In the beginning...

So fast the summer has past!  Many fun times.  Many stressful times.  Many work times.  Now it is time to reset for another great year in first grade.  This is always such an exciting time of year.  You know you are a teacher at heart when you get giddy over Sunday ads and spend many shopping trips drooling over the yellow pencils on sale, brightly colored folders neatly lining the shelves, and random new office gadgets.

Yesterday I picked up my classroom keys and joyously marched down to my room.  As I burst into my room ready to roll up my sleeves and start moving furniture, I see that the music materials and instruments are still piled high in the front of my room.  Bummed that I won't be able to assemble my room, I must say that the custodial staff at Knollwood is awesome.  They have been working mighty hard to get the school in tip top shape for the late August arrival of 600 smiling students! 

Tuesday and Wednesday turned my classroom into a scene from a twister movie.  Boxes spralled around the room, half unpacked.  Stacks of books lining the window shelves.  Miscellaneous school supplies scattered on the counter.  Notes of projects yet to finish dotting my new desk. 

Yes, I got a desk this year - a real teacher's desk.  It is small and old-fashioned in design.  Because my desk is actually facing our main class meeting area and in close proximity, I must make it a priority to keep a clean desk this year.  It is quite convenient, however, to have my desk next to the meeting area as I will now have a comfy chair to sit in during morning meeting and read alouds. 

It is a goal of mine to have many small reading nooks in our classroom this year.  The students love to curl up with a good book where there are few distractions.  While the room looks chaotic now, I am loving how it is slowly starting to come together. 

Time to work on our class web-site, presentation for First Grade Kick-Off, and eat some leftover steak.  Yum!