I teach 3rd thru 12th grades.
They are responsible , and I tell them the first day..
, I am not your "Mama".........
you will clean up your own messes.........
Before clean -up they get a 5 minute warning:
"Five minutes till clean-up"
We have 6 - 3' X 6" tables, with four seats at each.
10 minutes before the class ends I"ll say:
Table one through 6 ..........
........-I need a volunteer from each table to do the following task:
1) to empty the water and rinse the bucket, return the smocks to their
hangers.
( Then I wait for a volunteer at each table.........)
2) to collect all the brushes and palettes and wash them out with soap and
water.
They are all returned to me, in containers next to my desk.
3) to clear the table of artwork and supplies and put them away.
4) to wash off the table and dry it for the next class.
Nobody sits until all the tasks are completed.
Help anyone who needs your help.
Then I check the sinks first
and dismiss each table to line-up after it passes inspection.
It works for every grade, except High school, I treat them as adults.
After seven years of art with me....they still divide the tasks and help each
other clean.
Middle school cleans independently, but still returns all supplies to me.
Nice and clean, brush side up....
I will not dismiss them until it's done properly and I don't write late
passes.
And only takes 10 minutes with 24 busy hands a workin'.
