Should I raise this? And how to do so tactfully?

[thereisalwayscake]

Member of my department is struggling. SLT are on her, and she's lost loads of confidence.

Thing is, her classroom is a tip. Books strewn everywhere, rubbish on the floor, mess everywhere really.

I think a tidy and ordered classroom helps so much with classroom management.

So - to raise it? And if so, how?

Why not offer to help her sort it out?

Well, yes, I could, although it's really just a matter of straightening up after herself.

Are you both infants/ juniors/seniors? Could you suggest a whole department clean out and get a team of you to muck in?

Well, that would be overkill.

It is:

Chairs and desks askew
Bits of crumpled up paper/pens left on the floor
Exercise books/reading books left on desks
Her own deskunder a mound of Stuff

Point is, it looks messy and chaotic.

Sounds as she is really struggling. For me the suggestion of the whole department / year group changing the physical environment is a good one. Gives her a fresh start but doesn't single out her classroom. Only she can then carry it on so if she struggling don't be disheartened yourself if it quickly goes back to square 1 it could however be just the break / change that she needs.

Obviously it’s not about her straightening up after herself! It’s about getting the students to do it. And that’s part of the fact that you say she is struggling. I would say (if trying to help, which I’m not convinced you are!) something like “oh they can be so messy! My room used to look like this now I’m a real dragon about entrance and exit routines and it’s so much better”

Given the situation and the fact SLT are after her blood, I would ask if she wanted you to stay behind after school with her for an hour and both really get the place sorted. It's easy to get disorganised when you're depressed.