I've had the added benefit as a first year teacher of teaching summer school at the school I got hired to teach at. My principal asked me last week if I'd like to get in my room to begin setting up (since I'm at school every day anyway). I am so grateful for the opportunity and am hoping to have most of it ready by next week so that I can relax and enjoy the two full weeks I'll have "off" before new teacher orientation starts the first week of August. This was my first day of being in my room and starting to sort through everything I have accumulated over the years. I worked as a para in the building I got hired in, so I have been lucky to have established great relationships with other teachers who have donated so many used items to me over the years.
Let the sorting begin!
Everything in the tupperware containers above was originally shoved in the two large storage bins below. These were supplied by the school, but I'm planning to use them for planning purposes. The days of the week labels can be found for free on my Teachers Pay Teachers store (it's my first and only product so far. Ha! I'll catch up to all of you gurus someday.) :) The other storage containers are labeled by subject and are from Kristine Nannini. Those can be found here.
My mom came up to help me put up my bulletin board backdrops. Research shows that students are drawn to text on blackdrops, so I chose for my room to be in the basic colors of black, green, and blue. I wasn't sure how it would come together (and it's still getting there), but I am loving it so far! The board below still needs border, and I'll add student pictures the first week of school. But I LOVE it! I found this a year ago on TPT (it's by Erica Bohrer and can be found here), and I purchased it then because I knew I would want it in my classroom someday. I stole the idea of putting letters on plates from another teacher at my school. I love that it creates a 3D effect. :) The schedule cards to the left are a freebie from Primary Punch. In true new teacher nature, my room is a MESS, but my board? It's ready for the first day of school. Ha!
I was able to sort through most of my math manipulatives yesterday and used my hot glue gun to add my labels on (found here). My school serves a large ELL population, so I love the clear pictures along with the name of the item. I'm hoping it will make it a breeze for my students to locate manipulatives around the room. The base ten blocks still need labels on each container. I'll have those ready next week. These will be added in to each table's supplies, so all I'll have to do is drop two boxes on each table before math. They are in those three section tupperware containers from the Dollar Tree. I am obsessed with them. Ha!
And last but not least, I found this letter in all my mess from a student who will be a second grader next year! I subbed in his room a lot last year and student taught in his sister's kindergarten room (which is why it says kindergarten and first grade teacher- ha!) I love his sweetness. It's a good reminder of why we put up with all of the chaos above. Our kids deserve it!
