"Are you ready?" This is the most common question that I have heard in the past few weeks. I've heard it from administration, fellow teachers, friends, and acquaintances. It is such a loaded question, with the possibility of an answer longer than anyone really wants to hear when they ask it.
Is my room ready? NO!!!!!
Classroom Library:
I had SO many books...which is a great thing, but not when some of them looked like they had seen better days, and others just looked like they were printed before I was even born. Those "not so appealing" books were boxed up to be donated. The magazines that were missing covers or crinkled up were recycled. My classroom library may be smaller now, but it is much nicer and much more user friendly. I still, however, keep stumbling upon books that need to be organized and put where they belong.
Lights:
I cannot stand the overhead lighting in classrooms. It gives me a headache because it is just too bright. I have filters over my lights so that I can turn on the overhead lighting when needed, but I also have set up lamps around the room for added soft light.
Cabinets:
Anything that has been sitting in my file cabinet or closets and not removed for a year has gone to the recycle bin. If it is something that I'm thinking, "hmmm...well, maybe...." then I'll keep it this year, but if it still isn't used, it will be gone by next summer. I'm tired of holding onto things "just incase" and collecting clutter. This process, however, seems to be ongoing.
Organization:
Between keeping myself organized and keeping the kids organized, I need tools to help. I have drawers to keep papers for upcoming classes, along with notes from home or signed tests or missing work reports. I also have trays for students to turn in their work and mailboxes for what they need to take home.
Seating:
I change the seating in my room quite often. I may have L shaped groups or clusters, but no matter how they are seated, I try to ensure that it is easy for them to work both individually and cooperatively. We'll be starting the year, this year, with clusters of four....but I still need to figure out where everyone will be sitting on the first day of school!
Walls:
I do have a few decorations and some things on my walls, but overall, they are pretty bare to begin the year. As we get going, I'll have more of the kids' work displayed. This means that I'll have to be creative to try to make the room look presentable for our Open House that will take place the night before school starts, while still leaving room for student work.
Is curriculum ready? NO!!!!!
Yes, we did spend time at the end of last year discussing what kids knew and what needed to be changed for this year. Yes, I have spent time planning this summer. Yes, I know WHAT I should be teaching.....but I just don't FEEL ready. I'm not sure that I have all of the supplies that I need yet and I don't know this year's kids yet, so how can I have HOW I'm teaching them nailed down if I don't know them?
Unfortunately, there is only so much that we can prepare for as teachers to be ready for that first day of school. Our daily jobs are unpredictable. Kids are all unique, with unique needs and interests. Behaviors and each individual students' lives are all variables, so "are we ready?" Well, I am ready to face the day and meet all of my new students and their families. I'm ready to get to know this new batch of kids and do everything that I can to support and reach each of them. In short, am I ready? Well, I'm as ready as I'm going to be.
