ABSTRACT
The classroom closet is as prone to the same clutter catastrophes as home closets—probably more so. Just multiply one coat, book bag, lunchbox, hat, and a pair of mittens by the number of students in your classroom to calculate the potential catastrophe! With a good system, however, you and your students can keep the closet organized and trips to it orderly. Closet catastrophe prevention
Assign each student a hook, hanger, or specific area to hang a coat, labeling it with a name or number to designate to whom it belongs.
Use the same system to identify where lunchboxes are stored. If additional storage areas are needed, continue the system there as well.
Add labeled bins in the closet area where students can store hats, lunchboxes, extra shoes, and sweaters. Contained items keep the closet neat and clean.
Request that parents put their student’s name on all possessions and personal items. Name labels prevent mix-ups among possessions, which helps prevent arguments and a big concern among teachers—lice! Of course, there are safety concerns, especially for young students, so be sure to encourage parents to put the child’s name inside the clothing, bags, hats, and books to eliminate strangers calling the students by name.
