How I Start My School Year

What really happens in your classroom before the students get there

I drove the twenty minutes to my classroom today to . . . start. There’s always a day or two (or three) before the big day when we’re required to return to school for in-service training. On days like today, when I’m often working alone, I just begin. Here’s what I did, with the help of my husband for the heavy lifting:

returned all the furniture that had been moved to one side of my classroom by maintenance staff to its approximate place in the room
untangled a giant wad of electrical and computer cords that had also been moved
connected my computer back to its dock
set up the sound system
tested the speakers; played Ed Sheeran for a sound check; yep… sounds good
tested my smartboard
connected the document camera
put the desks into loose rows that will probably change before it all begins
helped a new teacher across the hall begin to get settled
made a mental note to purchase an oil diffuser like the one used by the same new teacher
rearranged my small black bookshelves
put the carpet down
uncovered the big bookshelves
stared inside my closet. (But that’s all I did because it’s packed too tightly. Once I start unpacking it, there will be no going back.)
put some new stickers in my sticker drawer. (Never underestimate the value of a sticker.)
resolved to buy a new poster or two for my big poster wall
looked at some boxes of supplies and books I requisitioned last spring
decided to leave those boxes for another day

Now, I’m off to start a draft about Contest #4 That Works for My Students. Look for it tomorrow! Here’s a post about Contest #3. I love using writing contests in my ELA teaching.

If you enjoyed this post, click like and leave a comment. Follow my blog to catch that Contest #4 post!

Thanks for reading!

If you’re a new teacher, enjoy your new position. Trust me, you will love your new job! Expect some difficulties, but also know that you will experience some unexpected joys!

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