I’m sitting at my desk that’s in one corner of my classroom. I don’t sit here often because I’m usually working with students at my horseshoe-shaped table. I’m sitting here contemplating all that I have to do before the last day of school next week. Final reports to complete, files to organize, and packing up all of this stuff. I anticipate being here some at least on Saturday to get a start on the packing and organizing piece. This room looks like a disaster area.
As I surveyed my classroom, I took a good long look around. I still haven’t found quite the perfect place for my new Newline board. That’s something that I need to ponder for next year. I have books everywhere. Why didn’t I replace them on my spinning book rack when students were finished with them? Of course that would have been too easy.
Oh, those poor headphones in a basket. They’ve lived a rough life this year when students read audiobooks. I think they’ll need to find their way to the trashcan. I’m kind of amazed at the state of the headphones. I believe I need to research sturdier headphones for next year.
The cart with drawers where each student keeps his or her materials is fairly neat. Some years, that hasn’t been the case, but for the most part, I don’t think it will be a problem. The cart with supplies like pencils, markers, and crayons is also okay.
There are only three stacks on my desk and some of those things will go to the filing cabinet. My desk doesn’t look as challenging as it has in past years. Or, at least I think that today. Who knows what it will look like by Friday.
While it’s not pretty in here, though, I know that we’ve done some really good work this year. We’ve accomplished a lot. We’ve laughed a lot. Relationships have developed over the course of the year. Those are all of the things that I need to focus on and celebrate. The books will find their way home. The materials will be organized and ready for a new year in August. The memories, though, will last forever.