The last few days of summer
During my first few years of teaching, school didn’t begin until around Labor Day. In fact, when Youngest was born, I left the previous school year pregnant and came back to work with everyone else. (He was born less than 2 weeks after the end of the school year.)
Now August 1st means that summer is basically over for me. I know that school is going to begin within a week or so. Usually I’m at the school getting my room ready by August 1st. This year I decided to treat myself to not coming in until the first day I had to be back at work.
I can’t show one photo to describe my August
When I walked into my room on August 7th, I walked into tablehedge, not Stonehedge.
One of my co-workers came to my rescue and got the tables down.
I quickly rearranged my furniture so that the room is functional.
This room is a resource room. Students come out of the rooms for pull out services. I need to only have a minimal amount of furniture. As the school year continues, I will be decorating more of the classroom.
Case in point, this bulletin board has the two basic rules expected in all classrooms. I asked the students to write down ideas on ways they can demonstrate those rules. I love this because students feel as though they have a role in creating the rules in my room.
Now that we are testing for baseline data, my room has been torn apart to be put back together after testing.
The current state of my room. Each student has been given a shelf in the cubbies in the back of my room. It’s going to help with organization.
One of those bulletin boards in the back of the room is going to be the cool down / calm down corner. I have some brown paper board paper that is going to be hung up on the bulletin board with some suggestions on how they can calm down. Our community has been through so much trauma in the last few months. A tornado and then the shooting in downtown Dayton have rocked the area since May.
So many have rallied around our community. However, even with the rallying around us, these are 9, 10, and 11-year-old children. Some of them do not know how to deal with the trauma so it’s imperative they have a place that will help them cool down.
The word wall is basic sight words. When they don’t know how to spell a word, a way for them to get some movement is to walk to the back the room to look at the word wall. I have clipboards so it is easy for them to write.
Now You Know What a Teacher’s August looks like
My room would never be Pinterest worthy. However it is functional. Students get what they need to help them become better fourth and fifth grade students.
When a student tells you, they can’t wait until you begin to teach them math because you made them think last year. You know the look of your room does not matter. What matters is how you make the students feel while they are in your room. Are they feeling welcome? Are they feeling like they are learning? Are they feeling as though they are loved?
Stay kind!
Believe in the Magic Traci Diary 
My oldest daugher, now a high school principal, came up through the resource/special education ranks, starting in the Bronx and then in “free standings” when she and her hubby moved to Florida. She, like you, made every attempt to do much more than the accepted “norm”, as dictated by the school district. It does make a difference.
She has been blessed with visits from former New York students who have excelled and become so accomplished, always thanking her for all she did for them.
I wish you a wonderful, productive and safe school year, Traci. I know your students will thrive because of your efforts and caring.
Thank you.
I had one of my former students call me the other day just to say hi.
Another I guess was telling her relative who is my building how she missed me.
Wow! It looks really great! You definitely all deserve a peaceful year this year and I hope you get it!