I Can't Stay Away

For some reason, after setting up the basic arrangement of my classroom I have had that on my mind all weekend. Saturday night I went to bed and woke up at 2am (due to a phone call), and couldn't get back to sleep for thinking of all that still needs to be done. I got up and made a list--for almost 2 hours. So today, despite the heat and humidity, I braved the upstairs non-air conditioned room and worked for about 7 hours. I am feeling so excited about my classroom and how it looks. Today I got several bulletin boards moved or redone (because of the rearranging). I laminated some things. I checked the connections on my student computers. I arranged some things on my desk. I filled my new paper rack, which I'm SO excited about. My writing workstation is going to ROCK! I even got as far as putting some books on student desks. When I have a more up to date class list I will need to begin making labels for folders for students.

Ok, that brings me to a tangent/rant! I get very frustrated at having to buy everything for my classroom. I am only given the following items for each student: a supply of pencils, two folders, colored pencils, and lined paper (there might be something else, but I can't think of it). Everything else I either need to provide for them on my own, or ask them to bring on a supply list. This year I was told that I'm not allowed to ask them to bring scissors or folders because we "supply" those items...really?! the two folders (black and green) are enough for fourth graders?? And I was given 18 pairs of scissors three years ago...now I have 20 students, and I wonder how many of those 18 pairs were not stolen, lost, or damaged. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't want to buy anything for my kids...it just gets frustrating to spend so much of my own money on things like supplies, when I'd much rather be buying books for my kids to enjoy, or other things that would benefit them. So many people think that we have this endless supply of money given to us to buy things. My PTA gives each teacher $50 for the entire year to spend on whatever we want. Trust me, if you've ever been to the teacher store, you know that $50 won't go far.

So, back to the excitedness...I really am excited. Not about starting school (I could do summer break all year if I could figure out how to fund my life), but about my cool room. But it does start to get exciting. The beginning of the school year is like a fresh new start...new clean room, new kids, new supplies, new room decor, a new chance to do things differently or better than last year. I think that's my favorite thing. I get a brand new start at my job, and can try to do things better than last year.



p.s. Here's the picture I forgot to take on Saturday of my new reading corner. I love it and I hope my new kiddos will too!