Set Up a Student Cleaning Station and Never Worry About a Messy Room Again

Everyone at my tables has a job…pass out materials on the table/go get and return materials, collect artworks and pass them out, lightly wash small messes and dry, sweep the floor under your table. There is a small handled crate with a standard set of materials on every table: four or five of each= pens, pencils, glue and scissors; a communal snap-top container of crayons; plus two full sets of washable markers to share. Other materials are in labeled drawers, buckets, cabinets around the room. Each table, if needed that day due to wet or messy medium, has a package of wet-wipes for the table cleaner ONLY to use. A roll of paper towels hangs off the end table leg by that person on a coathanger holder. Under the table on the other end is (attached by a Command strip) a dollar store broom and dust pan. I ring a special bell and have a 25-second countdown on my computer/Smartboard or phone that counts down to a large colorful explosion, or funny GIF, or encouraging quote or message each day! If we have wet works, each child carries their own if able, or the responsible person who is the paper person delivers one-at-a-time to that tables designated drying rack. With consistent training, this process is very smooth by about the six weeks mark of school. Since I don’t vary the clean-up process unless a particular class needs it, the longer I have the students the less training is needed.