Changes

Hello, Bloggy friends! I hate to admit that I had to abandon my little blog for so long. Life just became way to crazy, but now that summer is here, I'm ready to jump back in! Warning-This post will be long!

Have you ever known deep down inside that you were ready for a change? I began to feel that way as our second semester was slooooooowly moving along. I was getting unmotivated and overwhelmed as the days passed by. As my school year was winding down, I decided that I was ready for a change and decided to transfer to a new school and a new grade level! After 6 years in kindergarten, I'm moving to first grade! I'm so excited for this new chapter in my life! I've already met my new team members and have been stalking first grade blogs and pinterest for ideas to get me started. I'm actually nervous, too. It's a big change for me!

The bad news that came with moving was packing up a classroom with 6 years full of teaching stuff. You know all those things you buy because you might use them some day or because you were sure you had some of them already but can't seem to find them now? Well, I found them! Seriously, how did I manage to lose, buy, and lose again so many packages of die-cut letters? It took FOREVER to get my stuff packed and many, many trips back and forth to get my entire teaching career out my closet and into my garage.

The good news about the move is that packing up your classroom is a great motivator to purge! You learn just how much you REALLY want to keep something when you're trying to figure out how to squeeze it into the last inch of space in a box that's already jammed full. As my garage became too full to fit my car or locate my broom, I became desperate to get moved into my new classroom. Thinking about all of that stuff in my garage all summer was causing me some serious anxiety! I mean seriously, I couldn't fit half of my car into a two car garage!!!

Luckily for me, my new principal said I could move my stuff into my new room after the other teacher moved out two days after the students left. I was so ready! When I first went into my room, I was blown away! There was so much stuff in there from the previous teachers, that there was no room for my stuff! Did I mention the school I'm moving into is 50 years old? Think about all of the teachers that have taught in that room. I know I have found things in there that are older than I am!

So before I could move in, I had to do ALOT more purging. It. took . two. days.
Two long, exhausting days filled with dust bunnies, garbage bags, donations, and cries of "What in the world is this?" The whole time my three munchkins were there "helping" in their own little way (ie playing with stuff as I put it all away). But it was so worth it! I went in on Sunday (day 3), emptied most of my boxes, and then began something I've wanted to do in my own classroom for years-I painted it! It was a long process, but I love the color on my walls and my room is starting to feel like...well, mine.

Here's some before shots... keep scrolling for the after painting pics

*these were taken after I purged the room-under all of that stuff was a room in pretty good shape, it just needs a little paint and some elbow grease :)

First grade-View from the hall

Looking at front boards

Cabinets to the right of the front board  (gotta have my sweet tea from Sonic!)       

 I think the cabinets are older than I am. And those stickers have got to go! I'm thinking of repainting the cabinets while I have my paint rollers out...

Back of the room (my munchkins waiting to be pushed on the cart to get more boxes)

Back wall is finished!

 Oh my gosh! Look at that mess! I had so much to put back away after I was done painting...

More walls finished, more boxes in the way, but my nieces put the desks in groups :)

The awful stickers are gone and the cabinets are starting to look better

Front of room again with tables set in groups

Already looking better

Monday morning I was exhausted, sore, and still had paint in my hair so the munchkins and I decided to reward ourselves with some fun in the sun :)

 Tomorrow is my last chance to touch the room again before the end of July. Hopefully I will be able to cover those orange boards with some fabric and get some final stuff shoved into the cabinets. I'll post more pics tomorrow.