It’s THAT time.
Time to pack up my classroom!
Are YOU packing up YOUR classroom?
WAHOO! Summer vacation. The Beach. Family BBQ’s. R&R.
BUT, WAIT! NOT YET! First I need to pack up my classroom so I can find the things I need when we come back. Back to School is crazy enough without me NOT being able to find my MOST needed items! ( Where is MY stapler???)
Are YOU packing up your classroom?
What am I packing?
What is on my classroom packing list?
Here is my list:
Number One
It’s ALL about ME! What will I need the first week?
Teacher Editions and Lesson Plan Book
My Teacher Editions & Lesson Plan Book. I need them to plan for the first weeks.
Mostly Routines and Daily schedules. (Work on THIS before VACATION!)
Sticky Notes
Sticky notes inside to remind my “aging” brain…what I INTEND to do!
What MATERIALS will I need to accomplish this? What lesson to focus on those first weeks? What went well? What didn’t?
USE THOSE STICKY NOTES INSIDE YOUR TE!
You will NOT remember months from now… what you are thinking about TODAY!
Use the next few weeks to make your NOTES!
How to Prepare for a Successful Reading Workshop in First Grade
Teacher’s Desk
Don’t forget, in your TEACHER DESK…
hide a few water bottles, mints, chocolate, and Tylenol, sanitizer, throat lozenges,
for the first week back…FOR YOU!
Never know how that FIRST WEEK will go!
BE Prepared!
* “SUGGESTED” teacher MUST HAVES for the first weeks:
Number 2
Student materials ( packets, papers, journals, etc ).
Before packing up your classroom, RUN THEM NOW!
( Nothing feels better than pulling out MUCH NEEDED things…ALREADY DONE!)
Papers copied, sorted, and filed!
Whew! SO glad I prepped these BEFORE school was out!!
Get some puzzles, games, blocks, etc. out.
It’s National PUZZLE Day! Do YOU play GAMES??
classroom card games
THEY WILL NOT BE INDEPENDENT!
Have a few things ready so they can have “downtime”
while YOU are doing ONE-TO-ONE assessing!
You know you will HAVE TO…prepare for IT!
How do YOU FIT IT ALL IN? Balanced Literacy
Number three is third.
As you are packing up your classroom with those MANY, MANY BOXES (for centers, games, things you need to go through) …
DO THOSE LATER!
I know you NEED these, BUT
You will “SURVIVE” looking at them LATER!
NO STRESS!
( YEAH, right!)
Prepare today… after a RELAXING Summer… the thought of coming back
and redoing everything in a day or two is
EXCRUTIATING!
Screaming Child
Breathe…relax…make your lists…stick to them…and PREP AWAY!
The payoff is HUGE!
Now…where did I pack that STAPLER?
stapler
These posts might help “ease” the transition Back to School…
Polka Dots Please blog post on flexible seating.
Teacher Stacking chairs
* PS…I just found out I have three weeks to pack up
MY ENTIRE CLASSROOM! I am getting NEW Carpet! I am happy…I think!
PACK UP 30 years of stuff? In 3 weeks? EVERYTHING?
Time to PURGE! Who needs the PD resource from 1999???
I think I need a LOT MORE BOXES!
I may need ALL of these boxes to pack up my classroom.
Hi HO…HI HO…It’s off to pack I go!
WENDY – 1stgradefireworks
Wonderful way to express the end of the year packing. I am so glad I am retired after reading this. It always took me forever to pack up and to have it clean and ready to go in a few more months.
Thank you for the great tips! Yay for the new carpet!
Sort of…but not as organized as this. Thanks for the suggestions.
Sticky notes in the Teacher’s Edition are a must! Love that you mentioned that!
I have NO PLAN! I’m in denial.
I hear you! After packing boxes ALL afternoon…I’m in denial! 🙂
Nope. No plan at all. SIGH. every. single. year.
Great ideas!
First things first…. NEW CARPET!!! YAY!!!!
Second, purging is so amazing =D
3rd. Great ideas for preparing for the next year !!!