Okay Friends-
Summer is on its way out (and I am nearly sobbing as I type that), and back to school is closer than we want it to be (in fact, many of my friends are already back in the classroom WITH STUDENTS! WOW!)
I am hoping to head over to my classroom later today and really dig in and get things figured out. I moved schools this year, so I have a lot to get ready.
This is my old room packed up!
This is my new room:
It looks much better now (still has a LONG, LONG, LONG ways to go in the next three weeks), but it was scary for a while. I didn't think I would fit as it is smaller than my old room (seems to be a moving theme for our family. Our new house is 500 sq. ft. smaller as well!). But fit I did and I think it turned out really well.
SO, on to the Back to School Tip!
TIP #1)
One thing I learned from moving classrooms is that it is okay to dejunk!
I know, I know! I had the I "might need it some day" thoughts the whole time, but I haven't used it in 9 years, so I think it is okay to Let it Go! (Did you just starting singing in your head, I know I did, dang you Disney's Frozen!)
I threw away a LOT of "stuff" that I can't believe I was hoarding in my filing cabinets and cupboards. Seriously, people, LET IT GO!
Go through your cupboards and closets. See if you can fill at least TWO trash cans with "stuff" you don't need anymore (that, or put it on a table in the hall with a FREE sign on it! It feels so good to get it out. Plus, it makes room/space you might need for new curriculum for the coming year. That said, you can see that I still had plenty to move. 13 years of teaching in boxes is a sight to see.
One of the hardest things I did was to go through all my professional teaching books, magazines, activity guides, etc. and let most of them go as well. I donated a HUGE pile to the school's professional development library. That way, if I needed something again, it was there to copy, but I didn't have to store it. I had so many books, I didn't even remember that I had, it was nice to get them out.
Okay, enough of the dejunk lecture. I just couldn't believe how refreshing it was to do it! (and I have been a hoarder in the past, so I know how hard it can be!).
Okay, no more waiting, get going and let operation DEJUNK begin!
I will be back soon with Tip #2 for Back to School!
I love this! I am moving classrooms this year AND going from high school to 6th grade so I have had to purge a lot of my stuff. I find that it makes me feel better if I can give it to another teacher who will use it. That's why I love TpT, even if most of my stuff is free :) I love your blog, by the way....you're probably like who is this creepy commenter haha!
ReplyDeletePshaw! I am ALWAYS happy to hear from another 6th-er! We have to stick together ya know! :)
DeleteSo pleased you stopped by, and I agree that giving it to another teacher is the best (let it clutter up THEIR room...bwahahahahah)
Have a great night and don't be a stranger. WAHOO! :)
What a great post! I too am moving rooms (and grades - from 4th to 6th) and have found myself needing to "Let (it) Go" of several things. Of course I also inherited some great things from the teacher I am taking over for in 6th grade so I have to make sure I have room for that as well. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are going to ROCK IT Mindy!
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
I moved schools also this year and got rid of a lot of junk. It is amazing how much stuff you accumulate. Good luck with getting your room ready :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Terri!
DeleteI agree- we teachers collect it in no time flat! Thanks and same to you! Here is to an amazing year for both us in a new building!
Seems like this is the trend! I'm leaving 6/7/8 grades after 26 years for the glamour (ha) of freshman English! Super excited, but needed help purging. My cut-and-dried friend's mantra was, "Girl, throw that mess out! It's dated 1990!"
ReplyDeleteThat is AWESOME! Way to go. Let it go and realize that if you did need it, there is something better out there (or in your brain) to replace it. YOU CAN DO IT! WAHOO!
DeleteUgh! I am going back on Monday to start prepping my room. I need to do a lot of sorting and trashing!
ReplyDeleteFun, isn't it???? NOT! It was hard to let many things go, but it felt really good when I was done and saw how much I had let go of. Phew... LOVE IT! Keep the thought running through your head... Let it Go! Let it Go!.... (Signing TOTALLY allowed of course...)
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