Before and After Classroom

OK, the classroom is (mostly) done!  I still have odds and ends to do and things to tighten up...but Meet Your Teacher was yesterday and it was pretty ready.  My "before picture" looked like this:

Now, that same shot looks like this:

Here's a quick tour around the room. Starting with our "welcome area".  This will be where kids sign in every day.  

Here's the Behavior Chart and Rules that I've been seeing all over the Internet.  I love it and tweaked it with my own graphics to match our "Learning Garden" Theme. 

Unfortunately, I can't remember the links for the GREAT teachers that shared these two tidbits.  I found both while blog surfing this summer.  And I tweaked them a bit with my own clipart. If you know the link, please add it and I'll add it to this post.  Otherwise, I'll dig through my stuff and find them to give credit where credit is due.  

And, in my opinion, the MOST important part of any classroom is the well-stocked Classroom Library.  Here it is for now.  I need to fix up the basket labels and I REALLY want to put that Learning Garden Tree in the corner...so I'm hoping to find some artists in my group of parents who can help us get that done.  

 More updates later.  

Hooray!

I FINALLY got to move the REST of my stuff into my room today!  We got new windows...and they ARE gorgeous...but it's impeded moving.  And those carpets finally got cleaned yesterday.  Now they are gorgeous as well.

Anyway, this morning, my trusty crew...three of my kids (DSs 2 & 3 and LG), my FIL and my dear friend Sandy helped load up cars (FIVE of them to be exact) with all my other stuff and headed over to my new school.  Now, you know it's rainy season here in (ahem) "sunny" Florida, and this morning we had a DELUGE right upon arrival at the school parking lot.  My crew waited a bit hoping it'd stop.  And it sort of did.  There was simply this huge LAKE where we had to walk to the stairs.  Anyway, with shoes a'sloshing they trudged EVERYTHING up TWO flights of stairs and into the room.  I am a BLESSED woman!

Here's a picture of what it looked like after all five carloads were added to the two van loads DS 3 and I already dumped in there:

Sandy helped me start positioning furniture and we schlepped several pieces to a couple sides of the room to try them out.  As I told her, I think this is something we female teachers get.  Not so sure about our male counterparts.  Anyway...on we went figuring out where that sweet little classroom library was going to go.  And the corner that won is shown over here at the right.

Next I started unpacking those boxes that seem to be multiplying as we watch!  My daughter stayed and helped me sort and organize and clean from the window installation dust.  She was a REAL trooper and kept saying, "Mommy, you have a fun job!"  I'm glad she thinks so.  (I couldn't bear to tell her that it was free labor all around today!)

Anyway, we worked just about eleven hours total and here's a small snippet of what we accomplished:

 The classroom library is starting to come together.  I am excited to put in a "Reading Pond" to go with the garden theme.  I found the CUTEST stuffed turtle and frog to go inside it!  (I'll take a better picture of that when I go back in.)

 Sorting out school supplies is a must.  Why is it the school supply aisles just call my name like a bad addiction?  I love buying them and having them ready to go.

 Over half the boxes are unpacked and broken down!

  And...CHECK out my salvage yard find!  I got the four letters there.  (They are from old business signs)...added the cute little book characters and am now happy as a clam with THAT little display!

I love it when things start to shape up.  Of course, I'm gonna need a miracle to find places for everything that has yet to be unpacked.  BUT I will prevail...even if it means PURGING.

Happy 2011-12 Everyone!

Valentines...Some things never change

It's the end of testing week (well, the first round anyway) here in our state and tomorrow's a teacher work day. Kids are excited that they get a four day weekend and that today is Valentines Day.

Last night while filling out cards with my own third grader, I was reminiscing about my own Elementary School days. And I realized that some things ARE still the same. Oh the cards are more elaborate than ever. I mean thirty years ago ours just had pictures and a little sentiment on them. Theirs have punch outs, stick-ons, and all sorts of doo-dads to make them more exciting. But despite the intricate design, the heart of the day is still similar.

So what is the same?

• We still allow kids to exchange them in school


• Kids still share candy on this day


• The little sweet hearts are still around


• They still don't like giving a card to the "kid they don't like" even when the teacher says each person must give a card to everyone


• There are still young romances that "pop up" around this date


• Teachers still "lighten the load" a bit on these days


• Kids and teachers still smile and delight in this simple exchange

So much in our system has increased in complexity since "my days". Sometimes it makes me downright SAD!

I, for one, am glad that there ARE still those simple moments of joy in the classroom....even if I have to look harder to FIND them!