First Week of Back to School is Complete

The first week of school has been complete. I have 21 students (I will add a few more as the weeks progress). If you have ever been a teacher you know the first week is the hardest. You have to introduce routines and expectations.

You will never be as tired as on the Friday night of the first week of school. Unless you have a field trip or sports day at school. This year I was able to enter school before my official contract days and spend time arranging furniture and other objects.

I have been teaching for 30 years and have accumulated many treasures to make my room cozy and welcoming. This is teacher funded over many years. When you first enter a government funded classroom in the United States it will look very sterile and bare. I receive tables, chairs, storage closets, a flag, an ABC rug (only provided in kindergarten rooms), 2 bookshelves, a filing cabinet, an easel, a computer, whiteboards and projection boards. The school itself from my grade level budget supplies pencils, crayons, chart paper, dry erase markers, small dry erase boards, and a box of copy paper.

I posted a very short video tour of my classroom on Instagram earlier in the week. The blog is not able to support video currently so I had to post it on my Instagram page (nypeapod). I chose to make my room look cozy and inviting. I think it helps my students feel welcome and comfortable.