CLEAN UP: HIGH SCHOOL

• Describe in detail everything the kids need to do, and show them the right way as well as the WRONG way to do it. A lot of high school students have never been taught how to clean up and they need the invisible made visible. 

• Hold students accountable for cleaning up: after teaching expectations, some teachers have the students write down all the steps. They sign it, like a contract, stating that they will take care of the supplies. 

• Some teachers number supplies and assign each student their own drawing/painting/etc. kit. Parents can sign a contract detailing how much they will be charged if the student destroys the supplies they have been assigned. 

• Also, it is reasonable to deduct points from their grade if students do not clean up properly or take care of materials, letting other people do all the work. This can be part of the project rubric.

photo credit: Stephanie Perample Butler

• Have students evaluate each other: Stephanie Perample Butler says, "My students were  trying to be sneaky by leaving dirty brushes in the sink, or sandwiching dirty palettes behind clean ones. After I check and count each tables' tools and supplies, I ask the next class to double check the previous periods' work at each table. If they pulled a fast one, the entire table from the previous class gets detention! The clean ups are far more thoughtful and purposeful because of this. It takes the ownership off of pleasing Mrs. Butler, and focuses it more on keeping the studio running well for everyone to use."

• Take a photo of your supplies stored the way you want them and display it in a visible place - the kids have to return the supplies exactly like the picture. 

• Display non-examples, such as ruined brushes and palettes. I have an old brush that has dried red paint on it - a student failed to clean it a few years back. I let each student examine that brush so they have a better picture of what can happen when you don't take care of materials. 

• Monitor, monitor, monitor! Don't sit at your desk while the kids are cleaning up - this is a recipe for disaster with any age group. 

• Have the kids pass the "Tissue Test." They have to wipe their clean brushes on a white tissue to prove they actually cleaned their brushes! I will stand in one spot while the kids are cleaning their areas, watching the activity (ahem, chaos!). I hold the tissue, and the student has to come to me to pass the tissue test. If color comes out, back the student goes to clean the brush again! They learn very quickly to do a good job the first time because I will not dismiss them until everything is cleaned up to my specifications.  

• Occasionally, provide surprise incentives for the kids who are going above and beyond the call of duty. 

• Thank the students who do what is expected, tell them they did well. A little bit of praise can go a long way, even in high school! 

• If they make a mess of your classroom and fail to follow procedures, take a whole class period to re-teach and practice the procedures. They get to clean up the mess they made the previous day - save it for them if at all possible. 

• Do not allow students to leave your classroom until everything is restored to order and you are satisfied. This is a huge motivator for middle and high school students to take responsibility and do a good job. Do not issue a pass to the next class.

• Make a video about how you would like things done, like this fantastic one from Jean Freer Barnett, Brush Cleaning 101: 

• Editor's note: Managing student behavior involves far more than discipline techniques. In order to create an environment for student success, the teacher needs to provide quality instruction as well as appropriate motivation. Most importantly, the teacher needs to have the right attitude for leadership in the classroom. Finally, having a solid classroom management plan with rules and procedures set up from the beginning of the year is also extremely important - students need to be very clear about what the teacher's expectations are.

disclaimer: These are a set of ideas about being proactive in teaching based on classroom experience as well as various education authors. Many times there are circumstances in the classroom that are beyond any teacher's control, especially when serving at-risk populations or in environments where those in administration fail to provide effective leadership in a school. Sometimes, regardless of the prevailing theories about teacher responsibility, the teacher is not to be blamed for out of control students. Finally, we do NOT recommend that you put any of these strategies into practice if your administration disagrees with them. 

article by Mrs. Anna Nichols