Lately on Facebook I’ve seen this status that says something to the effect of: Somewhere, during her summer off, there is a teacher who is already back to school, using her own money and time to create a learning space for the students she is dedicated to…  It made me think of the time I spend in the classroom, and what a gargantuan effort it is each year to take down the classroom (meaning clean up, put away, take down posters…) then to rebuild it and make it a place where students will be excited to learn.  So this year I thought I’d take a few before and after photos so I could see the effort paying off.

The first set of photos is the before.  I took these in early August, my first return to the classroom.  I think it is safe to say it takes me a good solid four days or so to put my classroom back together.  That does not include curriculum planning, it is only the table moving, organizing, refinding and stuff hanging time.

This is the view as you walk into the room from the inside entry. I am standing in an alcove that serves as coat storage, book storage and anything else I need to have around storage. Lucky me, my classroom gets to look organized and clean with all the clutter in the alcove!

This is looking from the opposite corner, from my desk area to the alcove.

This is the same view as the first, from the alcove.

 

And this is the view again from my (messy) desk.

 

Then there’s the pretty stuff.  I love my classroom library.  I have a ton of fiction and non-fiction books for kids to choose from and get excited about.  I have little nooks for them to read in, a variety of chairs and seating, including a giant bean bag which is very popular (but which I wash obsessively).  We are starting our first social studies unit right away, which is Wonderful Washington.  Fourth grade social studies is all about Washington, so we spend a lot of time learning about Native Americans, the Sound, the weather, government and history.  It is pretty engaging and fun to learn about.


NOW I can say I’m ready!!!  Tomorrow the kids will be there, with their bright, shiny ideas smelling like new, pink erasers.  What a great new year!


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