Hey, friends! I wrote this post on The Primary Chalkboard a while back and thought it was worth another post.
If it's summer vacation for you, enjoy!
If not, live each day to the fullest and smile because it happened!
I'm here today to talk about getting your classroom ready for a
makeover.
makeover.
Now, this is NOT a classroom reveal.
Today is all about getting ready to set up your room!
Let me preface this by saying,
I'm not trying to pressure anyone into decoration madness,
I'm not trying to pressure anyone into decoration madness,
but I do believe a happy classroom is one that functions efficiently;
and is well organized and attractive.
and is well organized and attractive.
This summer I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.
Marie is a proponent of getting your house in order and keeping it in order.
She suggests keeping only the items in your home that bring you joy and letting go of the rest.
I think we can apply the same principle to the classroom.
Keep what sparks joy in you and let go of the rest.
ARE YOU READY TO SEE MY MESS?
Here you go!
Want more?
The good news is...it doesn't look that this anymore!
So, are you ready to get your classroom in order?
Great! But, remember this is not a one day job.
I like to think of it as ten days.
Already started school?
Take one task a week for the first ten weeks.
Day 1) Clean out your children's literature.
Keep only the books that bring you and your kiddos joy!
Keep only the books that bring you and your kiddos joy!
I know.
I LOVE children's books, too, but let's face it.
I LOVE children's books, too, but let's face it.
It's okay to let go of a book.
DON'T THROW IT OUT.
Pass it on to someone who will find joy in it.
You'll be amazed at how much room this gives you AND you'll know what you have when you need something.
Day 2) Clean out your Math manipulatives!
You don't need 6 bins of pattern blocks or 48 Judy clocks.
Keep what you need and pass the rest on to someone else.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Day 3) Clean out your art supplies.
If you haven't used those foam Easter bunnies in the last 3 years, get rid of them.
If you haven't used those foam Easter bunnies in the last 3 years, get rid of them.
Pass on the joy to someone else! No hoarding!
Day 4) Clean out your office supplies.
Look at each one.
If no joy comes from having them and they serve no purpose,
pass them on to someone else or donate them.
It's a good feeling!
Look at each one.
If no joy comes from having them and they serve no purpose,
pass them on to someone else or donate them.
It's a good feeling!
Day 5) Clean out board games, puzzles, and other activities.
If you don't use them, someone else can.
If Czechoslovakia is still on your globe...you get it.
Share your treasures.
If you don't use them, someone else can.
If Czechoslovakia is still on your globe...you get it.
Share your treasures.
Day 6) Do I dare say it...Clean out your paper.
Oh, it's tough! I know it is. I've done it. But the feeling is just so great!
If you haven't used it or it turns your fingers purple...you don't need it.
Recycle that paper!
Oh, it's tough! I know it is. I've done it. But the feeling is just so great!
If you haven't used it or it turns your fingers purple...you don't need it.
Recycle that paper!
Day 7) Decide how you will store supplies.
Once you decide what manipulatives and supplies you are going to keep, choose how you are going to store them.
Then label your supplies.
Labeling makes supplies easier to find for students and other adults who may visit.
Once you decide what manipulatives and supplies you are going to keep, choose how you are going to store them.
Then label your supplies.
Labeling makes supplies easier to find for students and other adults who may visit.
NOW-
The next two may not be popular, but I'm going with them.
Day 8) Get rid of your filing cabinet OR scale down to a smaller one.
The more room you have for stuff, the more stuff you'll acquire.
If there's nowhere to put the stuff, you won't be as likely to hold onto it.
Day 9) Get rid of your teacher desk OR scale down to a smaller one.
You can do it! I did and I had a lot of stuff in mine, too.
I never sat there (not even after school), and it took up a great deal of space.
Now, that space is used by my first graders, and I don't miss my desk one bit!
I use an over-the-door shoe organizer for my office supplies.
Space saver!
Space saver!
Day 10) Plan your classroom design.
Once the clutter is removed and you are ready to set up your room,
go online and play around with a classroom set-up tool.
You can design your whole room as many times as you like.
You'll need your room measurements for this.
Once the clutter is removed and you are ready to set up your room,
go online and play around with a classroom set-up tool.
You can design your whole room as many times as you like.
You'll need your room measurements for this.
Here are a few good ones:
This is the one I use.
And, to show you what a difference organizing makes,
the pic below was taken on Valentine's Day,
months after I purged and organized.
I cleaned out some more baskets and placed them on top of my bins,
but other than that, the closet stayed pretty tidy.
If I can do it, you can do it!
Having a plan makes all the difference!!
Good luck!!
And, to show you what a difference organizing makes,
the pic below was taken on Valentine's Day,
months after I purged and organized.
I cleaned out some more baskets and placed them on top of my bins,
but other than that, the closet stayed pretty tidy.
If I can do it, you can do it!
Having a plan makes all the difference!!
Good luck!!