Declutter that Classroom before moving in!
To do this, you'll have to take EVERYTHING out!
This will seem overwhelming, and it will definitely be, but it's a must if you want to avoid feeling overwhelmed all year long.
All the classrooms that I have taught in were OLD classrooms. Teachers are known to be hoarders, and it SHOWS in these older classrooms. I have come across piles of student documents going as far back as the 70s before. It seems as though teachers move in to classrooms and just add on to the chaos. Some might tuck stuff that were there before them away in a cabinet or drawer. I am telling you now that there is no good reason for that!
Here's what I recommend you do:
1. Pull EVERYTHING out from closets, cabinets, shelves, drawers, bins, etc...
2. Put everything on student desks/tables. This is how crazy it will look, but it will be worth it! You might want to recruit some help if you don't have many days before school starts.
3. Sort through everything! One pile will be the things you will keep in the classroom, such as Curriculum, books, and anything else you think you will need in the school year. Another pile will be for useful/reusable items that you may not necessarily need, but another teacher might. I like to send a mass text out to let the teachers know I have stuff in my classroom that I am getting rid of. If your principal allows it, you may want to put it all in the teachers resource room with a FREE sign. The last pile is trash and recyclables.
4. Organize and arrange the classroom.
5. Bring in Your Personal items. I don't bring any of my stuff until I am done sorting through everything in the classroom. It's much easier to bring in more items to an already organized setting. I suggest labeling items that belong to you.
6. Decorate!
