Clean desks improve teaching

A saying of late has been that a clean (or organized) desk is a sign of a sick mind. Unfortunately the joking has led to the unspoken idea that nobody has or needs to clean or organize their desk. This attitude usually leads to a disorganized classroom and even a frenzied style of teaching, which causes one more unnecessary distraction for students. An organized desk helps to organize the mind and helps prevent procrastination. A clean desk invites one to tackle problems NOW in a pro-active rather than a re-active manner. A clean desk provides an example for students to emulate, which helps them get down to their work, with better posture, and more focus. One who seldom leaves work with a mess on the desk stays current with the work and feels better about self. A clean desk more likely shows a better prepared and better planned teacher.