The Organized Classroom Candice Hoyt Toolbox for Teaching Stacy Erickson Home Key Organization

The Organized Classroom Sign in Write on your worksheet 1. The area or materials in your classroom that take the longest to clean up. 2. The “hardest” transition and what happens. Example: Between lunch and nap– takes too long, congestion at the sink.

Who We Are Stacy Erickson Professional organizer specializing in spaces for child development, both in the home and in caregiving/education settings. Candice Hoyt STARS trainer whose specialties include behavior support and classroom management.

Learning Objectives 1. Identify and design age-appropriate materials, set-up and schedules. 2. Follow a step by step approach to teaching and managing routines. 3. Evaluate your current space and develop a plan for change.

Table Talk 1. The area or materials in your classroom that take the longest to clean up. 2. The “hardest” transition and what happens. Example: Between lunch and nap– takes too long, congestion at the sink.

The Environment Identify and design age-appropriate materials, set-up and schedules.

Toy Clean Up Challenge Learning Objective 1. Clean-Up Stress

Classroom Organization Checklist 1. If asked to clean up, where would you start? 2. Could you figure out where things went? 3. How would you find your favorite toy? 4. Where would you set up to do an activity? 5. Observe & record usage of space & materials

Infants Low shelves Spread-out materials and half-filled baskets One container for toys (not sorted) Children clean up

Toddlers Large and fine motor activities Choice: Learn decision making and self-regulation. Open-ended materials Rotate 2 weeks to one month Master activities & try new ones.

Preschoolers Rooms easily cluttered Can focus for longer amounts of time Right amount of stimulation

Good visibility. Too much stuff? Nice colors, home-like. Reach too high?

Resources Infant Toddler Spaces by Community Playthings Child Care Licensing Guide Washington State Early Learning and Development Guidelines Materials Development & curriculum by age

Why Organize?

Less visually stimulating Fewer materials = easier clean up Organization = structure Space to prepare next activity Less clutter = less stress Adults & children have time to play together Positive mood, positive relationships

Young children need Structured Environments What to expect Where materials are kept Sense of trust Trust in the environment At-Risk Households Routines What is coming next Expected at different times of the day Appropriate space for expected tasks

Focus and Attention Span 4 year olds with longer attention span are almost 50% more likely to complete college by age 25

Helping Children Focus

Schedules Appropriate timing Not too much Not too little Time to transition and they’re still very into the play… Can you lengthen these times? How flexible is your schedule? How can you make it flexible?

Materials & Environment Keep it simple Consider reducing the amount of items

Minimize interruption …by adults, other children, schedule, environmental influences. Child focuses longer Lengthened periods of learning and play Child practices focus Step back to see the child’s interest & attention Support that later

Organization Strategies Tips and Tricks for the Classroom

Take away half

Rotate smaller variety of each type of thing 1-2 kinds of blocks out at one time: intentional More flexible materials

Organized or Flexible? Minimize stuff, minimize need for specific place to put away Shelving Containers Losing literacy?

Flexible shelving for quick cleanup

Clear Expectations Is this something they need to ask permission for? Teach and support routines.

Teaching & Managing Routines Follow a step by step approach to teaching and managing routines.

Goals for Routines Children: independent, some guidance Know routines Quickly learn new rules Take responsibility for routine Group responsibility Teachers: some guiding, avoid directing

Enterprise Talk NO Directions Questions Praise Instead: Descriptions Narrations Subjective Talk

Descriptive Cue Sequence Non-Directive Speech for Procedures Signal: Communicate it is time to transition “It’s time to go outside.” / “Free-choice is over.” Teach a wordless signal Information: Drawing attention to Objects involved in the procedure What is being done correctly (reinforce) Model: Very little Direction: Clear, specific – who & what Contingency: What’s next–we’re waiting for

Descriptive Cue Sequence Wait 5 seconds before progressing (more for some kids) Do not progress to next step if children act Goal: They start routine after “signal”

Descriptive Cue Sequence: Cleanup 1. Signal Verbal/non-verbal “It’s time to ____.” Non-verbal signals? 2. Descriptions Information “The doll basket is in the corner.” 3. Modeling Do what they should do – one at a time. “I’m putting the dolls’ clothes in the basket.”

Descriptive Cue Sequence: Cleanup 4. Direction Specific task – to one specific child. “Here, Gunnar, put this book on the shelf.” 5. Contingency What happens after cleanup? “When we are finished cleaning up, we can go outside.”

Descriptive Cue Sequence: Cleanup How is this different from what you are doing now? How will this help you?

Summaries with Examples 1. What is “enterprise” behavior? 2. Descriptive Cue Sequence 3. Enterprise Talk 4. Intrinsically- Phrased Response (Reinforcement)

Planning Your Space Evaluate your current space and develop a plan for change.

Table Talk: Your Organizational Plan 1. What could you take away to make things less cluttered? 2. What simple things could you add to help children be more engaged? 3. Are there any ways to move furniture to divide the space differently? 4. Who will support you in making these changes? 5. What other ideas do you have? Worksheet: Organization Plan

What Is the First Thing You Will Do?

Stacy Erickson KEY1 Homekeyorganization.com /HomeKeyOrganization /homekeyseattle Services Individual family/classroom consultations: organization/social media News on speaking engagements, articles, TV appearances Home Key Organization

Toolbox for Teaching Candice Hoyt Toolboxforteaching.com /toolboxforteaching /toolboxft Services In-service STARS trainings One-on-one computer or other consulting eligible for STARS hours Correspondence trainings Independent projects Finish Up! 1.Sign in 2.Complete evaluation