R.E.A.D.Y. Spells Relief

This week has been so productive at school! Last year I was in the precess of moving and setting up my home so sadly my classroom was regulated to the back burner. And it showed...all year long. I had things up on the walls and name tags on desks and stuff but I felt so disorganized. I had basically cleaned out one cabinet (and when I say cleaned I mean I threw it all in another cabinet so I could have a space for my stuff) and just started the year. It was crazy! I didn't know where anything was when I needed it. Is anyone else like that...if you're not organized everything just seems to go to pot?

Well, not this year baby! At the end of July, I went up to the school for several days and I cleaned out those cabinets. I found things I thought I didn't have and discovered several things that would have made teaching so much easier. Currently, it's all organized and labeled (you'll see...I plan to take pictures!). It looks wonderful! I had to show another teacher (one that I drove crazy with my lack of organization last year) and she was so impressed and proud of me! And I'm pretty proud of myself...those cabinets look great!

Another ready thing is that I've got the room in order too. My desk is where I want it (I moved it three times last year!), the student desks are where I want them and bungee corded together so they don't walk (I spent about two hours last year trying to decide where I wanted them to go), and my centers aren't just put together but they are out and ready to be introduced! Everything is coming together so nicely.

I was up there all day yesterday, and by the time I was ready to come home I was feeling very good about the room. I still have a few things that I need to get accomplished next week. I still have to put up the class schedule and tape down the name tags and decorate the door. We're going to have one more work day plus the time in the afternoons after meetings. But I don't feel overwhelmed...I feel ready! It's a complete change from last year.

I know that some of my regular readers might not understand what the big deal is about being ready but I promise you that any teacher can appreciate the fact. And I'll also be posting a few pictures of my room next week too!