De-Cluttering Sidelined & Restarted

So, back at the beginning of March, I started a mission of de-cluttering my classroom.  Needless to say, it was a daunting process, but one that I still dream of accomplishing.  I made a lot of progress, visible mostly only to myself and my para, because it was small stuff.  But we celebrated every box emptied and disposed of!


Then at the beginning of May my de-cluttering took a back seat to some health issues.  I missed a week of school, then returned for the last 2.5 weeks still not at full health, so I was then focused just on making it through each day.


Next came packing up the room for the summer.  I'm one of those teachers who basically lives in her classroom all summer...with the exception of the two weeks when the building is closed because of floor waxing.  While I tried to do some de-cluttering while packing up, i was up against a clock and just started piling things up and shoving things on shelves.  (Had I been thinking, I would have taken pictures of that!)


The first week I could be back in my classroom (and my wonderful mother was going to spend an entire day helping me unpack & clean) I was once again side-lined for a week with health issues.  After feeling good for most of the summer, I was VERY frustrated!


Well, last week I was back and ready to go.  I've been up at school from 9 am - 4 pm eight of the last nine days.  I've gotten LOTS accomplished.  3.5 of those days I spent organizing my books. (I'll do a post on that in the next few days.)  


After spending this morning again on books, I needed a break.  So I started tackling the first (and worst) of my two LARGE closets.  And I'm almost done with it!  I am SO excited! I've filled 3 trash cans, condensed boxes, and it looks so organized!  Just 2 more shelves to go!  I'll post pics tomorrow!

Oh dear....

....I said it was going to be a day.


Kid 1: I have a Blue mustache. (Holding a crayon up to his lip.)
Group: Nuh-uh
Kid 2: I have a purple mustache. (Holding a crayon up to his lip.)
Group: Nuh-uh 
Para: Okay, no more mustaches.  Shave and get back to coloring.
Group: Shave?
Para: Yes, remove the crayon and say you shaved.


Yep, they've only been in the room for less than an hour!  (We had PE today.  Who KNOWS what happened down there!)

Kids are funny creatures

I don't think a day goes by in my classroom where I don't at least chuckle at something said by one of my students.  I'm lacking of sleep this week, so today I'm in my own silly mood, and by the conversation I overheard, so are my students!


Boy 1: Did you sneak into my house?
Boy 2: Yes.
Boy 1: Did you sneak into my bedroom last night?
Boy 2: Yes.
Boy 1: Did you take all of my stuff?
Boy 2: Not yet.
I know I should think that to be creepy, but I found it humorous, and gawffed under my breath.
Girl: Crazy boys.
Needless to say, I was now out-right laughing.


Third boy enters the room wearing this shirt:

And boy 2 says: Can you play that shirt?


It's going to be an interesting day!

Auction Projects

Our school yearly has a benefit auction.  Each class is required to complete on project for the oral auction, and then a few others for the silent auction part of the night.


The year before I took my current position, I attended the auction, and the sight (and thought of completing) all those class projects freaked me out a bit.


Now that I'm in my third year of auction prep, it's getting a little bit easier, though no less stressful.



We have two class book this year, our oral auction item, and two other items for the silent auction.



Our oral auction project is a "Dr. Seuss/Cat in the Hat" themed book shelf.

Silent auction project #1 - 
Fleece tie blanket with student hand prints.

Silent auction project #2 - 

Magnetic polaroid-styled pictures.  Displayed on magnetic dry-erase board.

To all our the parents of students in my classroom, happy bidding.  There will also be a class collage and an imitation stain-glass framed picture.


If you haven't purchased your tickets yet, do so here:
Spring for the Children - Tickets

Clutter-Free Week 1

So a while back I stumbled across the Clutter-Free Classroom blog.  I've taken on this project with everything I have, finally having motivation to get my room in order.  I moved to this school three years ago, and combining my resources and those already in place has been a difficult process....basically because there's so much.

Below are my pictures of before.

 

As you can see, I have piles, EVERYWHERE!

Next check out my desk/work area.

Now, I do have SOME organization going on with these WONDERFUL plastic drawers!  But all around them, yep, more clutter!

Below is the curtain in front of my large closet.  It helps my room look neater when it's closed.  And on the right you can see a little bit of the pull-down wall that hides my other closet.  It functions as my calendar area most of the day.

This is the inside of the closet with the pull-down wall.  I have wonderful cabinets, counter and drawers.  But the counter isn't very usable in it's current state of clutter.

 

Next, the inside of the curtained closet.  Yep, it's a disaster!

So, those are all of my before pictures.  As I make progress, I will post those as well!

Wish me luck!

Music

So, early in the year in preschool, we have a discussion about colors, and how REALLY, there are no boy colors or girl colors.


Well, today we had a similar discussion about music.  For student of the week, the student brings in their favorite music on Wednesday.  Today we are listening to a Disney Princess CD.  One of my girls was talking about the music she has at home and said, "I have boy music too."  My para calmly/politely said, "There's no boy or girl music."  One boy replied saying, "I like Bow Chick a Wow Wow."  My para and I couldn't help but smile.

The Journey Begins...

So I've been tossing around starting a blog for a while.  I follow 63 (mostly teacher) blogs currently, and seem to add at least one new amazing blog a day to follow.


The decision to start this blog was thanks to the wonderful blogger over at Clutter-Free Classroom.  She has inspired me to take her clutter-free challenge, and I've challenged two co-workers to complete the process as well.


Along with posting pictures and updates in my journey towards a clutter-free classroom, I hope to post some of the ideas I use in my classroom, along with some of the funny things my little friends say!