Classroom Set Up

 Having my mom help me set up my classroom has been a real treasure. After working there for 6 months- the last half of the school year, I have created my own set of memories and associations. It was a busy and juggling time to navigate a lot more than just a new classroom, new school, new grade, new students, parents, colleagues, and culture to name a few. There was a ton of sifting through my head and processing all that had led and prepared me. 

I'm reminded when I helped my mom decorate her classroom when she was a master's student and student teaching. I was in late middle school, and I drew posters for her to put up in her college classroom which was very dull and drab. I remember one I drew was of a rose and connecting it with life's journey. My mom told me that a student admired and commented on the nice poster drawings to help build a more inspiring environment. 

My mom has been so helpful and comforting to have as I start to set up my classroom and truly make it my own for the first time. I've gotten to share more with her and paint more of a picture, and also for her to meet some of my colleagues who have been around here and there this summer.  For this past first year of teaching, the classrooms were already set up (which was kind of nice and helped me to focus on other things I needed to plan for), but I feel I'm ready this time around and have my own ideas and style to make it feel more like me. 

A school year is a long time, a lot happens. I felt that the spring semester at my new school went by very fast. Most of the days and weeks flew by. I would look back and wonder where had the time gone? I felt that the Fall semester at my first school was quite slower and took time to make it to some milestones (Labor Day, Halloween, Conferences, Thanksgiving Break). Maybe also since it was my first classroom teaching experience and everything was so new and what to expect.

 It has gotten a little easier, and I felt some things I have tackled a bit better with my second school, classroom management to name one, and having a better rewards system. I'm still getting acclimated to the curriculum, naturally, but that I'm sure that too gets easier and more comfortable overtime.