I didn't realize how much I had accumulated until I was forced to move my classroom. Twice. And I will have to move it one more time before school starts. Ahh, the reconstruction of a school. It did show me how much I was holding on to that I really, really don't need. In an effort not to lose a lot of what I owned, I took it home. Boxes and boxes of it. Now, as the school year looms ahead, I am realizing that I need to go through and weed out things I don't need.
It's amazing how we teachers (normal, sane people with neat, tidy houses) can end up with three boxes of pens with no lids, or some such nonsense. But how do you know what to throw away and what to keep?
This is the set of guidelines I have been using in an effort to de-clutter and simplify my teaching "stuff":
For reading books:
1. Did at least one kid read it last year? (That weeded out quite a few books! I kept a few books that kids didn't actually read but I thought a kid would like.)
2. Is it grade-appropriate? (Notice how I snuck in that CCSS jargon!)
3. Is it ripped or torn up? (If so, toss it and replace it later.)
For curriculum binders: (If you don't know what that is, I keep all the handouts, notes, etc. from a particular unit in a binder all together so I have at least one copy of what I did in the past.)
1. Do I still teach it or plan to teach it in the next year? (If no, then donate to another teacher or toss.)--Let me tell you, this step was PAINFUL. All that blood, sweat, and tears in the trash (okay, not blood, but you get the idea).
2. Do I have multiple copies of anything? If so, toss the extras.
3. In terms of handouts, is there an entire class set or just 2-3 extra copies of something? (If not a class set, toss)
School Supplies:
1. Will you use it in the next year? (If no, find it a new home. Best thing to do is write "FREE" on a box and put it in the teacher's lounge. At most, give it a few hours and that stuff will be GONE!)
2. Do you have more than one of these and really only need one? (No, you do not need 2 staple removers. Yes, you do need 3 boxes of dry erase markers.)
I am halfway through this process now. It is taking me a while because a few things I know I should get rid of I'm having a hard time letting go. I just have to keep reminding myself that I won't use it and if I keep it, it will make it harder to find the stuff I really DO need. Anyone else have this problem? I'm not like this with my stuff at my house!
I've enjoyed what I've read so far :) I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone! I have a huge stack of mismatched, slightly-used dividers because you just never know when a student could use a little more organization. Don't even get me started on the collection of writing utensils that I hoard at home and at school.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm so glad to hear from you and know that you like it so far! I'm also glad to hear that I am not alone. I feel like such a pack rat with my school stuff. I keep waiting for the day Hoarders comes to my classroom door LOL
DeleteI am so jealous that you are going through all of your materials and purging things! I am definitely of the what-if-i-might-use-it-one-day sort. And, I should have added it to my midweek confessions last week, when I left my last full time position, I brought all of my materials to our new home, dropped them in the middle of the basement (viewable as soon as we walk in the door from the garage), and vowed to sort through them and put them away. Nearly 14 months later, the only thing I have done is moved things around in search of things I needed. I'll be in my new classrooms Thursday though, so hopefully I'll get some cleared out!
ReplyDeleteIt is a headache, let me tell you. But I'm really hoping to stay organized this year and not have loose handouts everywhere. I'll especially be aware of it since the whole school will be brand-new and the administrators will be looking at the "ambiance" of the classroom. Good luck clearing things out. I found it extremely painful. Like cutting off a limb sometimes!
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