I spent 5 hrs at school today trying to put my room in some kind of order. Apparently I didn't get very far *sigh*. I can't seem to find the right configuration for my room. http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/smannes/Messy%20classroom/
It doesn't look too bad, and your classroom is huge!!!!!! Have you tried asking another teacher for help?
Your floor is shiny clean- I love that about back to school! Your carpet is nice...I think your shelves look organized. Your room looks big (maybe because you haven't put desks down yet?) How many kids do you have, what grade is this? I think you have a lot of great space to work with...you'll get there.
If I was you, I would get one thing the way you like it- and not worry as much about organizing the cabinets. Shut the doors in fact. Get your desks & walls together, and then think about the stuff you will not see normally. I start my year in rows- because it is easier for me to learn names. It also is easy to set up. Good luck!
Yes, our custodians did a great job on the floors. I teach 4th grade and this year I'll have 20/21 kids in my class (inclusion). Last year I had as many as 27. My room does look big, and I guess it is pretty big, but once the desks are down it'll look tiny. There are no teachers around to help. We don't have to be back until the 18th. My DH is going to help me next week. He took the week off to help. Isn't that nice of him? Anyway, my problem is that last year I was never able to get the room organized. I started the year a couple weeks in and the teacher I replaced was a pack rat.
Its not that bad. I was in the same shape the other day.. It just takes time and working hard. I hate it when they stack all the desks up and wax the floor and everything is everywhere. I think it took me two days to finish mine. But, it took from 8:00 until 1:00 for the air to cool my room. So I didnt get much done today.
I completely know the feeling of "not getting anywhere." Happens to me EVERY year. I have such high aspirations of how much I'll accomplish and am sorely disappointed every time. I think we do get a lot more done than we realize and sometimes you just have to spend time in the space and let it all soak in. You'll get there! And how awesome that your husband is helping you for a WEEK!
Can you enlist in help? One of my friends e-mailed me today offering to help me- I guess her room is done! So, she is coming on Wednesday. I don't have a whole lot to do, but it is easier to hang posters with a 2nd pair of eyes. That way I don't have to climb down the ladder, run to the back of the room, run up the ladder, straighten, back down and so on!! (I was doing that the other day ) I agree with the others- start on the visible things. The other stuff can wait!
That in-between time when you have everything out and nothing decided is frustrating and seems like it won't ever get finished. You have great space and storage - I wish I did. Why not decide on a spot or two where you can create 'nooks' for reading or something?
You'll get there! I've probably already spent 60 hours in mine and I'm just now seeing SOME light (wow...it seems like so much more when I add it all up!). I haven't even begun to arrange my desks. I have to have clutter sorted and away before I can even go there. (I'm too detail oriented!)
I think a lot of teachers have those days where they just don't seem to get much accomplished. Now that you've had your day, you'll see that it gets a lot easier. You just have to pick one thing to work on and go from there. For me it was easier to get my workspace organized, the rest of the cupboards, classroom layout and then bulletin boards were the last thing.
OMG what I would do for a room as big as yours and with windows! I would just focus on one section at a time and work that way. Perhaps you can start with your reading corner and build from there. Sometimes it can feel like you keep working and working and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, but don't worry!! Take it one step at a time and before you know you'll be staring around the room saying "Wow, I DID IT!" Good luck with your classroom and I look forward to seeing pics of it when it is complete!
For me, the first thing I did was set everything in the general area that the belonged. My chairs/desk were already down, but I'd do that next. If you have time, especially since you inherited stuff, go through and see what you used/didn't use. I had 3 different stacks of workbooks that I never touched last year (I inherited a classroom 13 weeks into the year) I held onto them until this year. I took one from each stack, if I EVER use them I can make copies, wasn't enough for my students anyway, and I tossed the rest. If you haven't used something in a year..you probably aren't going to use it and most generally you can find it cheapily and/or online if you ever do use it. I would get the essentials, bulletin boards though nice to have and makes the room better isn't a MAJOR thing, I'd make sure your textbooks and desks and stuff that you know you HAVE to get done before the first day of school. Then work down the list of priorities, finishing with the last thing that was a necessity. You do have a huge room, I'd love that! Good Luck
Jeez, your class looks HUGE! And those windows are to die for, lol. It looks like you're already on your way, having already cleared the middle of the room. Now, you just have to take a second and think about where you want everything, move it to that general area and then tackle the room section by section. I'm excited for you though. Tomorrow, I'm going to the school to pick up my keys and parking pass and to see my room for the first time. I'm hoping to be able to take some pictures and measurements for reference and drop off some of the stuff that's cluttering up my house.
The teacher I'm replacing is a pack rat too--- your room looks beautiful and HUGE compared to my over stuffed, cluttered, tiny room (I can tell mine is alot smaller than yours and I'll have about 15 students per class). I think I'm gonna go in tomorrow and start working on stuff. My boyfriend is driving in from Michigan Thursday night and has promised to help me unpack my room and design it during the week he's out here. (Our guys rock! ) Good luck, stay patient, and just do what you can to organize. If you don't think you're going to use it AT ALL during the school year, TOSS IT! (Or donate it to another teacher)
I went back yesterday, and spent the entire time just "looking" around my room trying to imagine the best place to put things. It seems, for me, that that is how every year begins.....room arrangement, but once that's taken care of (usually temporarily as i can't ever seem to find the right arrangement!) the rest of getting ready seems to come a bit easier. Ahhh....welcome back!
I'm thankful I can get in my room ahead of time to set up. There is never any time once prep week starts. I've spent over 6 hours just organizing my books. I planned my different areas - whole group, computer, small group tables, listening center etc. on paper before I moved any furniture. It helped, I didn't have to move things over and over again (as much).
Smannes, at least you have nice windows... my lab is fairly spacious, but it has those 'dungeon style' high windows at the top of one wall :lol: On the other hand, it was left so neat and well-organized by the previous science teacher that it's just a matter of tweaking a few things and getting the right books in from the other classroom. It's great when others are considerate!
Your room is looking great! I just hope you don't have to climb up to get the desks off the book case!! I know the janitors at my school don't like us to take the chairs down until right before school starts. Everything sticks to our floors when it is humid out! Good Luck! Everything will come together. Don't get too discouraged!!
If it makes you feel better, I went up to my room today and spent TWO HOURS figuring out how to set up my teacher desk! I thought it was going to take 10 minutes! My room has a different layout than mine last year, and apparently I can't handle the change very well Hopefully tomorrow will be better!
DH's are so practical. I'll stand and fret and he'll go, "This looks good here." And, it does! You'll get a lot accomplished with his help. I also used to enlist my daughter and her best friend and they'd clean and arrange real cheap, they thought something from Sonic was enough pay. She out grew that quickly.
Yours looks great so far! I've only spent about 8 hours on mine, and I must admit I have no idea what I'm doing or what I need to do (first year, middle school math), but I figure I'll catch on. I'm trying to heed Hoot Owl's advice and not stress so much. Not to horn in on the someone else's thread, but do you guys normally bring in your own desk chair? I don't have one, and frankly, I'm teaching in a small, not so wealthy school and I'm not sure if they provide one...
Same with me! I brought my husband along with me to do the heavy lifting. :lol: In the end, I moved away from the L-shape I have been using (because it covered up too much of my board), and switched to a loooooong desk--my desk with a table next to and extending it. I'm still getting used to the new setup, but I think it will ultimately give me more desk space.
I haven't yet, but I'm thinking about it. The chair I have now, I stole from another room whistle after a teacher left and they hadn't hired a new one yet. But the arms are all chewed up, and it is scratchy! My mom just bought a new chair that is uber comfortable from Office Max, I think she paid around $89 for it. If I do, and if you do, I recommend burning your name into it-there are thieves everywhere, especially when it comes to nice chairs! Trust me, I know...
I got one last year when Staples was having a sale, and I LOVE my chair! I love being able to go crash in it when school is over... it is so comfy!
