The new year is the perfect time to hit refresh on your classroom! A midyear classroom reset can help teachers restore calm, organization, and focus after a long winter break. By updating your space with practical strategies you can make your classroom more functional and ready for learning!

Refresh Visual Clarity

Focus on what students see every day. A visually calm classroom helps students reenter routines with more focus and regulation. Rather than adding new displays, start by editing what’s already there.

Suggestions:

• Remove outdated anchor charts
• Rotate student work displays
• Simplify one bulletin board

Many teachers find it helpful to reset visual clarity by choosing a neutral bulletin board base that can stay up all year and be layered with small seasonal touches.

Reset Classroom Organization

The midyear mess is real. Organization is one of the fastest ways to change how a classroom feels, especially when students are relearning routines.

Suggestions:

• Purge one supply bin per week
• Re label shared materials
• Re establish clear storage routines

Matching labels across bins, drawers, and shared spaces helps students quickly remember where items belong, supporting independence and reducing daily interruptions. Check out the classroom organization and management page on our website to find what works for you!

Revisit Classroom Zones

Students change as the year goes on. For example, if you’ve noticed a child had a hard time last semester, try seating them by the window for the new year. Window areas can be found to contribute to significant stress reduction and attention restoration in students. Taking the time to change seating charts or even moving some furniture around can go a long way!

Suggestions:

• Adjust seating for attention needs
• Refresh calm down spaces
• Make small layout tweaks that improve flow

Clearly defined zones like calm down spaces are easier for students to use independently when visuals are consistent. We have a full SEL section on our website that provides several resources to help you refresh your classroom!

Refresh Classroom Routines

Winter is a good time to reteach expectations. Decor that clearly explains behavioral expectations, procedures, and classroom norms can make the day run more smoothly and set a positive tone for the second half of the year.

Suggestions:

• Reset arrival routines
• Clarify independent work procedures
• Add a predictable end of day routine

Add One Seasonal Element (Keep It Simple)

Instead of changing everything, add one winter element that complements your setup. Go ahead and shop Schoolgirl Style’s winter decor collections now!

Examples:

• Festive door decor
• Wintery bulletin board
• A seasonal writing prompt

A winter classroom refresh is not about perfection. It is about creating a space that supports you and your students through the hardest stretch of the year! Explore more classroom organization tools, decor, and teacher resources on ShopSchoolgirlStyle.com!

Citations 

Li, D., & Sullivan, W. C. (2016). Impact of views to school landscapes on recovery from stress and mental fatigue. Landscape and urban planning, 148, 149-158.

Meng, X., & Zhang, M. (2025). Effects of classroom design characteristics on children’s physiological and psychological responses: A virtual reality experiment. Building and Environment, 267, 112274.