5S of Housekeeping Applied in the Classroom

The 5S is an acronym for good housekeeping practices that describe the elimination of waste/clutter/rubbish in the workplace. It was derived from the Japanese words seiri (sort), seiton (set in order/segregate), seiso (shine/sanitize), seiketsu (standardize), and shitsuke (sustain/self-discipline). It is a useful tool to organize operations, especially in the workplace, for total quality management and continuous improvement. It can be effectively used in the works of the teachers, too, primarily in managing their respective classrooms.

Seiri (Sort). The items in the workplace must be sorted out whether what must be kept and be disposed. The unnecessary things must be removed immediately. 
Seiton (Set in Order/Segregate). The items must be arranged for ease in using and locating when needed. In short, everything must be in-placed. 
Seiso (Shine/Sanitize). The items and the workplace itself need to be cleaned thoroughly from time-to-time. Cleanliness must be secured at all times. 
Seiketsu (Standardize). A high standard of practice should be maintained and monitored based on a systematic approach. 
Shitsuke (Sustain/Self-discipline). It denotes that the rules on good housekeeping must be followed strictly in the workplace for better results and favorable outcomes. 

There are many promising benefits to the use of 5S of housekeeping in the classroom. Among these are the following:

• Safe and conducive learning environment that is cleaned, organized, and well-maintained
• Better flow of discussion 
• Minimized errors in the conduct of activities, leading to better performance
• Maximized productivity in the teaching-learning process
• Promotion of independent and collaborative learning toward the attainment of learning goals
• Better diagnosis and response to learners' needs
• Optimized and creative use of learning resources is ensured