1st day: Classroom setup

Our entire school was repainted over the summer. That means everything (that wasn't on a mounted wall shelf) had to be boxed up and pushed to the middle of our classroom before we left for summer break. It was a daunting task.

With summer winding down the kindergarten hall was one of the last halls to be finished. We just got an email last week that we could come work in our rooms starting today! So I jumped on it!

My husband came to help me and we had my happy 2 year old with me as well! I had told Raegan last night that I was going to work in my classroom today. This morning the first words our of her mouth were "mommy it's time to go to your school...ohhhh mommy can I come with you?"! It was sooo cute!

Anyway we get to school (I had planned to arrive around 8:30, but we ended up not getting there till almost 10am) and I'm tied up in the office getting my polo shirt for staff pictures and when I come out Drew is sitting in the big chair reading Raegan a book! It was sweet!

So then we walked the mile to my classroom (okay it wasn't that long, but it feels forever away from the office). When we get to my classroom I open my door and the first thing I see is this...

yep, my fridge, first thing when you walk in the door

I walk in and take a deep breath as I scan the room

And then there is the office...empty...

After I am done scanning the room I look over at Drew and I'm thanking the good Lord my husband is here to help me put my furniture back (btw this is the FIRST time he has EVER helped me in my classroom)! I decided that I was going to put my furniture back exactly the way I had it last year... this made work SOOO much easier! Every year I spend hours relocating furniture and trying different furniture arrangements, but this year, I really loved how my room was set up and wanted to keep it the same...FOR NOW, at least on day one! :)

My husband stayed long enough to help me move all my furniture in place and move some of Katie's (who is pregnant) stuff in place (about an hour) and then off he goes to take Raegan home because Raegan doesn't last long in places where mommy is trying to unpack and she's got a million messes all over the place.

So I work...and I work...and I stop to eat lunch...and I work some more...and I talk to my team members...and I work some more...and then I work some more and more...and finally around 5:30pm I stop....and this is what I ended with on my first day...

room arranged, rug laid out, almost everything in place

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excuse the mess on my desk, it's my work station

cabinet ribbon up (I use this to display student work) and my reading strategies posted)

added my reading bucket bins and decorated some

unpacked all my manipulatives 

put up my 7 habits on fish nets with clothes pins (just like last year)

hung my curtains and arranged housekeeping 

hung my WELCOME banner

put my ANCHOR WORDS letters up!

pulled out my teacher baskets

added my border and wreath to the door

calendar was left up for the most part, I just unpacked these centers and hung my 100s chart

much better view when you walk in now!

Can't forget a little work in the empty office as well...

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel SOOOOOOOOOOOO much better! About 7 hours of work later....There is a ton of stuff on my desk that needs sorted and hung up, but it feels good to know the big stuff is in place! My to do list is growing by the minute but it's good to be productive even if it's just checking one thing off my list!

I only have two more part time days in my classroom left before teachers report back. Tomorrow and Wednesday we will  be conducting our kindergarten screening! I am hoping that in between testing I can work some in my room because I really need to!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and seeing my FIRST day transformation! :) Please stop back by in the next week or so to see the finished product!

till the next time,
BE BLESSED