Organized Physical Space, Organized Mental Space —The First Step to Creating a Stress-Free Classroom Environment

Heyyy SuperTeachers,

Let’s be honest—testing season can be stressful for both you and your students. But one powerful way to reduce anxiety and increase focus is by decluttering your classroom.

A clear physical space leads to a clear mental space—which is exactly what we want for our students. Since you’re already required to take down content-related resources for testing, this is the perfect time to reset and reorganize your classroom.

Piles of paper, clutter

Let’s start with two key areas that typically need a serious refresh:

1. The Paper Piles—Time for a Purge!

We all have them—stacks of papers that have been sitting on our desks for months. Old handouts, extra copies, graded (or ungraded 😬) assignments that never made it back to students—it’s time to let them go.

Here’s how to tackle it:

• Grab a giant recycling bin and purge in one go!

• If that feels too bold, break it down—toss a few stacks each day, quietly discard them in common areas (no shame!), or bring them to the copy room to recycle.

• Pro Tip: Show some love to your building maintenance team—they keep your space clean, and a quick thank-you goes a long way.

2. Outdated Materials & Books—Keep, Toss, Replace

At this point in the school year, some materials are no longer useful or in rough shape.

Keep what’s still in great condition.

Toss anything outdated, ripped, or unusable.

Replace or reorder what you’ll need to get through the rest of the year.

Clearing out unnecessary materials means students won’t be distracted by clutter or overwhelmed by irrelevant resources.

Cleared table

Your Challenge:

Take 15 minutes today to declutter one area in your classroom. Whether it’s the paper piles or outdated materials, just start.

Then, tell me in the comments: What did you clear out, and how did it feel?

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we tackle the biggest culprit of clutter—your desk and student desks!

Need more support? Let’s talk!

Every classroom is different, and sometimes you just need a thought partner to figure out what works best for you and your students. If you’d like to dive deeper into instructional strategies, student engagement, or just need a fresh perspective, schedule a coaching call! No pressure—just real talk and actionable steps to help you thrive.

Schedule a time that works for you here: Scheduling Link

Looking forward to connecting!

~ Dr. O