January Currently

How I LOVE Farley's Linky Parties over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade.  It's like going to an Open House, but not having to bring (or spell) any hors d'oeuvres!

This round has been particularly fun for two reasons.... First, I have enjoyed looking at everyone's chosen "word."  Second, there's an added incentive of what may simply be the coolest--or at least the quietest--pencil sharpener on the planet!

If you haven't linked up, head on over to Farley's... just click on the big ol' January Currently picture.  It'll take you right there!  And while you're there, explore some other bloggers' January offerings.  And then, take a peek at some of Farley's other posts.  There's a reason she has OVER A THOUSAND FOLLOWERS!  (Congrats, Farley!)

Happy January!

Clutter-Free Classroom Project, Week 1

I'm joining up with Jodi and Friends at CFC for the Clutter-Free Classroom Project!  You can read all about the project by clicking the link at the side of my blog.  To see what's happening during Week One of the project, click on the link at the bottom of the page.

I was nervous about taking pictures of my classroom for this project--and even more nervous about posting them for all the world (okay, maybe 14 random BlogFriends) to see. I guess it is a bit like some 12-Step Program... it's a good start to admit that there is a problem!


I took a few pictures to make myself feel like I really try to be organized.  Look how neatly they put away their textbooks!   Gosh, that may be where the organization begins and ends...

Some of the pictures I took made my classroom look better than it does in reality, but the truth is the pockets and piles of clutter make the whole space look disorganized. My classroom is an odd mix of hyper-organized areas and extraordinarily cluttered spaces. (Sometimes I wonder if I just wanted to have all points on the spectrum covered!)

With 34 kids and 36 desks desks (double tables), the classroom is very small. There is very little floor space, and I need to "walk like an Egyptian" to navigate through the few spaces in between the chairs. Since I was focusing on individual areas, I didn't get any photos that would give a good sense of the "whole classroom."  But I did get a good sense of the task that lies ahead.

I don't have a desk--just a little area with some items that look just... haphazard.  I need to get rid of some things... although most of these things are those little treasures that kids give to their teachers.  I need to figure out how to keep the sweet thoughts, but put the items elsewhere (Uh Oh.  Where IS elsewhere?)

There is an area behind the Promethean Board.  I "store" my ELD group materials here because we work on the carpet in this area.  This is just so... not okay!

I keep my materials for Centers in these crates (although much of it was in my car for reorganizing when I took this photo).  Still, there are things that should have been put way long ago!

 

Here is the area where students turn in their work.  They actually take responsibility for most of the turning in, checking in, and organizing. While the necessary materials are here, a little organization would go a long way!

Here is the game cupboard after the kids "put away" the games.  It's not awful, but it's not good either. I am considering designing a "blueprint" to show where the games go so that all of the boxes will fit on the shelves--and you can still close the cupboard doors!

Here is the clutter magnet!  There are so few "open spaces" in the classroom, this desk is often piled high.  It's right next to the door, so things are often dropped off here when entering the room.  I also tend to pile things here to take home, to take to the office, to take to other teachers, or to give to kids or parents.  This area needs a clean-up.  More importantly, this area needs a SYSTEM.

So... here's the real truth.  The desk in the picture above looks a bit disorganized now, but it looked a lot worse two weeks ago!

Before I left for Winter Break, I brought home everything that was left out (along with all of the other delights that seem to accumulate when gift-giving and cookie-baking has occurred).  I hate returning to a "messy room," so, somehow in my mixed-up noggin, I decided I would bring it home and "sort"though it. BIG MISTAKE! It seems as if half of my classroom is currently in my house!  There were seventeen boxes when I started...

Gradually, I began to sort through the piles... and this pile has been scaled down a bit.

BUT NOW THERE ARE MORE PILES

ALL OVER MY HOUSE!

This is my motivation for joining up with the CFCP.  I really do not want to appear on the next episode of Hoarders.  But it is increasingly hard to navigate through the house when you have to step over the paper cutter, tiptoe through the markers, clips, and math manipulatives, and then hop right-left-right to avoid knocking over the piles of 16 Beverly Cleary and12 Wimpy Kid books.  (Not to mention the 88 never-read books in the closed--SEALED--box that is used as a base to hold a larger pile of things!)

It's too hard to work in a 1000 square foot "apartment," when I share it with the hubs--and my teaching life.

I have a hundred professional books in the room where we have our desks, and there is a tonnage of other materials in my garage. But school materials in my bedroom, living room, dining room, and kitchen need to be sorted out and sent back to school.

ENOUGH! 

I'm ready, Jodi. 

It's time for a change.

Click on the  image below to see what other teachers are doing.

Or, maybe you'd like to do a little decluttering of your own...

Wrapping Up Winter Vacation

I have this impending sense of doom, kind of like when Wendy has to walk the plank in Peter Pan... (I made myself think of a Disney reference so I didn't get too scared or overwhelmed!)

If you don't understand the above-referenced {sarcastic} copyright comment, just be thankful. Our BloggyWorld shuddered for a day or two, but we're back to feeling good again!

I don't WANT to go back to school tomorrow (Tuesday).  I know some of my BlogBuddies went back today.  In their honor, I set my alarm for 4:55, made coffee and tried to plan this week's math lessons.  I admit, it was easier for me than for you because I was still in my pajamas and I was blog peeking every 20 minutes--unless YOU wore pajamas to school and were looking at blogs at school when you were supposed to be doing... something else.

 And if you do not return until next week (you may be cute and little, but we still know who you are!), I considered being jealous.  But I know that furlough days and school day shifting and budget cuts are all out of our control, and we are all left at the mercy of "The Schedulers."  So, I am only jealous that I have to wear school clothes tomorrow and you get to stay in pajamas.  Oh, and that YOU can have a bathroom break whenever you need one! 

I swear I have never been so addicted to pajamas as I have been during this Winter Break!


I have still have one last Linky to complete (well, I'm sure I have several, but this is the only one I can accomplish or the sixth graders will have to spend the WHOLE day tomorrow doing word searches, writing about their vacation,  and reading "just a few minutes more.")  So here's my contribution to CFC's Winter Vacation Linky.  Don't forget to click on the link to read some more tales of winter joy!

My school finished on December 16th, which was actually too early for me.  I like the idea of "the holidays" early in the vacation followed by a loooong vacation filled with little-to-do days.  Oh well, I filled up my time quite nicely (more on that in a minute).  On December 17th, I started my Christmas shopping.  On December 17th, I also finished my Christmas shopping (minus a few extras purchased at a store nearby.  Oh how I love that Amazon one-click button.  (If only they had Christmas elves that wrapped-for free!)

That left me with several days filled with important stuff: I blogged, ate goodies, blogged, stayed in pajamas, watched movies, blogged, read magazines, and, in between, I found a little time for more blogging.

The holidays were spent with a group of family and extended family merry-makers.  How weird is it that my favorite gifts were mudflaps, white board markers, and a gift certificate to the local teacher supply store.  Do I have TEACHER written all over me?  (Oh my! Do I have MUDDY written all over me?  I hope not!)

 

Then it was off to Washington to visit my nieces.  That trip included the plane ride that almost sent me "over the edge" after fearing for my life, but eventually I arrived.  Nothing like spending time with two great kids to make the world seem right.

Such great kids.  Smart, funny, insightful, fun-to-be-around. They shared their treats, they gave me WONDERFUL presents, they played games with me, they tried to teach me to use the video game system (I failed at Mario Cart and almost dislocated my shoulder playing imaginary ping pong), they graded papers with me, and they talked about school with me.

How can you not ADORE a family that gives you your own (labeled!) room?

Here's what was extra cool:  They learned about blogging.  They quickly recognized that a new follower was a good thing, usually praised with "Yay!"  And a new comment was super fun, celebrated with "You got a comment! Let's read it."  Not having kids or pets or much family, they completely have my HEART and their parents are pretty great too!

Eventually, I found myself at the airport once again (This time the plane had an oil leak, but that story we'll save for another day (with another "fortified" orange juice)).

When I returned home, I recalled that I had left all of my school stuff piled in the bedroom.  That's right: 17 boxes and a few bags.  The contents had been mixed together in an effort to have the living room quickly de-cluttered (Go figure!)  So there are Starbucks cards mixed in with ungraded papers, graded papers mixed in with PD readings, tardy slips mixed in with Christmas cards, and I'm a little afraid I lost a cupcake in there somewhere because I don't remember where I last saw it...  I am pretty sure I am CFC Jodi's worst nightmare. In fact, if I submitted a photo the "Clutter Clean-Up" project, they would consider a response of "rejected due to enormity of the  task."  Just kidding, I know that Jodi has room in her heart for everyone.  I just wish I had more room in my garage!

Click on the link to join in on a GREAT project

So, that's a summary of my vacation.  It will likely be remembered as "The Vacation I Filled with Blogging," or "Blog Friends Are Real Friends," or "Pajamas, Mochas, and a Blog."

Needless to say, I feel blessed to be warm and comfortable and happy.  And while I'm not exactly thrilled to go back to work, I am fortunate to have a job that I love (or just to have a job when many in my community do not.)  I will remember to count my blessings in 2012, and delight in all that is so GOOD in my life.  And, thanks, BloggyFriends, for spending my vacation with me.  I had a great time!