so little time

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Home : 2002 : August : 8

so little time
By Cathy-Dee

I thankfully didn't have quite as short a time as you are getting but I only had 2 weeks to move, set up my home and my classroom. And then a few years later I ended up moving again during the same week we had our teacher
prep days. I never want to do that again.
We have had a few teachers in the last few years who have had about the same time you are having to set up. What I noticed was they left things like some of the bulletin boards and areas in the room they didn't need right away and they worked on getting the physical layout of the room, desks, bookshelves, etc., finished as well as first week

plans. Then they stayed after school most of that first week and the following weekend to work on the rest of the room.

Since you are being hired late I'm sure your administrator will realize you only have so many hours in a day. But even with only the limited time you have it's amazing how much you'll get done.

Something I'd do if I was in your shoes - is to close my classroom door when I was working in the room. This might help avoid some of those "chatting" sessions we all seem to get into especially during the first week of preparation.

Do you have any family members who can come in during the evening to help out. You could have them put on background paper and borders for your bulletin boards which would make them look nice at least and then you could add the display part later.

Ask for help, see if there will be any teacher-assistants around the school those days who might be able to help you for 1/2 day just doing things like laminating, sticking name tags on things, etc,

I'm sure you'll feel a bit frazzled that first week, but things will fall into place. And it sounds like a great position for you!!!!!!