep, copy, and gather everything I’m 100% sure I’ll need and use when I return to school. 

Having these items ready to go helps me avoid the stress of scrambling last-minute and ensures I start the year feeling organised.

Additionally, create a to-do list for setting up your classroom next year. Write down specific steps for your ideal setup, keeping it accessible so you can hit the ground running when it's time to prepare again.

And if you’re looking for some great back-to-school or first-week activities to get your students excited for the new year, we’ve got you covered with plenty of fun and engaging ideas!

If there’s one piece of advice to take on board, it’s this: purge, purge, purge! Clearing out unnecessary items isn’t just essential at the end of the year—it’s a habit worth maintaining all year long. 

While it’s tempting to hold onto things you might need someday, chances are you won’t use half of what’s been sitting in the back of your closet collecting dust. Letting go of outdated or unused items will create more space and make your classroom feel lighter and more organised.

 Embrace the purge and start the new year with only what you truly need!

Take stock of your classroom resources as you prepare for the end of the year. Make a list of items to keep, discard, or replace, helping you identify what you’ll need for the upcoming year.

 This inventory check can highlight any worn-out materials that need replacing, as well as supplies that are fully stocked and don’t need repurchasing. 

By planning ahead, you’ll be able to prioritise purchases over the break and start the new year feeling organised and prepared.

As technology plays a big role in our classrooms, keeping tech equipment and cords organised is a must. Sort through items like tablets, chargers, and cords, and ensure everything is in good condition for the upcoming year. Wrap cords neatly and label them for easy identification to avoid any mix-ups. Store everything securely in designated containers or storage areas, ensuring your tech is ready to go when needed and that your workspace remains clutter-free. Taking the time to organise your tech now will save you frustration later.

As the school year winds down, take a few moments each day to reflect on what went well and what could be improved. Keeping a notepad on your desk makes it easy to jot down thoughts and ideas as they come to you, whether it’s a new organisation system, changes in decor, or different teaching techniques. 

These notes will be invaluable when planning for next year, allowing you to build on successes and make meaningful changes. Don’t forget to take these reflections home with you over the break—they’ll give you a head start on creating an even better classroom environment for your students!

With these simple yet effective organisation tips, you’ll be able to head into the break knowing your classroom is well-prepared for next year.

By taking time to reflect, tidy up, and plan ahead, you’ll give yourself—and your students—the best possible start. Here’s to a smooth and organised transition, a restful break, and a fantastic new school year ahead!

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